"Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is made to you and to your children and to al those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call." (Acts 2: 14, 36, 41)
The gift of the Holy Spirit – A promise made to all of us. Thank you Jesus for the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit – A promise made to all of us.
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Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 8
From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, 9
and the violent are taking it by force.
All the prophets and the law 10 prophesied up to the time of John.
And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who is to come.
Whoever has ears ought to hear.
When I read this scripture early this morning, I wondered what Jesus means that the violent are taking the kingdom by force. It is necessary to coerce our natural inclinations if we want to enter the kingdom of God. Sometimes, we need to use force on our will.
Fr. Thomas preaching a homily on the above text shared with us life in India where most people use public transportation. If they want to get to their job or destination on time, they must not only be at the bus stop on time but must struggle to get into the bus. So those who desire to get a seat on the bus and get to their destination must take it by force as it were. I was encouraged to see that we got the same light on the same text.
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To whom can you liken me as an equal? says the Holy One.
6 Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these: He leads out their army and numbers them, calling them all by name. By his great might and the strength of his power not one of them is missing!
7 Why, O Jacob, do you say, and declare, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God"?
Do you not know or have you not heard? The LORD is the eternal God, creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint nor grow weary, and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny.
He gives strength to the fainting; for the weak he makes vigor abound.
Though young men faint and grow weary, and youths stagger and fall,
They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles' wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint. (Isaiah 40: 25-31)
1 Bless the LORD, my soul; all my being, bless his holy name!
Bless the LORD, my soul; do not forget all the gifts of God,
Who pardons all your sins, heals all your ills,
Delivers your life from the pit, surrounds you with love and compassion,
2 Fills your days with good things; your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
The LORD does righteous deeds, brings justice to all the oppressed.
His ways were revealed to Moses, mighty deeds to the people of Israel.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger, abounding in kindness.
God does not always rebuke, nurses no lasting anger,
Has not dealt with us as our sins merit, nor requited us as our deeds deserve. (Psalm 103: 1-10)
The message from Isaiah 40: 25-31 brought me great joy and peace this morning. I want to record my thankfulness in this blog. It is consoling to realize that God knows where I am today and that He is in control. The response to Isaiah is fittingly Psalm 103 which I appropriate is my own this morning. Both scriptures are from the Mass readings of today, Wednesday in the second Week of Advent.
"God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, though your people walk in the valley of darkness, no evil should they fear; for they follow in faith the call of the shepherd whom you have sent for their hope and strength. Attune our minds to the sound of his voice, lead our steps in the path he has shown, that we may know the strength of his outstretched arm and enjoy the light of your presence forever ….." (Mass Prayer)
Although I walk in the valley of financial darkness today, I fear no evil. I follow in faith the call of my Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ whom God has sent for my hope and strength.
Father, attune my mind to the sound of His voice and lead my steps in the path He shows me. Amen!
"Almighty and ever-living God, give us new strength from the courage of Christ our Shepherd, and lead us to join the saints in heaven …." (Mass Prayer)
The courage of Christ: Imitation of the courage of Christ is the fruit of the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary.