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Lectio Divina – 1st Sunday of Advent (Dec 1st) – Cycle A

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PURPOSE OF THIS SCRIPTURE READING – Develop a personal relationship with Jesus through the Word of God with the understanding that the Holy Spirit will teach and remind us of all Jesus said and did. Psalm 32:8 tells us, “I will instruct you and show you the way you should walk, give you counsel and watch over you.”

  1. Say the opening prayer
  2. Read the passage slowly three times as though Jesus were talking to you.
  3. Converse with Jesus, asking questions and listening to Him.

OPEN WITH THE FOLLOWING PRAYER:

Father, I can’t understand Your Word without Your grace, I acknowledge my weakness so your power can reach perfection in me. Send Your Holy Spirit to remind, teach, and guide me to the Truth. May I share as soon as possible whatever You teach me. AMEN

READ, REFLECT AND WRITE 

Matthew 24:37-44

The coming of the Son of Man will repeat what happened in Noah’s time.  In the days before the flood people were eating and drinking, marrying and being married, right up to the day Noah entered the ark.  They were totally unconcerned until the flood came and destroyed them. So will it be 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 meal; one will be taken and one will be left.  Stay awake, therefore! You cannot know the day your Lord is coming.

Be sure of this: if the owner of the house knew when the thief was coming he would keep a watchful eye and not allow his house to be broken into.  You must be prepared in the same way. The Son of Man is coming at the time you least expect.

A. What is the Lord personally saying to you?

 

 

 

B. What does the Lord personally want you to do?

 

 

Lectio Divina – 34th Sunday Christ The King (Nov 24th) – Cycle C

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PURPOSE OF THIS SCRIPTURE READING – Develop a personal relationship with Jesus through the Word of God with the understanding that the Holy Spirit will teach and remind us of all Jesus said and did. Psalm 32:8 tells us, “I will instruct you and show you the way you should walk, give you counsel and watch over you.”

  1. Say the opening prayer
  2. Read the passage slowly three times as though Jesus were talking to you.
  3. Converse with Jesus, asking questions and listening to Him.

OPEN WITH THE FOLLOWING PRAYER:

Father, I can’t understand Your Word without Your grace, I acknowledge my weakness so your power can reach perfection in me. Send Your Holy Spirit to remind, teach, and guide me to the Truth. May I share as soon as possible whatever You teach me. AMEN

READ, REFLECT AND WRITE 

Luke 23:35-43 – 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.”

A. What is the Lord personally saying to you?

 

 

 

B. What does the Lord personally want you to do?

 

 

Trigésimo Cuarto Domingo Cristo Rey (24 de Nov) – Ciclo C

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El Pan de Vida Estudio de Biblia Católico 

by Deacon Ken and Marie Finn

ANTES DE COMENZAR:

Ora y pídele a Dios que te hable a través de Su Espíritu Santo. “EL ESPIRITU SANTO INTERPRETE, QUE EL PADRE LES ENVIARA EN MI NOMBRE, LES VA A ENSEÑAR TODAS LAS COSAS Y LES RECORDARA TODAS MIS PALABRAS.”  (JUAN 14:26)

PRIMER DIA         Vuelve a leer las lecturas de la semana pasada.

1. ¿Cuál fue el mensaje qué recibiste de la homilía o de las lecturas que oíste en misa el domingo?

 

2. ¿De lo que aprendiste, qué escogiste para aplicar a tu vida esta semana?

 

 

SEGUNDO DIA      2 SAMUEL 5:1-3      PRIMERA LECTURA

(“Tú eres el que guiará a mi pueblo, Israel.”)

1. ¿Quiénes vinieron a hablarle a David, qué le dijeron?  2 Samuel 5:1

 

2. ¿Dónde estaba David? Si puedes busca en un mapa bíblico el lugar, 2 Samuel 5:1

 

3. ¿Quién dirigia a Israel y los trajo de regreso?  2 Samuel 5:2

 

4. ¿Según las tribus de Israel quién habló a David y qué le dijo?  2 Samuel 5:2, y Ezequiel 34:23-24

 

Personal – ¿Entonces, quién creés tú que es el que designa al pastor del pueblo? ¿Sigues tú al Unico, al que Dios ha designado como Rey de Reyes de todos los tiempos?

