Friday, January 9, 2026

Holy Spirit


https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holy-spirit/10-roles-of-the-holy-spirit-in-christian-life.html

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.

Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created,
and you shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray.

O God, who have taught the hearts of the faithful
by the light of the Holy Spirit,
grant that in the same Spirit we may be truly wise
and ever rejoice in his consolation.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.


attribution: Mozaico and flickr
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Thursday, January 8, 2026

Man of Sorrows: Jesus Knows Our Suffering

 





Luke 23: 34, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do"

Luke 23: 34 in the New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE), reads: 
"34 [Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”]*"

the footnote (*) reads:
"* [23:34] [Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”]: this portion of Lk 23:34 does not occur in the oldest papyrus manuscript of Luke and in other early Greek manuscripts and ancient versions of wide geographical distribution."

I find this troubling.  the footnote tells me that Jesus didn't say "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do"--somebody(ies) added it to Luke's gospel later.

here's what some biblical scholars (author and commenters) say: Evangelical Textual Criticism: ‘Father Forgive Them’ – The Variant in Luke 23:34a 

did Jesus say "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do"? or didn't He? 

if Jesus didn't say "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do", then what does that say about the rest of the bible?


attribution: mercylives and flickr
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Sunday, January 4, 2026

fear and faith

on two separate occasions Jesus and his disciples were in storms at sea:

He got into a boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep. They came and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” 

He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm. 

The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?” 
Matthew 8: 23-27 

Then he made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. 

At once [Jesus] spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” 

Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 

He said, “Come.” 

Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how [strong] the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 

Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 

After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.” 
Matthew 14: 22-33 

attribution: pcstratman and flickr
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Be not afraid - YouTube



           faith 
                      hope 
                                  love




Mary says yes to God, and God says yes to Mary.

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" And the angel said to her in reply, "The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God." Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.  
Luke 1: 26-38




On the third day 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." [And] 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.  
John 2: 1-11


attribution: lucia398 and flickr
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Friday, January 2, 2026

does God take our sins and failings personally?

are sins failings? are failings sins? 
are sins deliberate by definition? are failings not?
does God take our sins and failings personally?

I don't know the answers to these questions. Neither does anyone else--except God.

Romans 11: 33-34
1 Corinthians 2: 11-16
Isaiah 40:13

God's answers to these questions may be: it depends. our failings may be sins--particularly if they're deliberate. And God may take our sins and failings personally--particularly if they're deliberate.

like an old bull--many years behind me. 
LOTS of scars--sins and failings--they're all mine.
I'm sorry, God--I could have, and should have, done better.
Have mercy on me, a sinner. 

attribution: On Borrowed Time and flickr
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Praise the Father, Praise the Son - Chris Tomlin 

Oh sovereign God, Oh matchless King
The saints adore, the angels sing
And fall before the throne of grace
To You belongs the highest praise

These sufferings, this passing tide
Under Your wings I will abide
And every enemy shall flee
You are my hope and victory

(Chorus)
Praise the Father, praise the Son
Praise the Spirit, Three in One
Clothed in power and in grace
The name above all other names

To the valley, for my soul
Thy great descent has made me whole
Your word my heart has welcomed home
Now peace like water ever flows 

So praise the Father, praise the Son
Praise the Spirit, Three in One
Clothed in power and in grace
The name above all other names
Oh, praise the Father, praise the Son
Praise the Spirit, Three in One
Clothed in power and in grace
The name above all other names

Yours is the kingdom
Yours is the power
Yours is the glory
Forever
Yours is the kingdom
Yours is the power
Yours is the glory
Forever

Praise the Father, praise the Son
Praise the Spirit, Three in One
Clothed in power and in grace
The name above all other names
The name above all other names



Chris Tomlin - Praise the Father Praise the Son - SPIRIT - YouTube

Praise The Father, Praise the Son (lyrics) Chris Tomlin - YouTube




Monday, December 29, 2025

psalm 23

I

The LORD is my shepherd; 
there is nothing I lack. 
In green pastures he makes me lie down; 
to still waters he leads me; 
he restores my soul.

He guides me along right paths 
for the sake of his name.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me; 
your rod and your staff comfort me.

II

You set a table before me 
in front of my enemies; 
You anoint my head with oil; 
my cup overflows.

Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me
all the days of my life;
I will dwell in the house of the LORD 
for endless days. 
Psalm 23 


Friday, December 26, 2025

Hail Mary

 https://www.catholic.com/tract/hail-mary

"Hour of Our Death

This prayer is especially powerful because it includes our whole life from the present instant, “now,” to our last instant: “the hour of our death.” Someday those two moments will become the same moment, our last. How blessed we will be in that hour to have prayed this wonderful prayer faithfully and often, echoing heaven and all the faithful on earth down through the ages!"


attribution: Dan Raven and flickr
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Sunday, November 30, 2025

Isaiah 13: 11-14

11 Thus I will punish the world for its evil
and the wicked for their guilt.
I will put an end to the pride of the arrogant,
the insolence of tyrants I will humble. 

12 I will make mortals more rare than pure gold,
human beings, than the gold of Ophir. 

13 For this I will make the heavens tremble
and the earth shall be shaken from its place,
At the wrath of the LORD of hosts
on the day of his burning anger. 

14 Like a hunted gazelle, 
or a flock that no one gathers,
They shall turn each to their own people
and flee each to their own land.



attribution: Sapphire Dream Photography and flickr
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