Tag: the Lord

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“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

Compassion of Jesus

Awhile back, the angels asked me to dedicate Sundays to the Gospels. With Love and Gratitude, here is the Gospel of Matthew 18:15-20 MT 18:15-20

Jesus said to his disciples:
“If your brother sins against you,
go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. 
If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.
If he does not listen,
take one or two others along with you,
so that ‘every fact may be established
on the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. 
If he refuses to listen even to the church,
then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.
Amen, I say to you,
whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Again, amen, I say to you,
if two of you agree on earth
about anything for which they are to pray,
it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. 
For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them.”

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The Word of the Lord is Profound because it is spoken with Divine Wisdom and Divine Truth- and is created as Spiritual Truth.  The first part of the reading is about spiritually counseling someone to turn from their ways, while using Wisdom to assist- winning them over to God’s Mercy. God does not enjoy watching any son or daughter engage in sin and all of Heaven celebrates when someone turns from sin. 

 “Whatsoever two of you agree about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted them by my Heavenly Father.”  and “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them.” are promises from God- from the Son of God, which every promise and Word spoken- stand Divinely Promised for us all throughout eternity. 

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Do not be afraid

Risen

Awhile back , the angels asked me to dedicate Sundays to the Gospel Readings. With Love of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, here is the Gospel of Matthew 28:1-10 as we celebrate this very special and Holy Day. Happy Easter !

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning,
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
And behold, there was a great earthquake;
for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven,
approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it.
His appearance was like lightning
and his clothing was white as snow.
The guards were shaken with fear of him
and became like dead men.
Then the angel said to the women in reply,
“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.
Come and see the place where he lay.
Then go quickly and tell his disciples,
‘He has been raised from the dead,
and he is going before you to Galilee;
there you will see him.’
Behold, I have told you.”
Then they went away quickly from the tomb,
fearful yet overjoyed,
and ran to announce this to his disciples.
And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them.
They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage.
Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid.
Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee,
and there they will see me.”

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“This Is My Beloved Son, With Whom I Am Well Pleased; Listen To Him”

Transfiguration

Awhile back, the angels asked me to dedicate Sundays to the Gospels. With Love and Gratitude, here is the Gospel of Matthew 17:1-9

Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother,
and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them;
his face shone like the sun
and his clothes became white as light.
And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them,
conversing with him.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
“Lord, it is good that we are here.
If you wish, I will make three tents here,
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking, behold,
a bright cloud cast a shadow over them,
then from the cloud came a voice that said,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;
listen to him.”
When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate
and were very much afraid.
But Jesus came and touched them, saying,
“Rise, and do not be afraid.”
And when the disciples raised their eyes,
they saw no one else but Jesus alone.

As they were coming down from the mountain,
Jesus charged them,
“Do not tell the vision to anyone
until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

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Jesus had taken Peter , James and John to strengthen their faith for what was to come. In this reading, Jesus leads the three disciples to a mountain, which at the time was a common place to go to speak to God, to engage in prayer/fasting, and possibly where one could see visions, or hear the Voice of God. When God gave Moses the Old Law,  this was also done on a high mountain where Moses fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. 

On the way, Jesus was suddenly transformed or transfigured before them, and his face and clothes shone upon them with the Glory of God.  Suddenly, in this vision  Moses and Elijah appear from Heaven to converse with Jesus. Moses, representing the Old Law, and Elijah, representing the Prophets. Jesus, was there in the full Glory of God, as God’s True Son, as the New Law that fulfills the old and as the King of all the Prophets.  The disciples, were also in witness to God’s Voice, letting them know that this was truly God’s Holy Son and to listen to Him. 

Such would strengthen these Disciples’ faith as soon, the Lord’s Passion would be upon them.  

In Jesus’ Name. 

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Jesus Saves

Jesus 2

Awhile back, the angels asked me to dedicate Sundays to the Gospels. With Love and Gratitude, here is the Gospel of Luke 23:35-43. With a loving message behind it. 

