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GOD’S COVENANTAL PROMISES

The Promise of a Savior!

God chose to reveal His plan of salvation through His Covenantal promises. Covenants and contracts are not the same. . In a covenant you exchange your very being, “I am yours and you are mine.” In a contract, you exchange something you have – a skill, a piece of property, money.

The difference between covenant and contract in the Old Testament and throughout the Bible is profound. it’s the difference between prostitution (contract) and marriage (covenant). Or between owning a slave (contract) and having a son (covenant.) .

Biblical Covenants
1. Adam and Eve (Genesis 1:26–2:3)
2. Noah and his family (Genesis 9:8-17)
3. Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 12:1-3; 17:1-14; 22:16-18)
4. Moses and the Israelites (Exodus 19:5-6; 3:4-10; 6:7)
5. David and the Kingdom of Israel (2 Samuel 7:8-19)
6. Jesus and the Church (Matthew 26:28; 16:17-19)
Each covenant in the Bible contain

* Mediator (the person God makes the covenant with) and his covenant role (whom the mediator represents);
* the blessings promises in the covenant;
* the conditions of the covenant;
* the “sign” by which the covenant will be celebrated and remembered.
* the “form” that God’s family becomes as a result of the covenant.

The Covenant with Adam and Eve (Genesis 1:26–2:3)

Adam is the covenant mediator in his role as husband. God promises blessings – that their union will be fruitful and their offspring will fill the earth and rule over it. God establishes a sign by which the covenant will be remembered and celebrated – the Sabbath, the seventh day of rest. God imposes one condition that they must keep to fulfill their obligation under the covenant – that they not eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. And God attaches a curse for disobedience – that they will surely die. By this covenant, God’s family assumes the form of the marriage bond between husband and wife.

The Covenant with Noah (Genesis 9:8-17)

God promises never again to destroy the world by flood. The covenant is made with all humanity, through the mediator, Noah, in his role as the father of his family.

The covenant includes blessings to Noah and his family (that they will be fruitful and fill the earth) and conditions that must be obeyed (not to drink the blood of any animals, not to shed human blood). The sign of the covenant is the rainbow in the sky. By this covenant, God’s people assumes the form of a domestic household, an extended family.

The Covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3; 17:1-14; 22:16-18)

God promises to give Abraham a great land and to bless his descendants. God makes the covenant with the mediator Abraham in his representative role as chieftain. God promises the blessings of land and a great nationhood for his descendants, and through them to bless all the nations of the earth.

The sign of the covenant is the mark of circumcision. an outward physical sign of the eternal covenant between God and the Jewish people. For the Israelites. circumcision was a religious rite representing God’s blessings and Israel obedience to God. Circumcision and what it represents is also the condition that Abraham and his descendants must obey in order to keep the covenant. By this covenant, God’s family takes a “tribal” form.

REFLECTION

God’s covenant with Abraham is a promise of a great nation as long as they keep the sign of the covenant. Of course, we know from history the many times Israel lost their great nation by straying from God’s will, the Syrians, the Persions, the Romans…

How is our nation doing today? What is my part in bringing our nation back to God?

The Covenant with Moses (Exodus 19:5-6; 3:4-10; 6:7)

By this covenant, made with the mediator Moses in his representative role as the judge and liberator of Israel, God swears to be Israel’s God and Israel swears to worship no other but the Lord God alone. The blessings promised are that they will be God’s precious chosen people.

The conditions of the covenant are that they must keep God’s Law and commandments. The covenant sign is the Passover, which each year commemorates Israel’s birth as a nation. God’s family assumes the form of a “holy nation, a kingdom of priests.”

REFLECTION

Israel swears to worship no other God but the Lord God alone!

How about us? How many false gods out there tempt us, riches?, fame,? pleasure? …

When we fall to temptation what do we do? do we deny it, make excuses, or reconcile with God?

The Covenant with David (2 Samuel 7:8-19)
God promises to establish the mediator David’s “house” or kingdom forever. through David’s heir, To David in his role as king, God promises to make David’s son His son, to punish David if he does wrong but never take away his royal throne. “Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever.” Through the blessings of this kingdom, God promises to give wisdom to all the nations. The sign of the covenant will be the throne and Temple to be built by David’s son, Solomon. By this covenant, God’s family grows to take the form of a royal empire, a national kingdom.

