SCRIPTURE

MARRIAGE FEAST AT CANA JESUS’ FIRST MIRACLE

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JOHN 2:1-11 THE WEDDING AT CANA

There was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.  When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”  Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.”  His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.”  Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. 

 Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim.  Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it.  And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew).

 The headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.”  Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.

COMMENTARY

 at Cana, at some period of the entertainment the wine suddenly ran out. This was very embarrassing because of the passionate devotion of the Eastern people to hospitality.

It is very likely that the host laid in an abundant supply. The explanation for the deficiency is probably the fact that Our Blessed Lord did not come alone. He brought with Him His disciples, and this apparently threw a heavy burden upon the store of wine. Wine was a symbol of mirth and health to the people, it was important that their need be filled in the spirit of hospitality and charity.

 REFLECTION:

 When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”  Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” 

Jesus told his Mother “His hour was not yet come…. If Jesus revealed His Divinity now, He would begin the royal road to the cross.  Mary may not have understood the full extant of what she was asking but she did know enough to tell the servants,  Do whatever He tells you.

 Mary knows Jesus will attend to our needs when the time is right…Mary’s faith is remarkable as it was from her first fiat at the Annunciation, “Be it done to me according to your word!”…

 Mary is the model of faith…pray to Mary to keep our Faith strong..…As Our Lord mediates between us and the Heavenly Father, so the Blessed Mother mediates between us and Our Divine Lord

 Jesus performed this first of His signs… and the disciples began to believe in Him…what are the signs of Jesus’ intervention in my life…look closely…

 What was my life like while drinking the “inferior wine” of this world before Jesus served up the “superior wine,” …. How has the “superior wine changed my life?

.POSTSCRIPT

 THE GOODS OF MARRIAGE

 “Have you not read that in the beginning God ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Matthew 19:3-12

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1643), there are three goods of marriage. They are: unity, fidelity, and openness to children

This unity is beyond mere unity of the flesh; it demands permanence (indissolubility) for the entire life of the married couple. The union is so profound and total that only death can dissolve it.

The very nature of conjugal love, total union for life of a married couple, demands fidelity and prohibits any disorder such as adultery.

The good of “openness to children” is the fruit of total self-giving love. Accepting children and nurturing them leads the married couple to a deeper union and exclusive commitment to one another.

The Church does not demand married couples have enough children to field a baseball team.  The Church simply says that parents should exhibit generosity appropriate to responsible parenthood and not use any immoral means such as contraception or abortion as a means to demean their intimacy and frustrate God’s plan.

Using Natural Family Planning  a couple can use fertility tracking technology so if a couple wants another baby, they can choose to be intimate on a woman’s identifiable fertile days. On the other hand, if they don’t feel ready for another baby, they would simply choose to be intimate on an infertile day instead.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for hert

Ephesians 5:25

Marriage is not merely a legal contract. A Catholic marriage is a covenant, or a sacred pledge of loyalty with God as our witness between persons, a man and woman. This covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE GOOD SHEPHERD

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What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?

And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’

I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.

REJOICE WITH ME

FOR I HAVE FOUND MY LOST SHEEP

LUKE 15:4-10 

 REFLECTION

Jesus is a master story teller. In this parable Jesus tells the unbelievable story of a shepherd leaving most of his flock to the wolves to search for one missing sheep.  That shepherd would soon be fired.

But the point of God’s love for each and every one of us is unmistakable…. there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. Praise God!

God knocks until we open the door…no matter how far away or how long…God never stops calling us home…Hear Him…Listen to Him…

Repent and be saved…the kingdom of heaven is at hand…Come home…

PARABLE OF THE TALENTS

MATTHEW 25:14-30

“a man who was going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one—to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two.

But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money.

After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five.*

He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’

His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’

Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.’

His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’

Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’

His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant!* So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return?

Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.

REFLECTION

God gives each one of us special gifts ready made to fit us.  We must pray to discover them, cherish them, and use them as God intended.

God gives gifts to us according to our ability/personality…

What are my gifts…how am I sharing them…do I bury some….do I reject some…

Do I gift others…This little light will shine, Let it shine, Let it shine

Will we hear one day, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Enter my kingdom

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

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INTRODUCTION

The baptism of Jesus is not just another story of Jesus told in all four gospels but the story that says all we need to know about who Jesus is and our relationship to him. Jesus is our savior and we are the ones he came to save. Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21, and John 1:29-34

JOHN THE BAPTIST’S TESTIMONY TO HIMSELF.

 SCRIPTURE

And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites [to him] to ask him, “Who are you?”  he admitted “I am not the Messiah.” So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?”* And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”

 So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?” He said: “I am ‘the voice of one crying out in the desert, “Make straight the way of the Lord, as Isaiah the prophet said.”

….*“I baptize with water;* but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” *JOHN 1:19-28

VOICE CRYING OUT IN DESERT

 REFLECTION

 John the Baptist asserts he is not the Messiah, the expected one.  John could have out of pride taken their adulation and sycophancy, but no, he told the truth.  There was no deceit in John the Baptist.  John was all about truth.

Repent, the kingdom is coming, be ready, prepare yourselves, your salvation is at hand.  John knew his place in the Divine Plan.  Do we know ours?

BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD

 JOHN THE BAPTIST’S TESTIMONY TO JESUS.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God,* who takes away the sin of the world He is the one of whom I said, A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’ I did not know him,* but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” John 1:29-34

 Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?” Jesus said to him in reply, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. Matthew 3:13-15

 REFLECTION

 John protests that he should be the one baptized by Jesus but Jesus says let it be done for now for sake of righteousness.  What is righteousness?

“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land. Jeremiah 23:5

In the New Testament Joseph foster father of Jesus is described as righteous. Joseph, since he was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. Matthew 1:19

 Righteousness may be described as oneness with God….Jesus is telling John the Baptist it is the Father’s will, Let it be for now!

When Jesus was immersed in the waters of John’s baptism He took on all the sins of the world, and carried them to redemption on the cross. After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened…the Spirit of God descended like a dove… And a voice came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” JOHN 1:26-32

THIS IS MY BELOVED SON

WITH WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED

REFLECTION

 John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove* from the sky and remain upon him…. Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.” John 1:32-34

John the Baptist witnessed the Holy Spirit affirming Jesus as the one sent by God. John testified to the others gathered, this man is the Son of God.  How are we in testifying to others that Jesus is the Son of God…there is no other to follow.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

 Jesus is that sacrificial lamb who sacrifices himself for us that our sins may be forgiven… sin has no more dominion over mankind…Blessed be God!

 The Father affirms the Son’s mission…”This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased…Here is your Savior!

CLOSING

At our Baptisms we become adopted sons and daughters and heirs to heaven. At our Baptisms we reject Satan and all his works and empty promises. At our Baptisms we are made righteous, cleansed of our sins, infused with sanctifying grace, and configured to Christ…an initiation that sets us on our journey back home to the Father.

THINGS TO PONDER

HE MUST INCREASE, I MUST DECREASE! JOHN 3:30

 

 

 

 

PARABLES 3

SCRIPTURE

REJOICE WITH ME FOR I HAVE FOUND MY LOST SHEEP

LUKE 15:4-10 

What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?

And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy  and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’

I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.

THE GOOD SHEPHERD

REFLECTION

Jesus is a master story teller. In this parable Jesus tells the unbelievable story of a shepherd leaving most of his flock to search for one missing one who has probably been eaten by a wolf.  That shepherd would soon be fired. But the point of God’s love for each and every one of us is unmistakable. Praise God!

What kind of God do we have that will go after just one person…Thank God who seeks until one finds God again.

He knocks until we open the door…no matter how far away or how long…God never stops calling us home…Hear Him…Listen to Him…

Repent and be saved…the kingdom of heaven is at hand…Come home…

PARABLE OF THE TALENTS

MATTHEW 25:14-30

“It will be as when a man who was going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one—to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money.

After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five.* He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’

His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’

Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.’His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’

Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’

His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant!* So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return?

Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.

REFLECTION

God gives gifts to us according to our ability/personality and according to God’s plan for salvation…Do we bury these gifts…keep them for ourselves or are we light to the world…

God created us according to His Holy will.. each different with special gifts that display God’s glory…God’s gifts are super abundant…

What are my gifts…how am I sharing them…do I bury some….do I reject some…

Do I gift others…This little light will shine, Let it shine, Let it shine

Let us hear one day, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Enter my kingdom

 

TYPOLOGY THE PROMISE OF A SAVIOR

SCRIPTURE, THE STORY OF OUR SALVATION

JESUS READS FROM THE SCROLLS

 When reading the Bible, you may have noticed some people and events seem familiar like you have already read something similar.  Well, that is true if you read from both the Old Testament and the New Testament and there is a name for this experience.