 

5. ¿Con quién estaba hablando David?  2 Samuel 24:17

 

Personal – ¿Cómo te habla Dios y cómo le hablas tú como lo hizo David?  

 

6. ¿Qué le pasará al pastor que Dios ha designado cuando éste no escucha y se somete a la palabra de Dios?  Zacarías 11:17, y Jeremías 25:34-36

 

7. ¿Quién es nuestro Gran Pastor?   Leé y escribe las siguientes escrituras:

Génesis 48:15

Salmo 23:1

Juan 10:6-7, 11

Juan 10:16

8. ¿Quién fue hecho rey de Israel? ¿Con quién hizo un pacto el rey antes de ser ungido? 2 Samuel 5:3

 

Personal – ¿Qué diferencias encuentras entre un buen pastor, un buen rey y un rey malo? ¿Y tú qué eres?

 

TERCER DIA COLOSENSES 1:12-20 SEGUNDA LECTURA

(“A través de El tenemos la redención y el perdón de nuestros pecados.”)

1. ¿Por qué tenemos que darle gracias al Padre?  Colosenses 1:12

 

2. ¿Quién tendrá luz y vida? ¿Quién es la luz?  Juan 8:12

 

3. ¿Quién nos rescató y de quién?  Colosenses 1:13

 

4. ¿Quién tiene el poder de las tinieblas?  Hechos 26:18

 

5. ¿Cuando nos rescató a dónde nos llevó?  Colosenses 1:13

 

6. ¿Qué recibimos a través de Jesús?  Colosenses 1:14, 1 Pedro 2:9

 

Personal – ¿Has sido tu redimido? ¿Le has pedido al Señor que te perdone y te haga libre? Vuelve a leer el versículo 14. Esta es una promesa de Dios. Copia este versículo y medita sobre él.

 

7. ¿Quién es la imágen de Dios que no se puede ver y quién es el primogénito de toda la creación? Colosenses 1:15

 

8. Lee y copia lo siguiente:

Salmo 89:28

Juan 1:3

Juan 1:18

Personal – ¿Cómo ves a Dios Padre? ¿Cómo te lo ha revelado Jesús a tí de manera personal? ¿Está con la vara en la mano listo para castigarte o es gentil, amable y está listo para perdonarte? Así como ves a Jesús así vé al Padre.

 

9. ¿Qué fué creado en él y dónde?  Colosenses 1:16, 1 Corintios 8:6

 

10. ¿Para quién se hizo todo?  Colosenses 1:16

 

11. ¿En quién se mantiene todo?  Colosenses 1:17

 

12. ¿Quién empezó la iglesia y quién es la cabeza?  Efesios 1:22, Apocalipsis 1:5, Colosenses 1:18

 

13. ¿A quién le pasó Cristo ese lugar de cabecera?  Mateo 16:18 

 

14. ¿Cómo hemos sido reconciliados con el Padre?  Colosenses 1:20

 

Personal – ¿Le has permitido a Jesús lavarte con su sangre y darte la paz con el Padre? ¿Qué cambios puedes ver en tu vida desde que esto fue hecho?

 

CUARTO DIA LUCAS 23:35-43 EVANGELIO

(“Este es el rey de los Judíos.”)

1. ¿Quién estaba ahí mirando? ¿Quiénes se burlaban de Jesús y qué decían?  Lucas 23:35

 

2. ¿Había alguien más, burlandose de Jesús? ¿Qué le ofrecieron y qué le dijeron?  Lucas 23:36-37

 

Personal – ¿Por qué crees que Jesús no se bajó de la cruz y se salvó a sŇ mismo de ésta muerte tan agonizante? Lucas 22:42

 

3. ¿Era el deseo del Padre que Jesús, Su único Hijo muriera en  la cruz? ¿Por qué?  Leé y copia:

1 Timoteo 2:4

Juan 12:47

Juan 3:16

Juan 10:10

4. ¿Si Jesús fué obediente al Padre y estuvo colgado en la cruz y sufrió el peso de nuestros pecados para salvarnos, qué debemos hacer nosotros?  Juan 1:12, Apocalipsis 3:20

 

5. ¿Cómo debemos seguir el ejemplo de Jesús?  Mateo 16:24-25, Marcos 8:35, Lucas 9:24

 

6. ¿Ha sido a través de algún esfuerzo que nosotros hayamos hecho, que hemos sido salvados?  Tito 3:4-5

 

7. ¿Cuál era la inscripción en el letrero de la cruz de Jesús?  Lucas 28:38

 

Personal – ¿De qué modo has hecho a Jesús tu Rey de Reyes y Señor de Señores?  1 Timoteo 1:17, Apocalipsis 17:14, Apocalipsis 19:16

 

8. ¿Qué le dijo uno de los criminales a Jesús en Lucas 23:39?

 

9. ¿Por quién estaba preocupado?  Lucas 23:39

 

10. ¿Qué dijo e hizo el otro criminal?  Lucas 23:40-41

 

Personal – ¿De qué modo eres como alguno de esos dos criminales? ¿Quién se negaba a sí mismo? ¿Cómo te niegas tú a tí mismo?

 

11. ¿Qué le dijo a Jesús en el versículo 42 de Lucas 23 y cuál fué la respuesta de Jesús?

 

12. Leé Mateo 25:33, 34, y 41. ¿Cómo puedes comparar esto con Lucas 23:39-40?

 

Personal – ¿Eres tú el de la derecha o el de la izquierda? ¿De qué modo te has negado a tí mismo esta semana, poniendo antes que a tí mismo a tu esposa, hijos, amigos, vecinos, compañeros de trabajo o amigos de la escuela?

 

 

QUINTO DIA LEE EL SALMO 122:1-5

(“Dá gracias al nombre del Señor.”)

Leé y medita el Salmo 122:1-5.

¿Qué te dice personalmente el Señor por medio de este Salmo?

 

¿Cómo puedes aplicar esto a tu vida diaria?

 

 

SEXTO DIA LEE TODO EL COMENTARIO

2 SAMUEL 5:1-3

David fué finalmente ungido rey de todo Israel y esto fué el cumplimiento de una promesa de Dios. Previamente había sido ungido rey en privado por Samuel (1 Samuel 16:13). David era apenas un adolescente y pasó muchos años al servicio del Rey Saúl. Cuando fue coronado Rey de Judá, a los 30 años que era la mitad sur de la Tierra Prometida (2 Samuel 2:4). Fué Coronado rey de todo el país a los treinta y siete años y reinó por cuarenta años.

Cuando David era jóven y estaba considerado fuera de la ley, su futúro se veía muy triste, pero la promesa de Dios de hacerlo rey se había cumplido. David tuvo que esperar muy pacientemente para que ésta se cumpliera, pasaron muchos años antes de que sucediera. Nosotros debemos reflexionar sobre la paciencia y humildad que David tenía al esperar tanto tiempo. El llegó a ser un gran rey, soldado, poeta, cantante, músico, escritor y líder espiritual de su pueblo. Había sido ungido por Dios y sabía que con el tiempo cuando según Dios fuera el tiempo, el plan se realizaría.

El tiempo que David tuvo que esperar lo preparó para el importante oficio de ser el buen pastor que su país necesitaba. Así nosotros necesitamos esperar en el Señor y confiar en que El nos dirigirá en nuestro camino hacia el reino. David fué un líder porque había sido un seguidor de Dios. En un tiempo él quitó sus ojos de Dios y cayó en grave pecado. Pero se arrepintió y vió que insignificante era su reino comparado con el de Dios y regresó y recibió el don de la gracia de Dios y el perdón. Nosotros podemos ser como David; podemos regresar a la sagrada luz de Dios arrepintiéndonos y dándonos cuenta de que Dios es nuestro único buen pastor y de que El nunca falla en ir a buscar y salvar a la oveja perdida. Sigamos el ejemplo de David y permitamos que nuestra unción bautismal sea el principio de nuestra vida eterna con el “Buen Pastor,” Jesús, quien nos hará libres por siempre (Juan 8:32).