I AM THE WAY,THE TRUTH, THE LIFE

The sixth and final covenant is made through the mediator Jesus, who by His Cross and Resurrection assumes the role of royal high priest and fulfills all the promises God made in the previous covenants.

The Bible isn’t simply a collection of separate poems and histories and prophecies written over the course of centuries. It’s one book that tells a single story. The Bible is the story of God’s love for His people. It’s the story of how God slowly and patiently unfolded his plan for the world, how He taught His people the reason they were created – to share His life with Him, to be part of His family, to be His children. He wants us to share in His very Being in the most Blessed Trinity.

though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God

something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself,

taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness;^*

and found human in appearance,

he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death,

even death on a cross.^*

Because of this, God greatly exalted him

and bestowed on him the name^*

that is above every other name,

Phillipians 2:6-11

MEDITATIONS GOSPEL OF JOHN

SCRIPTURE

SCRIPTURE JOHN 12:1-8

the anointing at Bethany

Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was reclining at table with him.

Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

Then Judas the Iscariot, one [of] his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?”

He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions.

Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”

REFLECTION

Is Jesus putting down poor people? Is Jesus dismissive of the poor?

Of course not! Looking at his disciples Jesus said: ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God’” Luke 6:20.

“when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous” Luke 14:13-14.

Jesus knew the heart of Judas, a man not so interested in caring for others but what he could gather for himself. Are we selfish in similar ways? Are our motives for charitable acts always pure or do we sometimes look to call attention to ourselves?

SCRIPTURE JOHN 12:23-33; 44-50

the coming of Jesus’ hour.

Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,

it remains just a grain of wheat but if it dies, it produces much fruit.

Jesus responded: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat but if it dies, it produces much fruit…

Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.

Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.

Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.^t

Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world^* will be driven out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”

Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.

Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day, because I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak.

REFLECTION

God’s ways are not our ways. Who back then or now for that matter thinks death by crucifixion is a moment to celebrate?

It is at our own peril to second guess God.

Jesus defines clearly what a disciple of his must be. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be.

Can we drink the cup Jesus must drink? Do we serve in this world as Jesus did?

Even Jesus in his humanity had trouble accepting His Father’s will,

Father, save me from this hour. John 12:27

Just like us Jesus doesn’t enjoy suffering but suffering may be necessary to fulfill the Father’s will. Trust in God!

God knows the full picture and if God can bring glory out of the greatest suffering, the passion and death of His only begotten Son, what is the good God will bring out of our small suffering here on this earth.

I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world. Jesus did not come to condemn but save! We are free to embrace Jesus or not, again at our own peril!

when I am lifted up from the earth,

I will draw everyone to myself.

REPENT AND COME TO ME

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING, CATHOLIC COMMENTARY

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him

might not perish but might have eternal life.” JOHN 3:16

JESUS CHRIST SAVIOR OF THE WORLD

The Sacrament of Penance is sometimes referred to by various names such as, Sacrament of Confession (we acknowledge our sins); Sacrament of Forgiveness (our sins are forgiven and removed); and Sacrament of Reconciliation (we are reconciled to God and His Church).

After Original Sin, man was separated both from God’s presence and God’s divine life of grace. At the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise, God lets it be known that one day a Savior will come and restore man’s relationship with God.

“I will put enmity between you and the woman (Mary the New Eve), and between your offspring and hers; He will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel.” Genesis 3:15

The Prophets of the Old Testament promise in their oracles a Savior one day who will offer himself up for the many that we might be restored and reconciled with the Father.

“See the days are coming when I will make a New Covenant….it is Yahweh who speaks…since I will forgive their iniquities and never call their sins to mind.” Jeremiah 31

During his public ministry, Jesus called the people to conversion just the same as the Church does today. Prior to receiving the Sacrament of Penance, we must turn back to God and reject sin.

Jesus is at dinner, with tax collectors and other sinners, some Pharisees object, “why is he eating with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus replies, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick; I did not come to call the virtuous but sinners.” Mark 2:15-17

In Luke 7:36, Jesus is administered to by a woman, a known public sinner. The Pharisee who invited Jesus is distraught by the attention this sinful woman was paying and Jesus allowing her to do so.

Jesus says, “…this woman though with many sins has shown great faith and love. The one who is pardoned more will love more.” Jesus absolves the woman of her many sins, “Your sins are forgiven.”

What great peace and joy the woman must have felt to hear these words of absolution. Jesus told the woman, “Your faith has saved you, go in peace.”

