When they had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi. Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet:
“A voice was heard in Ramah,
sobbing and loud lamentation;
Rachel weeping for her children,
and she would not be consoled,
since they were no more.”
When Herod had died, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” He rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go back there. And because he had been warned in a dream, he departed for the region of Galilee. He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He shall be called a Nazorean.”
creative commons 2.0. attribution: dackelprincess, flickr.
Sunday, December 29, 2019
Saturday, December 28, 2019
psalm 91
You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shade of the Almighty,
Say to the LORD, “My refuge and fortress,
my God in whom I trust.”
He will rescue you from the fowler’s snare,
from the destroying plague,
He will shelter you with his pinions,
and under his wings you may take refuge;
his faithfulness is a protecting shield.
You shall not fear the terror of the night
nor the arrow that flies by day,
Nor the pestilence that roams in darkness,
nor the plague that ravages at noon.
Though a thousand fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
near you it shall not come.
You need simply watch;
the punishment of the wicked you will see.
Because you have the LORD for your refuge
and have made the Most High your stronghold,
No evil shall befall you,
no affliction come near your tent.
For he commands his angels with regard to you,
to guard you wherever you go.
With their hands they shall support you,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
You can tread upon the asp and the viper,
trample the lion and the dragon.
II
Because he clings to me I will deliver him;
because he knows my name I will set him on high.
He will call upon me and I will answer;
I will be with him in distress;
I will deliver him and give him honor.
With length of days I will satisfy him,
and fill him with my saving power.
Psalm 91
faith
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love
love
Friday, December 27, 2019
Bible translations into English
A study published in 2014 by The Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture at Indiana University and Purdue University found that Americans read versions of the Bible as follows:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_American_Bible
- King James Version (55%)
- New International Version (19%)
- New Revised Standard Version (7%)
- New American Bible (6%)
- The Living Bible (5%)
- All other translations (8%)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_American_Bible
Front cover of New American Bible [Public domain]
Thursday, December 26, 2019
matthew 8: 28-34, Jesus exorcises demons
When he came to the other side, to the territory of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him. They were so savage that no one could travel by that road. They cried out, “What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?” Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding. The demons pleaded with him, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine.” And he said to them, “Go then!” They came out and entered the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea where they drowned. The swineherds ran away, and when they came to the town they reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs. Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.
matthew 8: 28-34
Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld [Public domain]
faith
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love
Tuesday, December 24, 2019
john 8:12: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
john 8:12
faith
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love
Tuesday, December 17, 2019
God and saints
image by Patty Mooney
we worship God--one God--three persons--Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
God our Father--Creator of the universe.
all that ever existed, exists now or will ever exist are created by God. (genesis 1 and 2)
All of God's creation is good, including mankind.
Jesus--God's only son.
Jesus became man so that we could have eternal life with God in heaven. (john 3:16)
Holy Spirit--Advocate--to be with those who have faith forever. (john 14: 15-17)
we praise God. we thank God.
God taught us how to pray. (matthew 6: 5-15)
God told us to be perfect. (matthew 5:48)
we revere Mary--not just because she's the mother of God--but because of her perfect devotion and obedience to God.
when told that she would be the mother of the Savior, Mary said yes.
Mary didn't know how this could be.
Mary couldn't have known the sorrows that she would suffer because of her yes.
Mary said yes because of her complete devotion and obedience to God.
Joseph loved and obeyed God.
Joseph took Mary into his home as God instructed. (matthew 1: 18-25)
Joseph took Mary and Jesus to Egypt when Herod tried to find and kill Jesus.