 

COLOSENSES 1:12-20

Pablo estaba sacando a la luz una herejía de la iglesia Colosense que fue el inicio del Gnosticismo. La palabra “Gnosticismo” quiere decir conocer y la palabra “herejía” quiere decir instruir contrariamente a la verdadera doctrina. La herejía Gnóstica atacó a la Cristinadad en diversas formas. Sostenía que el conocimiento secreto importante no debía ser revelado a todos los creyentes y enseñaba que el cuerpo es maligno. Pablo responde a esta herejía declarando que Jesús eligió el vivir en un cuerpo humano. Esta herejía niega la humanidad de Cristo y Pablo insistió que en Jesús, vemos a alguien que está completamente vivo, es humano y es bueno.

El Gnosticismo empezaba a ser conocido y podía haber hecho tambalear facilmente las mentes de los creyentes que no sabían sobre la voluntad de Dios a traves de las enseñanzas de la iglesia. Todavía vemos muchas señales de esta herejía rondando en nuestra iglesia. Hoy como en los tiempos de Pablo el mejor modo de que la iglesia permanezca fiel a las enseñanzas del Señor es a través del estudio personal y las enseñanzas de la iglesia. Pablo enlista beneficios que Jesús nos dió a traves de su muerte en la cruz. Nos hizo para ser parte de su reino. Nos rescató de Satanás, nos hizo Sus hijos y nos trajo a su reino eterno (Efesios 2:5-6).

La iglesia Colosense estaba atrapada creyendo que todo lo que es materia es básicamente maligno. Ellos creían que Dios, siendo un espíritu completamente bueno, nunca vendría a la tierra como un verdadero ser humano (ser humano es tener algo de materia). Creían que Cristo no había hecho el mundo pues era increíble que Dios hubiera creado algo que era maligno. Creían que el saber secreto y especial era el único modo de que la gente encontrara a Dios. Pablo les dice que solo Cristo tiene el poder de salvar. Les dice que Jesús no solo es igual a Dios (Filipenses 2:6), El és Dios (Juan 10:30).

Entendamos que Pablo está combatiendo una herejía que trata de poner el conocimiento por encima de los aspectos salvíficos de Dios. Nosotros como los creyentes Colosenses, debemos creer que Jesucristo es Dios y no simplemente un gran profeta. Nuestra fe será hueca, dirigida erroneamente y sin sentido si vemos a Jesús como alguien menos que Dios.

 

LUCAS 23:35-43

En este pasaje Jesús es puesto en la cruz; y aún con su increíble dolor busca el modo de consolar y perdonar a otros. El lugar donde Jesús fue llevado para ser crucificado se llamaba “Gólgota” que significa “calavera.” Era una pequeña colina en las afueras de las murallas de la ciudad, a un costado de uno de los caminos principales. Los Romanos hacían de las ejecuciones una exposición pública como un ejemplo de lo que sucedía a los que desafiaban la ley Romana. Es irónico que Santiago y Juan le pidieron a Jesús tener lugares de honor cerca de El en su reino (Marcos 10:35-39). Cuando Jesús se estaba preparando a entrar a su reino por la crucifixión, los lugares a su izquierda y derecha eran tomados por criminales convictos que estaban muriendo.

Es un ejemplo increíble para todos nosotros el que Jesús muriera por todos los hombres no solo por unos cuantos seleccionados. Debemos tomar las palabras de Jesús, dirigidas a sus dos discípulos hambrientos de poder, como nuestras y recordar que aquél que quiera estar cerca de Jesús debe prepararse para sufrir y morir como El lo hizo. El único camino al paraíso es a través de la cruz. Aún estando colgado, muriendo y en agonía, Jesús le pide a su Padre que “los perdone por que no saben lo que hacen.” Debemos reflexionar sobre esas palabras, especialmente con todo lo que sucede hoy en día en el mundo.