How similar these words are to the words of absolution we hear from the priest who absolves us in the name of Jesus today in Sacrament of Penance.

The Sacrament of Penance was instituted by Jesus Christ on the evening of his resurrection. “In the evening of the same day… As the Father sent me…so I am sending you…After saying this, Jesus breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit for those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven. For those whose sins you retain, they are retained.'” John 20:19-35

REPENT AND BE SAVED

Like all the Sacraments, Penance is a liturgical action. The elements of celebration are ordinarily these: a greeting and blessing from the priest, reading the word of God to illuminate the conscience and elicit contrition, exhortation to repentance, the acknowledging of sins to the priest, the imposition and acceptance of a penance, the priest’s absolution, a prayer of thanksgiving and praise and dismissal with a blessing from the priest. (CCC 1480).

“Catholics should go to Confession because everyone needs forgiveness for their sins.” “Whoever says he is without sin is a liar or blind!” Confession is meant to be a sincere moment of conversion, trusting in God’s willingness to forgive His children and help them back on the path of following Jesus, Pope Francis

The sacramental sign of the Sacrament of Penance are the words of absolution through which forgiveness of our sins and distinctive graces of sanctification are conferred.

The Priest receives the penitent with a greeting, a sign of the cross and invitation to trust in God’s mercy

When the priest receives the penitent, he is fulfilling the ministry of the Good Shepherd who seek the lost sheep, of the Good Samaritan who binds up the wounds, and the merciful Father of the Prodigal Son who welcomes the son back to his family. The priest is the sign and instrument of God’s mercy.

Reading of God’s word

The reading of God’s word is a sign that it is God calling the penitent to conversion. It is this call which draws us to God’s mercy and forgiveness. It is the call which invites us back into right relationship with God and His Church.

Confession of sins

Through the admission of our sins, we look squarely at our relationship with God and our neighbor and open ourselves again to be reconciled with God and full communion with His Church. We accept our Penance as satisfaction for the offense to God and the harm to His Church.

Our act of contrition

Our act of contrition expresses our sorrow for offending God and our detestation of sin. Our words of contrition (sign) express an inward condition and meaning to love God and avoid sin in the future.

Prayer of absolution

The words of absolution by the priest, “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit” and the reply by the penitent, “Amen” restores the penitent to God’s grace, reconciles him with the Church, with himself, with his brothers and sisters whom he has somehow offended, and all Creation.

Proclamation of praise of God and Dismissal

“Give thanks to God for he is good. His mercy endures forever.” This proclamation of praise by the priest and penitent expresses all glory to God the Father and commitment to the First Great Commandment, to love God with our whole mind, our whole heart, our whole soul and with all our strength.

LORD JESUS CHRIST HAVE MERCY ON ME, A SINNER

RESURRECTION OF THE BODY AND LIFE EVERLASTING

CATECHESIS

OPENING PRAYER (WELCOME GOD INTO OUR STUDY)

Heavenly Father, Eyes have not seen, Ears have not heard what you have prepared for those who love you. We pray Father, that our bodies will rise in glory on the last day through the merits of your only begotten Son, Jesus, who goes before us to prepare for us a place in His Heavenly Mansion and who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever.

CATECHESIS (STUDY THE FAITH)

REFERENCES FROM CATECHISM OF CATHOLIC CHURCH 2ND EDITION

CCC 992 -1001 Christ’s Resurrection and Ours;

CCC 1002 -1004 What does it mean to rise and die in Christ

CCC 1006 -1014 The meaning of Christian Death;

CCC 1021 -1022 Particular Judgement;

CCC 1023 -1029 Heaven;

CCC 1030 -1032 Purgatory;

CCC 1033 -1037 Hell;

CCC 1038 – 1041 Last Judgement

CCC 1020 I believe in Life Everlasting

CCC 1042 – 1050 New Heavenly Jerusalem.

HE IS RISEN!

St. Paul preaches in his first letter to the Corinthians, “How can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead then Christ has not been raised and if Christ has not been raised then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” Corinthians 15:12-14

Death is a consequence of Original Sin. After death, each person faces a particular judgment before God. After the particular judgment, the person will either immediately enter into the blessedness of heaven, purification in purgatory, or eternal damnation in hell.