In the New Testament the Old is perfectly fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ The technical name for seeing the New Testament in the Old Testament is called typology. Typology is the study of the Bible as a unified whole with Christ at the center.

 I will now share with you a few of the types found in the Old Testament. There are many more if you wish to search ie. David on donkey, Jesus on donkey…

 ADAM

 Jesus is the New Adam giving us life rather than death.  Early Christian writers spoke of Jesus as the New Adam. Paul writes in his letter to the Romans:

 The first Adam was disobedient which resulted in original sin and death. Jesus was obedient which resulted in salvation and life. Just as through one person sin entered the world, and the many died…, how much more did   the grace of God and the gracious gift of the one person, Jesus Christ, overflow for the many… Romans 5:8.

 

 ABRAHAM

 The LORD said to Abram: Go forth* from your land, your relatives, and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing Genesis 12:1-2

 Abraham was a type of Christ in that he was the prototypical stranger and foreigner. Like the Redeemer, He functionally “had nowhere to lay his head.”  Abraham was to be the Father of many nations.  Jesus came to call all nations, the everlasting Father of all.

 

 ISAAC

 Sometime afterward, God put Abraham to the test and said Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. And there offer him up as a burnt offering on one of the heights that I will point out to you Genesis 22:1-2

Isaac was a type of Christ in that he was the promised “son of Abraham.” The promises of God were given directly to Abraham with respect to His son . Just as Isaac’s birth was the result of the supernatural power of God so too was it true of Jesus. Isaac carried the wood on his back for the sacrifice as Jesus carried his cross. Do not lay your hand on the boy,” said the angel

 

MELCHIZEDEK

Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine, and being a priest of God Most High, he blessed Abram with these words:  Blessed be Abram by God Most High, the creator of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your foes into your hand.” Genesis 14:18-19

“The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent: ‘You are a priest forever'”-in the order of –  Melchizedek …. It was fitting that we should have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners…Hebrews 7:17-22

Melchizedek offers bread and wine to Abraham as Jesus offered bread and wine in thanksgiving at Last Supper

Moses receives Ten Commandments

Moses’ mission was to free Israel from slavery to Egypt.  Jesus delivers us from the slavery of sin.

 Then the LORD said to Moses: Come up to me on the mountain and, while you are there, I will give you the stone tablets on which I have written the commandments intended for their instruction. Genesis 24:12

In the New Testament Jesus explains the Ten Commandments more fully in the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount. When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down…, He began to teach them, saying: The Beatitudes*… Matthew 5:1-2

 

JONAH

 “This is the word of the LORD that came to Jonah, “Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and preach against it; their wickedness has come up before me.” Jonah 2:11

Jonah tried to run away from his mission, “But the LORD sent a large fish, that swallowed Jonah; and he remained in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.  On the third day Jonah was “resurrected” from the belly of the fish.

The story of Jonah and the whale from the Old Testament prefigures Christ’s burial, the stomach of the whale as Christ’s tomb: Jonah was freed from the whale after three days, so did Christ rise from his tomb after three days.

After Jesus’ death He was placed in a tomb.

 “Taking the body, Joseph wrapped it (in) clean linen and laid it in his new tomb that he had hewn in the rock. Then he rolled a huge stone across the entrance to the tomb and departed.” Matthew 27:60

On the third day Jesus rose from the dead.

“After the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.…..  Then the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified.  He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said.” Matthew 28:1-10

 DAVID 

 David was a shepherd from Bethlehem who was chosen by God to be the King of Israel. David was a mighty warrior King. David was a shepherd/King who ruled over God’s people in faithfulness.  Jesus is the Good Shepherd and the King of Kings who rules over God’s people in perfect covenantal faithfulness.

 PRAYER TO JESUS LORD AND SAVIOR

Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God, that you died on the cross to rescue me from sin and death and to restore me to the Father.

 I choose now to turn from my sins, my self-centeredness, and every part of my life that does not please you. I choose you.