Joseph stayed with Mary and Jesus in Egypt until God told Joseph that it was safe to return to Nazareth in Galilee. (matthew 2: 13-23)
in our times, St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta was devoted and obedient to God.
born in 1910, she had a vision in 1946 that changed her life.
she obeyed and devoted the rest of her life to serving and loving God and His poor.
we worship one God.
we revere those who love God and obey God better than us.
faith
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love
love
Monday, December 16, 2019
lean on Jesus
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
matthew 11: 28-30
faith
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love
love
Friday, December 13, 2019
matthew 12: 36-37, "I tell you, on the day of judgment people will render an account for every careless word they speak. By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
© Copyright Albert Bridge and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
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Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Advent Reflection for December 10 – Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent
Isaiah 40:1-11/Matthew 18:12-14
Invitation to Prayer: Pray to be the voice in the wilderness, crying out the glad tidings of good news!
Christ, our shepherd, cares for all of His flock. Remember to be compassionate to the lambs that have gone astray, joyously welcome them into the fold, and keep them in your prayers.
Reflection: “Give comfort to my people.”
I was blessed to be raised in a very small church with a congregation of about sixty who had faith to move mountains.
Danny was a boy in my class in elementary school. He came from a poor family. His mother was wheelchair bound and his father had difficulty keeping a job. Danny’s sisters attended Sunday School at my church. One year, Danny showed up at my home Christmas morning. He spoke to my parents and told them his family had no food for Christmas day and no gifts for his little sisters. Immediately my mom was on the phone to the women of the church. They organized a week’s worth of food for the family, including a wonderful Christmas dinner, some of which had been intended for their own tables. Meanwhile my dad and my grandpa contacted the Salvation Army for gifts for the children, for Danny, and for his mother. They drove downtown on a snowy Christmas day to pick up the items. Daddy and Grandpa delivered all to the family before noon.
I have four sisters. My mom asked each of us to give up one of the gifts we had received that morning to Danny’s family. It’s funny because that’s the only part of the morning I don’t remember. I only remember this entire group of spirit-filled people coming together to “give comfort” to God’s people.
During this Advent season, how am I giving comfort?
Prayer: Father, let me be a comfort where needed. Let me be the herald of your good tidings. Drive away my fear when it comes to sharing your good news. Help me to be like Jesus, a shepherd to lead the stray lambs home. Amen.
Closing: Find an expression to use when joyful things happen… and use it often because joyful things are happening all around you.
Debbie Weitz is grateful for the community of saints who helped raise her.
https://www.thecatholictelegraph.com/advent-reflections-2019/60963
faith
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Monday, December 9, 2019
The Need for Full and Complete Obedience
The Need for Full and Complete Obedience - Decision Magazine
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16
TRUST AND OBEY - Traditional Hymns - YouTube
Diego Velázquez [Public domain]
faith
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Thursday, December 5, 2019
Isaiah 26: Advent Reflection for December 5 – Thursday of the First Week of Advent
Reflection: Who or what is the foundation of your life? As people of faith, it may seem self-evident that our lives are to be rooted firmly on the rock of our Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, when we pause to consider the truth of our daily lives, it is likely that we can point to times in which we become distracted, or when we have trusted in something other than God. It is easy to seek security in material things, wealth, social status, or power rather than discerning and following God’s will, relying on God’s providential care and love. In these first days of the Advent season, we are invited to be mindful that our time on earth will someday draw to a close, and to be prepared for the coming of Christ in glory. Today, ask yourself who or what is the foundation of your life. What one or two things might you do to more fully seek and live God’s will in this Advent season?
image by Charlotte90T
labeled for noncommercial reuse
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Monday, December 2, 2019
Advent reflection for December 2 –Monday of the First Week of Advent
Isaiah 4: 2-6, Psalm 122, Matthew 8: 5-11
Invitation to prayer: Look forward with joyful hope to the day of Christ’s birth, his Resurrection, and his return.