To die in grave sin, without repenting and accepting God’s merciful love, means remaining separate from God for all eternity. The state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and his blessed is called hell. . Only a free will choice on our part and a persistent state of unrepentance leads one to hell. Hell is the bitter fruit of a final no to God.

Those who die in the grace and friendship with God and perfectly purified from sinfulness will see God face to face as He really is and live with Christ forever. This perfect life with the Blessed Trinity, Mary, and all the saints is called heaven, a state of supreme and definitive happiness forever.

The resurrection of all the dead, the just and unjust, will occur just before the Last Judgment when all who died hear the Son of Man’s command to come forth. Then the bodies will reunite with their souls.

LAST JUDGMENT

In the resurrection we will have spiritual bodies. Our natural bodies came from Adam, our spiritual bodies come from Christ. St. Paul says: “as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man [Adam], so we shall bear the likeness of the heavenly one [Christ]” 1 Corinthians 15:49

St. Paul says: “What is sown is perishable, but what is raised is imperishable; what is sown is contemptible but what is raised is glorious; what is sown is weak, but what is raised is powerful; what is sown is a natural body, and what is raised is a spiritual body” 1 Corinthians 15:42-44

Everlasting Life refers to the perpetuity of happiness, blessedness, wholeness, and union with the Most Blessed Trinity in heaven.

“They shall no more hunger and thirst. Neither shall the sun fall on them nor any heat. God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and death shall be no more. Nor mourning, nor crying, nor sorrow shall be any more for the former things are passed away.” Revelation 21:4

Our essential happiness in heaven will be the Beatific Vision, to see God as He is, God who is the source of all goodness and perfection.

“Dearly beloved we are now the sons and daughters of God and it hath not yet appeared what we shall be. We know when He shall appear we shall be like Him because we shall see Him as He is.” I John 3:2

When the Church is present to a dying person, they absolve them from their sins, anoint their bodies, sealing them in holy oil for Christ, and give them Jesus in the Eucharist (Viaticum) for their journey home. The Church sends them home with sweet assurance in the following prayer:

“Go forth Christian soul from this world in the name of God, the Almighty Father who created you. In the name of Jesus, the Son of the Living God who suffered for you. In the name of the Holy Spirit who was poured out upon you.

Go forth faithful Christian. May you live in peace this day. May your home be with God, with Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, with Joseph and all the angels and saints. May you return to your Creator who formed you from the dust of the earth. May Holy Mary, the angels and all the saints come to meet you as you go forth from this life. May you see your Redeemer face to face.” (CCC #1020)

CLOSING PRAYER (PRAY THE FAITH)

Heavenly Father, You sent your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, not to condemn us but to save us. Do not look upon our sinfulness and what we truly deserve, but in your mercy, forgive us. In Jesus’ name, we pray.

LIFE APPLICATION (LIVE THE FAITH)

What experiences have I had that have strengthened my belief in the immortality of the soul and life after death?
Am I frightened of death? Why? If I knew I was going to die soon, would I make changes in my behavior? If so, what?
Since the body will rise on the last day, why do you think God would have such a plan that body and soul would live for all eternity together.

PREPARING FOR THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT

CATHOLIC COMMENTARY

FATHER FORGIVE THEM.

THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO

Let us join the prophet Isaiah in proclaiming that Jesus, our Savior and Lord, “was pierced for our offences, crushed for our sins; and upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole. By his stripes we were healed” Isaiah 53:5

WE ARE FORGIVEN!

We need a Savior and what a great one we have, God himself. God emptied himself even to death, death on the cross, that we might have life, life everlasting!

The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:23

REPENT AND BE SAVED
As Lent approaches, (February 14) we may examine our consciences for areas that we need to repent. Conversion, is an essential part of the Lenten rite.

We need to be forgiven and to forgive others, maybe ourselves.

Seeking forgiveness and forgiving others is impossible without God’s grace. “With man it is impossible but with God all things are possible!” Matthew 19:26

Today, the Church, Jesus founded, is the custodian of conversion, forgiveness of sins, absolution, and reconciliation. It is God’s will that none be lost. I Timothy 2:4

The evening of His Resurrection, Jesus appeared to his Apostles, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” JOHN 20:21-23

Today, God the Father of mercy awaits our return home. Let us return in the words of the Prodigal Son. I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son… Luke 15:18-19

I WAS LOST AND NOW I AM FOUND
LUKE 15:31

Our Lord Jesus taught us to pray “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Literally, I am asking God to forgive me like I forgive others? Let me ponder that for a while….