Please forgive me. Live in me. Love through me.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

EPHESIANS CHAPTER 4

SCRIPTURE

Renewal in Christ.*

—you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds; darkened in understanding, and alienated from the life of God…. because of their hardness of heart, they have become callous and have handed themselves over to… every kind of impurity to excess.

That is not how you learned Christ…. you should put away the old self of your former way of life, corrupted through deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on* the new self, created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth.

REFLECTION

Repent and believe in the Gospel! Turn back to God. Seek God rather than what appeals to self, especially addiction to anything. Stop worrying about matters in this world, prepare for matters in the next world.  Eternity is forever, no time out.

Protect me from my own careless thoughts, words, and actions.  Give me a wise discerning heart to see the world as you see it. Lord have mercy!

I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

Rules for the New Life.

Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun set on your anger, and do not leave room for the devil.

The thief must no longer steal, but rather labor, doing honest work* with his [own] hands, so that he may have something to share with one in need.

No foul language should come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for needed edification, that it may impart grace to those who hear…. All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice. And] be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.

REFLECTION

Jesus is the light of the world. Let that light shine on the darkness of sin and leanings towards sin. May this light disperse the darkness, Let me take in that light that I may be a light to others in this world

As we are forgiven in Christ we must forgive those who offend us. The Our Father says it best, Forgive us our trespasses  as we forgive those who trespass against us, Be careful what you pray for!

 

 

EPHESIANS CHAPTER 2-1-8;13-19

CATHOLIC LETTERS, SCRIPTURE

THE GOSPEL OF SALVATION

You were dead in your transgressions and sins….But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ* by grace you have been saved….

raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in his kindness to us in Christ Jesu….

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast.  For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.

One in Christ.

Now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have become near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace… who broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his flesh…

He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near

for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are with the holy ones. members of the household of God….

REFLECTION

He came and preached peace to you who were far and near

Peace be with you! More than anything we need peace in our heart.  When we are filled with angst and distress something is wrong.  Pray to God to find it and fix it!

Amazing Grace! How Great thou Art!

Amazing grace (how sweet the sound)
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found…

God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

God does not wait. Thank God we have a God who loves us so much just the way we are.  Blessed be God!

God Saves! We do not save ourselves.

There is only one Savior, Jesus Christ Incarnate.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Lord, I give myself to you. I receive your forgiveness gladly and ask you to take your rightful place in my life as my Savior and Lord, fill me with your love and your life.  

PARABLES OF JESUS 1

SCRIPTURE

THE PRODIGAL SON LUKE 15:11-24

A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. 

After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.  When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need.  So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. 

And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any.  Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger.

I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.  I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”‘

So he got up and went back to his father.  While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.

He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’

But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’

REFLECTION:

‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me

This son has no right to any inheritance he might receive after his father’s death.  Do we make demands for things we have no right to?

he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.

Do we squander the graces we receive from God?

Coming to his senses…I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you

REPENT AND BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL! Turn back to god.

While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion

The Father in this parable is longing for his son’s return the same way God thirsts for us.  

the Father clothed him in the finest garment and ordered a feast for this son who was dead and has come to life again…he was lost and has been found….

so it is with God when we turn from sin and return to the Father…He places a wedding garment on our shoulders and welcomes us to the feast….

THE SOWER AND THE SEED MARK 4:2-8

In those days Jesus departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God.  When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve. 

Jesus taught them at length in parables, and in the course of his instruction he said to them,

“Hear this!  A sower went out to sow.  And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil.

It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep. And when the sun rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots.

 Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it and it produced no grain. And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit.  It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” 

 REFLECTION:

Jesus sows the word…those sown on rocky ground receive it at once with joy… but when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away….

Those sown among thorns are the people who hear the word, but the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit…

but those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold…

Does the word bear fruit in my life? … How?

What must I do to enrich my soil…that I may bear fruit?

 

EPHESIANS CHAPTER 1

SCRIPTURE

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the holy ones who are [in Ephesus] faithful in Christ Jesus: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Father’s Plan of Salvation. 5-6

GOD THE CREATOR

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish…

In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved.

Fulfillment through Christ. 7-10                  

GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD

In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us.