¿Realmente entendemos que horrible es el pecado para Dios? ¿Realmente entendemos que horrible es cuando dejamos a otros morir de hambre, vivir sin un techo o cuando no damos de vestir al desnudo? ¿Realmente entendemos cuando le damos la espalda al anciano, al que está solo o en prisión o al enfermo mental? ¿Realmente entendemos que horrible es cuando somos la causa de que otros vivan con miedo y que les fallemos sin nuestro amor? Jesús sabía que no entendemos realmente nuestra crueldad y nos muestra la razón real por la cual El murió por todos nosotros. Nos libró de las garras mortales en las que Satanás nos tenía y ahora, con fe, podemos escoger el amar, el hacer a todos los hombres libres y el perdonar. Dios nos dice que si aceptamos a Su hijo, viviremos por siempre (Juan 3:16).

Jesús murió por nosotros y nos perdonó nuestros pecados. Así, nosotros, debemos perdonar a otros como El nos ha perdonado (Mateo 6:15). Seamos como el buen ladrón (Dimas) a la derecha de Jesús y digamos, “Señor, recuérdame cuando estés en tu reino.” El nos dirá como le dijo a Dimas, “En verdad te digo que estarás conmigo en el paraíso.” Jesús es la aurora que se abre en la obscuridad del pecado y dá luz eterna.

 

Aplicación

En la primera lectura vemos a David siendo paciente y humilde, esperando ser coronado rey cuando Dios lo dispusiera. En la segunda lectura Pablo les está diciendo a los Colosenses que la salvación es una persona llamada Jesús, no una doctrina intelectual. El Evangelio muestra que aún al estar muriendo, Jesús estaba perdonando a los que lo habían herido.

Veamos a las personas y situaciones a nuestro derredor y digamos específicamente, “Padre, perdona a ___________ y a ___________ por lo que él o élla me está haciendo. Aplica esto a la familia, los amigos, el jefe y los compañeros de trabajo

34th Sunday Christ The King (Nov 24th) – Cycle C

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THE BREAD OF LIFE CATHOLIC BIBLE STUDY

By Deacon Ken and Marie Finn

BEFORE YOU BEGIN:

Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit.

“THE PARACLETE, THE HOLY SPIRIT WHOM THE FATHER WILL SEND IN MY NAME, WILL INSTRUCT YOU IN EVERYTHING, AND REMIND YOU OF ALL THAT I TOLD YOU.”  (JOHN 14:26)

 

FIRST DAY Reread last week’s readings.

1. What was a helpful or new thought from the readings or from the homily you heard on Sunday?

 

2. From what you learned, what personal application did you choose to apply to your life this week?

 

 

SECOND DAY            READ 2 SAMUEL 5:1-3          FIRST READING 

             (“You shall shepherd my people Israel…”)

1. Who came to David and what did they say to him?  2 Samuel 5:1  

     

2. Where was David?  If you can locate this place on a bible map, give location.  2 Samuel  5:1

 

3. Who led the Israelites out and brought them back? 2 Samuel 5:2

 

4. Who did the tribes of Israel say spoke to David and what did he say to him?  2 Samuel 5:2, Ezekiel 34:23-24

 

Personal – Who, then, do you think appoints those to shepherd the people?  Are you following the One whom God has appointed King of kings for all times?

 

5. To whom was David speaking?  2 Samuel 24:17

 

Personal – How does God speak to you and how do you speak to him   as David did?

 

6. What will happen to the shepherd God has appointed that does  not listen and submit to the words of God? Zechariah 11:17 and Jeremiah 25:34-36

 

7. Who is our Great Shepherd?  Read and write out the following scriptures:

Genesis 48:15

Psalm 23:1

John 10:6-7, 11

John 10:16

8. Who was made king of Israel? With whom did the king make an agreement before and who anointed him? 2 Samuel 5:3

 

Personal – What do you see as the difference between a good shepherd, a good king, and a bad king?  What are you?