Do I forgive injuries, real or perceived??? Have I forgiven those who have hurt or offended me? Or do I hold on to old hatreds and grudges?

Forgiveness is not the same as “forgetting! There are some things that we cannot forget, but we can choose to surrender that hurt, that painful memory, over to Our Lord Jesus, to ask Him to help us to let go of that hurt, to not to let it have power over me anymore.

But what if we continue to have negative feelings toward the person who hurt us? It doesn’t matter! Feelings are just that…feelings and nothing more! Negative feelings are not sinful, unless we deliberately foster them and choose to feed them.

When our negative feelings emerge, pray for the person who hurt us, then our feelings will eventually begin to change and to heal.

Clinging to our hurt and anger, understandable though it may be, only harms us. Anger, hurt, and nursing grudges all sap us of strength. In calling us to forgive, God is offering us the gift of freedom from a costly emotional state that robs us of our joy and strength

Some may think forgiveness requires that you stay or resume a poisonous dysfunctional relationship. It does not! Sometimes relationships are poisonous for both parties involved and to be avoided.

Forgiveness is a work of God within us, whereby He acts to free us from the poisonous effects of bitterness and grief that often accompany the harm that was inflicted upon us.

Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners
Matthew 9:12-13

CHECK YOUR FAITH HERE!

CATHOLIC COMMENTARY

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way,take up your cross, and follow me. Matthew 16:24

INTRODUCTION

CCC 143-144 By faith, man completely submits his intellect and his will to God Sacred… Scripture calls this human response to God, the author of revelation, “the obedience of faith”.

To obey (from the Latin ob-audire, to “hear or listen to”) in faith is to submit freely to the word that has been heard, because its truth is guaranteed by God, who is Truth itself….

Some say they believe in Jesus but do they believe Jesus and do as He says?

Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Luke 7:2i

There are many hard teachings and sayings from Jesus in Scripture such as; if anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Luke 14:26

Is Jesus telling us to hate our parents? Of course not. Jesus would not break one of the Ten Commandments, Honor your Mother and Father. No, Jesus is reminding those who wish to follow him must not put anything or anybody before him.

Jesus is bold, outspoken, when teaching about morality. He expands on the Ten commandments in His Sermon on the Mount. Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. Matthew 5:17

You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment. But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment Matthew 5:21

“You have heard that it was said,^r ‘You shall not commit adultery, ’But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:27

Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’^[b] If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. John 15:18

They came to Capernaum, and on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught.

The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. Mark 1:21-22 Jesus’ authority came from the Father.

“Who sees me, sees the Father.” John 14:8-9

Jesus was counter-cultural and so is His Church founded on Peter the Rock Catholicism remains the staunchest opponent to the culture of the times.

Our doctrines handed down from the Rock of Peter are stubborn things. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it Matthew 16:17

Satan is a liar a deceiver, the Father of lies, Satan spreads his lies to the world in the guise of modernity. We must not have any of it. The Truth will set us free.

We must attract people to the Catholic Faith with its authenticity to the Gospel, its sacraments, and its liturgy, the Mass.

Watering down the Catholic Church is watering down Jesus!

CATHOLIC CHURCH MUST TEACH AS JESUS TEACHES

The Bishops of the Church must give bold leadership in rejecting themes of this world that are destructive to individuals as well as families.

God says to the Church of Laodicia, “I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth” Revelations 3:14

If you believe in Gospels only what you like

but don’t believe what you don’t like then

you don’t believe in the gospel

but believe in yourself.

St. Augustine

REFLECTION

What does it mean to me that Jesus taught with authority?

What does it mean to me to be a disciple of Jesus?

Jesus founded a counter-cultural Church on Peter, the Rock and promised the Holy Spirit to guide it on earth from error. Catholic Church teaching condemns abortion, contraception, divorce and remarriage, same sex marriage and gender identity theory.

These are hard teachings for some. How am I doing with them.?

We must radiate holiness to be holy in all conduct the church is a sign of Jesus’ work and presence in the world. We must be that living sign.

If we are disciples we are on mission. How am I rebuilding the Church of Christ in the world today?