The rulers sneered at Jesus and said,
“He saved others, let him save himself
if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.”
Even the soldiers jeered at him.
As they approached to offer him wine they called out,
“If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.”
Above him there was an inscription that read,
“This is the King of the Jews.”

Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying,
“Are you not the Christ?
Save yourself and us.”
The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply,
“Have you no fear of God,
for you are subject to the same condemnation?
And indeed, we have been condemned justly,
for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes,
but this man has done nothing criminal.”
Then he said,
“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
He replied to him,
“Amen, I say to you,
today you will be with me in Paradise.”

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Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ, the King of the Universe. We recognize and celebrate that Jesus is Lord over all of God’s Kingdom. Lord of Heaven, Earth and the Universe. Jesus is Lord over even the stars, all religions, belief systems, and even those who do not believe in him. This very special Sunday falls the very week before we begin the Advent season, which is the following weekend. 

The Mercy of God is great, as well as the Mercy  and Passion of the Lord. Note that Jesus has handed himself over for his bitter Passion, and is in complete agony on the cross after being scourged. When the thief to the left of him recognizes Jesus, and uses faith and humility, asking Jesus Christ to remember him when he goes in front of the Father, Jesus doesn’t say,”Well , hang on and I will think about it .” He doesn’t say, “Whew! You sure did mess up big time! Let me talk about it with God first.” No, Jesus forgives him on the spot, the moment the thief asked and announces that the thief will be in Paradise with the Lord , when he goes to the Father. Jesus knows that Mercy of God is Eternally Great, and knows He has Authority to forgive sin. The thief received eternal salvation right then and there, the second he asked. 

I offer this to you because Jesus and God are both extremely Merciful. Jesus came to save many, and announces to the thief, who has lived not the best life, that he too will be in Paradise. What a Great God we serve ! What A Merciful and Great God. Trust in Jesus and in God’s Mercy. For even when Jesus was in complete and total agony, Jesus was still able to forgive sin, and bring this son of God to Heaven with him. 

In Jesus’ Name 

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Today Salvation Has Come To This House

Jesus

Awhile back, the angels asked me to dedicate Sundays to the Gospel Readings. With love and gratitude, here is the Gospel of Luke LK 19:1-10.  With an angel inspired message behind it. 

At that time, Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town.
Now a man there named Zacchaeus,
who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man,
was seeking to see who Jesus was;
but he could not see him because of the crowd,
for he was short in stature.
So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus,
who was about to pass that way.
When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said,
“Zacchaeus, come down quickly,
for today I must stay at your house.”
And he came down quickly and received him with joy.
When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying,
“He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.”
But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord,
“Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor,
and if I have extorted anything from anyone
I shall repay it four times over.”
And Jesus said to him,
“Today salvation has come to this house
because this man too is a descendant of Abraham.
For the Son of Man has come to seek
and to save what was lost.”

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One of the items in this scripture passage, that was pointed out today in church, was that Zacchaeus placed himself in a position for God’s Calling. Jesus didn’t say to Zacchaeus, ” Maybe I should stay  at your house”

Jesus said ” I must stay at your house.” – This was pre-ordained by the Heavenly Father and Christ/God Authority. Zacchaeus placed himself in a position for this calling- from tax collector to disciple.

Additionally, this Gospel reading also states that Zacchaeus received Jesus with joy. 

Placing our own selves in a position of God’s Calling or Christ’s Calling and Blessings is something we are all called to do- and to rejoice and receive God and Jesus with joy when receiving him in communion, prayer and/or when receiving Jesus and the One who sent Him in the Word of God. 

In Jesus’ Name 

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“Will Not God Then, Secure the Rights of His Chosen Ones”

Jesus

Awhile back, the angels encouraged me to dedicate Sundays to the Gospels. With love and gratitude, here is the Gospel of Luke 18: 1-8, with an angel message and angel inspired message behind it. 