Reflection: The trials of life — illness, work worries, politics, disaster, age, and more — are real. They can break our hearts and tempt us to despair. But God promises they are not the end for those who love and serve Him. “The branch of the Lord will be luster and glory, and the fruit of the earth will be honor and splendor.” Though we live in a day of many technological and medical wonders that allow us to pretend all is beautiful and clean, we still know the blood of war, the figurative filth of sin, and the literal “filth” of illness. We know the distress of betrayal, the loss of those dearest to us, and the sorrows of seeing others make mistakes we can’t change or lessen. The centurion in Matthew’s story has faith that Jesus will heal his servant, not because the centurion or anyone in his household is worthy, but because Jesus is God. And God has promised us joy in the heavenly Jerusalem. This Advent, ask God to strengthen your faith, like the centurion’s. Remember that the miracle of Christmas is also the promise of salvation, and pray that when your life is done, you will be welcomed with the words, “we will go up to the house of the Lord.” And when you decorate your tree and your home with evergreens, think of those other “branches” — the luster and glory, honor and splendor, of God who is our Father.
Prayer: Jesus, remember me when you come into Your kingdom. Call me to come with you to the house of the Lord, and let me live there with You and those You love forever.
Closing: Make the sign of the cross and pray for the day you may answer, “Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.”
Gail Finke is a producer at Sacred Heart Radio
.jpg)
Invitation to prayer: Look forward with joyful hope to the day of Christ’s birth, his Resurrection, and his return.
Reflection: The trials of life — illness, work worries, politics, disaster, age, and more — are real. They can break our hearts and tempt us to despair. But God promises they are not the end for those who love and serve Him. “The branch of the Lord will be luster and glory, and the fruit of the earth will be honor and splendor.” Though we live in a day of many technological and medical wonders that allow us to pretend all is beautiful and clean, we still know the blood of war, the figurative filth of sin, and the literal “filth” of illness. We know the distress of betrayal, the loss of those dearest to us, and the sorrows of seeing others make mistakes we can’t change or lessen. The centurion in Matthew’s story has faith that Jesus will heal his servant, not because the centurion or anyone in his household is worthy, but because Jesus is God. And God has promised us joy in the heavenly Jerusalem. This Advent, ask God to strengthen your faith, like the centurion’s. Remember that the miracle of Christmas is also the promise of salvation, and pray that when your life is done, you will be welcomed with the words, “we will go up to the house of the Lord.” And when you decorate your tree and your home with evergreens, think of those other “branches” — the luster and glory, honor and splendor, of God who is our Father.
Prayer: Jesus, remember me when you come into Your kingdom. Call me to come with you to the house of the Lord, and let me live there with You and those You love forever.
Closing: Make the sign of the cross and pray for the day you may answer, “Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.”
Gail Finke is a producer at Sacred Heart Radio
.jpg){kind=link}
Distant Shores Media/Sweet Publishing [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]
faith
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love
Sunday, December 1, 2019
Matthew 24:37-44: "be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come."
Jesus said to his disciples:
"For as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
In (those) days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark.
They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away. So will it be (also) at the coming of the Son of Man.
Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left.
Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left.
Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into.
So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come."
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/4106/5212958360_bf0a845296_k.jpg%5B/img%5D%5B/url%5D%5Burl=https://flic.kr/p/8WDLUq%5D"be%20prepared,%20for%20at%20an%20hour%20you%20do%20not%20expect,%20the%20Son%20of%20Man%20will%20come."%5B/url%5D%20by%20%5Burl=https://www.flickr.com/photos/eherrera/%5De.r.w.i.n.%5B/url%5D,%20on%20Flickr)
"For as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
In (those) days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark.
They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away. So will it be (also) at the coming of the Son of Man.
Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left.
Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left.
Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into.
So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come."
image by e.r.w.i.n.
labeled for noncommercial reuse
faith
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love
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
pray
pray
not because you're eloquent
pray
not just because you want something
pray
not just to ask for forgiveness
pray
to worship God
pray
to praise God
pray
to thank God for all that you have
pray
just because God wants to hear from you
not because you're eloquent
pray
not just because you want something
pray
not just to ask for forgiveness
pray
to worship God
pray
to praise God
pray
to thank God for all that you have
pray
just because God wants to hear from you
Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)
faith
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love
Sunday, November 24, 2019
isaiah 26:3: "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you."
attribution: Baptist Union of Great Britain and flickr
faith
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love
Sunday, November 17, 2019
luke 21: 5-19: "By your perseverance you will secure your lives."