JESUS NOW TEACHES FROM THE BARQUE OF THE CHURCH

ANCESTRY…JESUS

1 Comment / CATHOLIC COMMENTARY

INTRODUCTION

There is so much talk today about seeking your ancestors and this made me think of Jesus’ genealogy and what it says to me. Some of Jesus’ ancestors were prostitutes, cheats, murderers and adulterers

JESUS’ GENEOLOGY

For example, there was Jacob who cheated his brother Esau out of his inheritance, Rahab, a prostitute in the city of Jericho who helped the Israelite spies. And David, adulterer and murderer who lusted after his neighbor’s wife. Bathsheba, and had her husband, Uriah, killed. JACOB GENESIS 25:23; RAHAB JOSHUA 6:23; DAVID 2 SAMUEL 11:1

Let’ stake a closer look at ISRAELITE SPIES SAVED BY RAHAB THE CAANANITE

Then Joshua, son of Nun, secretly sent out two spies saying, “Go, reconnoiter the land and Jericho.” When the two reached Jericho, they went into the house of a prostitute named Rahab, where they lodged.

But a report was brought to the king of Jericho: “Some men came here last night, Israelites, to spy out the land.” So the king of Jericho sent Rahab the order, “Bring out the men who have come to you and entered your house, for they have come to spy out the entire land.”

Now, she had led the spies to the roof, and hidden them among her stalks of flax spread out^* there….Rahab went up to them on the roof….

Rahab said to the spies:^* “I know that the LORD has given you this land…, We have heard how the LORD dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, …and all the inhabitants of the land tremble with fear because of you.

Now then, swear to me by the LORD that, since I am showing kindness to you, you in turn will show kindness to my family. that you will allow my father and mother, brothers and sisters, and my whole family to live, and that you will deliver us from death.”

“We pledge our lives for yours,” they answered her. “If you do not betray our mission, we will be faithful in showing kindness to you when the LORD gives us the land.”…

REFLECTION

God never gives up on us no matter what we have done or what our ancestors have done.

God can bring repentance and conversion out of our sins.. Never give up!

I myself have walked away from God but in His mercy He never gave up, sought me, and called me back into His embrace.

Can you think of a time that sins got your attention and brought you to repentance/ conversion?

God wants us to receive His mercy and let it flow through us to others. God wants us to extend love and forgiveness to others just as He does to us.

REPENT AND BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL

MARK 1:15

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BLESSINGS FIDUCIA SUPPLICANS

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING, CATHOLIC COMMENTARY

FIDUCIA SUPPLICANS (“Supplicating Trust”) is a 2023 Declaration on Catholic Doctrine that allows Catholic priests to bless couples who are not considered to be married according to church teaching, including same-sex couples.

INTRODUCTION

Let the games begin! Once again the Francis Papacy is jarred by controversy. The Church on the left believe Francis approves same sex marriages. The church on the right wants Francis charged with heresy and removed from office for blessing same sex couples.

Division is the main tool of the adversary, the Evil one. There is nothing Satan, wants more than division in God’s family the Church.

Satan is not going to bother those who have already drunk his Kool-Aid. Satan’s attacks are on those struggling to go home to Abba, Father. Satan, so envious, wants no one to have what he can never have, union with the Father.

And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world… into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Revelation 20:10

COMMENTARY

Fiducia Supplicans

DECLARATION

On the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings

Ex Audientia Die 18 December 2023
Francis

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A Catholic priest can bless a gay or other unmarried couple as long as it is not a formal liturgical blessing and does not give the impression that the Catholic Church is blessing the union as if it were a marriage,

Key points of Fiducia Supplicans

1. It reaffirms the traditional Catholic doctrine on marriage. It makes clear that the Church the Church does not have the power to impart blessings on unionsof persons of the same sex”

2.It clarifies the role of the Church in offering blessing.a distinction between blessing a same-sex couple and blessing their union.

3. It emphasizes Pope Francis’s focus on pastoral charity and inclusivity. Fiducia Supplicans encourages the Church to avoid being overly judgmental or exclusive in its ministry where people seek blessings in faith and sincerity, regardless of their life circumstances.

4. It makes a clear distinction between liturgical rites and blessings. The Church may not create liturgical rites for blessings of unions outside the traditional marriage definition. But the Church can still offer blessings in a pastoral context, to those who ask for a blessing that all that is true, good, and humanly valid in their lives and their relationships be enriched and healed by the presence of the Holy Spirit” FS 29

Fiducia supplicans remains firm on the traditional doctrine of the Church about marriage, but it also explores the “pastoral meaning of blessings” in a way that opens “the possibility of blessing couples in irregular situations and same-sex couples without officially validating their status or changing in any way the Church’s perennial teaching on marriage.”