Jesus told his disciples a parable
about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.
He said, “There was a judge in a certain town
who neither feared God nor respected any human being.
And a widow in that town used to come to him and say,
‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’
For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought,
‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being,
because this widow keeps bothering me
I shall deliver a just decision for her
lest she finally come and strike me.’”
The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says.
Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones
who call out to him day and night?
Will he be slow to answer them?
I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily.
But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

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This is a message about steadfast prayer to God; having complete faith that God is with us; knowing that God loves His people beyond our human capacity in His Divinity. God has sent His only begotten son, whose name itself means” God is With us” and whose name is above all other names in Heaven,  Earth and the Universe. Jesus is asking us to not only have steadfast faith in God, who is the One who sent Him, but to believe in Him and the Promises of God sent through our Redeemer and Lord.  

Lift up any prayer to God now and always without hesitation. God who answers all prayer with His Steadfast Love, knows the reason you are coming to Him. Ask God to help you and your family in all matters (this is a question worth asking!). Knowing that Faith in God and Jesus is what Jesus is asking. – the angels  

God will be faithful, and Jesus’ last question poses the question, both then and now in our hearts- where will the Risen Christ find faith on the earth? [reference] 

 

Reference: The Workbook for Lectors, Gospel Readers and Proclaimers of the Word

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Strive to Enter Through The Narrow Gate

Jesus 2

Awhile back, the angels asked me to dedicate Sundays to the Gospels. With love and gratitude, here is the Gospel of Luke 13:22-30

Jesus passed through towns and villages,
teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.
Someone asked him,
“Lord, will only a few people be saved?”
He answered them,
“Strive to enter through the narrow gate,
for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter
but will not be strong enough.
After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,
then will you stand outside knocking and saying,
‘Lord, open the door for us.’
He will say to you in reply,
‘I do not know where you are from.
And you will say,
‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’
Then he will say to you,
‘I do not know where you are from.
Depart from me, all you evildoers!’
And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth
when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
and all the prophets in the kingdom of God
and you yourselves cast out.
And people will come from the east and the west
and from the north and the south
and will recline at table in the kingdom of God.
For behold, some are last who will be first,
and some are first who will be last.”

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During Mass services today, the Very Reverend Richard Olona had said that the narrow gate is really faith in Jesus Christ, and that it is not just knowing about Christ, or knowing of Jesus, but it is having a relationship with the Lord Jesus. As the people mentioned that they ate and drank in Jesus’ company while He taught in their streets. The Very Reverend said it’s more about a personal relationship with Christ Jesus. It’s about acting on the Word of God, and developing a personal relationship with him. 

Additionally, the Workbook for Lectors, Gospel Readers and Proclaimers of the Word, mentions that the narrow gate that leads to salvation won’t remain open forever. God overflows with mercy, but God respects our freedom and won’t force mercy upon us. The master’s refusal to open the door isn’t a metaphor for God’s exhausted patience, but of our diminished capacity to accept God’s Mercy. At some point, we become incapable of asking. We shut our eyes and close our hearts, and the love God still seeks to give us can’t find a home in us. No amount of knocking will be of any use because the door we knock on is our own; only we hold the key, but at that point we are warned, we won’t make use of it. 

The words “I don’t know where you are from” do not imply that God makes an issue of our place of origin; rather they suggest the choices we can make can make us into something unrecognizable. Some will not find a home in the Kingdom because they’ve already made a home somewhere else.

Jesus speaks the truth with great regret that the Gentiles who were the last to hear the Gospel will enter the Kingdom ahead of those (the Jews) who were invited first.

Lastly, the Love and Mercy of God is so great; Jesus had also made reference on the Gospel of Matthew 20:1-16, in the Parable of the Workers, that all who enter the Kingdom of God will all receive a handsome inheritance indeed.  

In Jesus’ name- Angel Inspired 

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