While some people were speaking about
how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings,
Jesus said, "All that you see here--
the days will come when there will not be left
a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down."
Then they asked him,
"Teacher, when will this happen?
And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?"
He answered,
"See that you not be deceived,
for many will come in my name, saying,
'I am he,' and 'The time has come.'
Do not follow them!
When you hear of wars and insurrections,
do not be terrified; for such things must happen first,
but it will not immediately be the end."
Then he said to them,
"Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues
from place to place;
and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.
"Before all this happens, however,
they will seize and persecute you,
they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons,
and they will have you led before kings and governors
because of my name.
It will lead to your giving testimony.
Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,
for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking
that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.
You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends,
and they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives."
how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings,
Jesus said, "All that you see here--
the days will come when there will not be left
a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down."
Then they asked him,
"Teacher, when will this happen?
And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?"
He answered,
"See that you not be deceived,
for many will come in my name, saying,
'I am he,' and 'The time has come.'
Do not follow them!
When you hear of wars and insurrections,
do not be terrified; for such things must happen first,
but it will not immediately be the end."
Then he said to them,
"Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues
from place to place;
and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.
"Before all this happens, however,
they will seize and persecute you,
they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons,
and they will have you led before kings and governors
because of my name.
It will lead to your giving testimony.
Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,
for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking
that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.
You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends,
and they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives."
luke 21: 5-19
faith
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love
Thursday, November 14, 2019
the BIG book
I went to catholic grade school in the 1950s. I remember the nuns telling us that if we're good then we'll go to heaven and that if we're bad then we're going to hell.
we all know how impressionable that young forming brains are. I got the impression that God, or his appointed designee, St. Peter, kept this BIG book, and when I died that God or St. Peter would look in the book and read all of my sins to everybody at the last judgment.
Big_Book.svg: Jimmietderivative work: Gaeser [CC0]
it took a LONG time for me to get that out of my head, but I finally believe that God doesn't work that way.
I believe in God. I believe that when I die that I'll be one-on-one with God. there won't be a BIG book. there won't need to be. both God and I know my sins. nothing will be said. God will know that I'm sorry for my sins. God won't have to say that God forgives me. I'll know.
image by Kahunapule Michael Johnson
labeled for noncommercial reuse
faith
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love
Sunday, November 10, 2019
before worship service begins
Then God spoke all these words:
I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall not have other gods beside me. You shall not make for yourself an idol or a likeness of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth; you shall not bow down before them or serve them. For I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God, inflicting punishment for their ancestors’ wickedness on the children of those who hate me, down to the third and fourth generation; but showing love down to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.
You shall not invoke the name of the LORD, your God, in vain. For the LORD will not leave unpunished anyone who invokes his name in vain.
Remember the sabbath day—keep it holy. Six days you may labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God. You shall not do any work, either you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your work animal, or the resident alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the LORD has blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.
exodus 20: 1-11
it's Sunday morning. the worship service will begin soon. people are:
image from Gerry Dincher
labeled for noncommercial reuse
it's Sunday morning. the worship service will begin soon. people are:
- talking out loud
- the choir is practicing
- some are kneeling, praying
which one(s) is important. answer: they all are. fellowship is a good thing. so is the choir practicing. kneeling and praying before worship services begin is good also.
which is most important? not gibber-jabbering in the sanctuary of a church.
is there another room where the choir can practice before worship services begin other than the sanctuary of the church?
by elimination then, and with respect for the presence of God, kneeling and praying in the sanctuary before worship services begin is most important.
then why has gibber-jabbering in sanctuaries of churches before worship services begin become the norm?
is there another room where the choir can practice before worship services begin other than the sanctuary of the church?
by elimination then, and with respect for the presence of God, kneeling and praying in the sanctuary before worship services begin is most important.
then why has gibber-jabbering in sanctuaries of churches before worship services begin become the norm?
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