The Church responds to the requests of people who are in objectively sinful and disordered situations (either same-sex relationships or other irregular situations, like those who are divorced and invalidly “remarried”) with a prayer that God may help them to overcome sin, to live holier lives, and even discern how they may be restored to full communion..

When we ask for blessing to help us along the way, we receive Actual grace, a divine assistance given to help one do the right thing, distinct from sanctifying grace which is habitual.

Sanctifying grace is the gratuitous gift of His life that God makes to us; it is infused by the Holy Spirit into the soul to heal it of sin and to sanctify it. Sanctifying grace makes us “pleasing to God Sanctifying grace is the habitual experience of God’s love.

Actual grace is God’s love at work in specific moments. An example of actual grace might be a revelatory moment of prayer. It could be a timely phone call or answer to a prayer.

REFLECTION

What blessings have I asked God for myself?

For others?

Are there times when I bless myself with sign of cross? Bless others with sign of cross?

The sign of the cross must be a prayer not a good luck charm or superstition.

The last image of Jesus on earth is that of his hands being raised in the act of blessing the Eleven, “And lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven” Luke. 2450-51

WE BELIEVE IN THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS

CATECHESIS

A GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES ON EARTH AND IN HEAVEN

HEBREW 12:1

OPENING PRAYER (WELCOME GOD INTO OUR STUDY)

Heavenly Father, you sent us your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ to found a Church, a Communion of saints. Grant us, your Pilgrim church, perseverance in our journey that we may join the saints in heaven in praising you, forever and ever. In Jesus’ name we pray.

CATECHESIS (STUDY THE FAITH)

REFERENCES FROM CATECHISM OF CATHOLIC CHURCH 2ND EDITION

CCC 946 – 953 How are we a Communion of Saints

CCC 954 – 962The Communion of the Church of Heaven and Earth

CCC 968 – 972 Mary the mother of Christ-Church

The “Communion of Saints,” is also called the Mystical Body of Christ or the Church, We are the pilgrim Church on earth still making our way back home. We fight hard to overcome the World, the flesh, and the Devil. We are sometimes called the “Church Militant.”

Another part of the Communion of Saints are souls purgatory, not yet purified and perfected but will one day enter heaven. They are members of the Church who have died and have not yet entered into the glory of God’s presence because of some unrepentant sin or effects of sin still remaining at the time of their death.

We believe that God in his mercy purifies Souls in Purgatory and purges them of their sins and effects so they may worthily enter into the presence of the all Holy God, “before whom nothing unclean shall enter.” Revelation 21:27

We call the souls in Purgatory, the Church Suffering. It is painful in Purgatory just as it is here on earth when God breaks us from our addictions and willfulness. The souls in Purgatory also suffer because they are separated from full communion with God.

We can pray for these loved ones in purgatory that they soon may be purified and perfected. Souls in purgatory cannot pray for themselves but can pray for us. They can pray for us that we may have fortitude and perseverance in our journey home. They pray for us now and will intercede for us when they get to heaven.

The final group of saints is already in heaven, already experiencing the Beatific Vision. We call these saints, the “Church Triumphant.” We, the pilgrim church, celebrate in liturgy the “Communion of Saints” here on earth on back to back Feast Days of All Saints and All Souls.

The communion of saints, the Church, is truly God’s family. This should give us great encouragement. We are vast in numbers, too many to comprehend.

Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely and let us run the race, before us, with perseverance, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of faith who for the joy, set before Him, endured the cross, and is seated at the right hand of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

CLOSING PRAYER (PRAY THE FAITH)

Lord God, you are glorified in your saints. In their lives on earth, you give us an example. In our communion with them, you give us their friendship. Around your throne, the saints, our brothers and sisters, sing your praises forever. With their great company and all the angels in heaven, we, too, praise your glory, now and forever. Amen.

LIFE APPLICATION (LIVE THE FAITH)

1.Who are my favorite saints?

What is there about them that appeal to me?

2. How often do I pray for the souls in purgatory? My deceased family members? Those who have no one to pray for them?

3. Jesus is the one mediator and our Savior. Do we still pray to saints to intercede for us?

COME FOLLOW ME

JESUS IS THE WAY THE TRUTH THE LIFE