In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us the mystery* of his will in accord with his favor that he set forth in him…

Inheritance through the Spirit. 11-14

COME HOLY SPIRIT

…In him you also, have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which is the first installment* of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s possession, to the praise of his glory.

REFLECTION

In this first chapter of a letter to the Ephesians, Paul calls to mind the Most Blessed Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God in three Persons.

At the Council of Nicea 325 and Constantinople 381, the Bishops of the world declared definitively that Jesus the Word made Flesh was the same substance as the Father and that the Holy Spirit was the Lord and giver of Life proceeding from the Father and the Son

From all eternity, without beginning there is One God in three Divine Persons.  It is a mystery of our Faith that we can never fully comprehend or exhaust but we are able to speak about it.

How do you relate to the Father??? to the Son??? To the Holy Spirit???

If a man loves me, says the Lord, he will keep my word and my Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” John 17:21-23

Is our home (self) ready to receive the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? If not, what house cleaning must we do?

CLOSING PRAYER

Most Holy and Blessed Trinity we acknowledge you as the central mystery of our Faith.  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you are one God in Three Persons.  Let this mystery of our faith not confound us but draw us into the abiding love you have for each other and for us, in Jesus’ name we pray!

MIRACLES OF JESUS

MIRACLES OF JESUS, MIRACLES OF JESUS, SCRIPTURE

                             

JESUS HEALS THE PARALYTIC

MARK 2:1-12

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.

Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, Why does this man speak that way?* He is blaspheming.

Who but God alone can forgive sins?” Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?

Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth”— he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.”

He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

REFLECTION

Many gathered around the place of Jesus so there was no room anymore…so many needs…one messiah and healer…Where there is a will there is a way…Trust in Jesus

Perseverance in prayer and faithfulness pays off in the end…when Jesus saw their faith He said, “Child your sins are forgiven.”…

WHY SINS? Why not? Sins are the cause for a fallen broken world. Nothing weighs as heavily as unrepentant sin.

Jesus left the crowd astounded and in awe of His authority Are we astounded and in awe of Jesus’ power and mercy?

MULTIPLICATION OF THE LOAVES AND FISHES

JOHN 6:5-15

When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?”  He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do.

Philip answered him, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little (bit).”  One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?”  Jesus said, “Have the people recline.”

Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. 

Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted.  When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.”  So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat.

REFLECTION

Jesus saw the needs of the people without being told…Jesus sees our needs too…do we seek Jesus when in need?

Jesus took the loaves and gave thanks…Jesus is always thankful to the Father…Jesus trusts the Father…Are we thankful each day for all God’s gifts

Those in the crowd had their fill…there was much left over…our God is a God of abundance…. give thanks to God for He is good…

Are we generous in our gifts to others…plus our time, our empathy,

THE RAISING OF LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD

JOHN 16-27

IF YOU HAD BEEN HERE!

(Jesus said to his disciples,) “Our friend Lazarus is asleep, but I am going to awaken him.”  So the disciples said to him, “Master, if he is asleep, he will be saved.” But Jesus was talking about his death, while they thought that he meant ordinary sleep.  So then Jesus said to them clearly, “Lazarus has died.  And I am glad for you that I was not there, that you may believe. Let us go to him.”…

When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him…Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.  (But) even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” 

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.”  Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.”  Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”  She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God…

Jesus said, “Take away the stone…So they took away the stone. And Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you for hearing me.  I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me.”  And when he had said this, he cried out in a loud voice,

LAZARUS COME OUT

The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth. So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.”  Now many of the Jews who had come to Mary and Martha and seen what he had done began to believe in him. 

REFLECTION

Jesus’ friend Lazarus has died….Jesus is glad he was not there so that he can perform this miracle before witnesses that they might believe in him and him who sent him…

Jesus wants witnesses to this miracle and why not because He has come to defeat sin and death a consequence of sin, Jesus is our Redeemer and Savior….and wants everyone to believe He is the resurrection and live.

Martha believes if Jesus had been there her brother would not have died …Jesus tells her, I am the resurrection and life, whoever believes me will never die…Jesus asks Martha if she believe this…Do I believe this…

Jesus calls Lazarus out of the tomb…Lazarus comes out…and many began this day to believe in Jesus…

What does it take for me to believe in Jesus…I mean really believe and trust in Him even my prayer as I see it goes unanswered.  God hears all our prayers and will answer with what is best for me…Can I accept that!