 

 

THIRD DAY          READ COLOSSIANS 1:12-20        SECOND READING

(“Through him we have redemption, the forgiveness for our sins.”)              

1. For what are we to give thanks to the Father?  Colossians 1:12

 

2. What does it mean “the saints in light” and who is the light?  John 8:12 

 

3. Who rescued us and from whom did he rescue us? Colossians 1:13

 

4. Who is the power of darkness?  Acts 26:18

 

5. When he rescued us, where did he bring us?  Colossians 1:13

 

6. What do we receive through Jesus?  Colossians 1:14, 1 Peter 2:9

 

Personal – Have you been redeemed?  Have you asked the Lord to cleanse you and make you whole?  Reread verse 14.  This is a promise from God.  Write out this verse and meditate on it.

 

7. Who is the image of our God we cannot see and who is the first-born of all creatures?  Colossians 1:15

 

8. Read and write out:

Psalm 89:28

John 1:3

John 1:18

Personal – How do you see God the Father?  How has Jesus revealed  him to you personally?  Is he holding a rod ready to punish you or is he gentle, kind and forgiving?  As you see Jesus, you see the Father.

 

10. What was created in him and where was it created? Colossians 1:16, 1 Corinthians 8:6 

 

11. For what reason was all created?  Colossians 1:16

 

12. How does everything continue its being?  Colossians 1:17

 

13. Who began the church and who is the head of it? Ephesians 1:22, Revelation 1:5, Colossians 1:18

 

14. Onto whom did Christ pass this headship?  Matthew 16:18

 

15. How have we been reconciled with the Father? Colossians 1:19-20

 

Personal – Have you allowed Jesus to wash you with his blood and   bring you to peace with the Father?  What changes can you see in your life since you have done this?

 

 

FOURTH DAY               READ LUKE 23:35-43               GOSPEL

                (“This is the King of the Jews”)

1. Who stood there watching?  Who was jeering at Jesus, and what  were they saying?  Luke 23:35

 

2. Was there anyone else making fun of Jesus?  What did they offer him, and what were they telling him to do?

Luke 23:36-37

 

Personal – Why do you think Jesus did not come down off the cross  and save himself from this agonizing death?  Luke 22:42

 

3. Was it the Father’s will that Jesus, his only begotten Son,   die on the cross and why?

Read and write out:

1 Timothy 2:4

John 12:47

John 3:16

John 10:10

4. If Jesus was obedient to the Father and hung on the cross and  suffered from the weight of our sins in order to save us, what must we do?  John 1:12, Revelation 3:20

 

5. How are we to follow Jesus’ example?  Matthew 16:24-25, Mark 8:35, Luke 9:24

 

6. Was it through any effort of our own that we have been saved? Titus 3:4-5

 

7. What was the inscription written over Jesus’ head? Luke 23:38

 

Personal – How have you made Jesus your King of Kings and Lord of Lords?  1 Timothy 1:17, Revelation 17:14, Revelation 19:16

 

8. What did the one criminal say to Jesus in Luke 23:39?

 

9. About whom was he concerned?  Luke 23:39

 

10. What did the other criminal do and say?  Luke 23:40-41

 

Personal – In what way are you like either one of the criminals?  Who was denying himself and how do you deny yourself?

 

11. What did he say to Jesus in verse 42 of Luke 23 and what was  Jesus’ reply?

 

12. Read Matthew 25:33-34, 41.  How can this be compared to Luke 23:39-40?

 

Personal – Are you the one on the left or the right?  In what ways have you denied yourself this week for your spouse, children, friends, neighbor, business associates, or school friends?

 

 

FIFTH DAY             READ PSALM 122:1-5               

             (“Give thanks to the name of the Lord.”)

Read and meditate on Psalm 122:1-5.

What is the Lord saying to you personally through the Psalm?

 

How can you apply this to your life?

 

 

SIXTH DAY          READ ALL OF THE COMMENTARY      

2 SAMUEL  5:1-3

     David was finally anointed king over all Israel, and this was a fulfillment of God’s promise.  He first was anointed king in private by Samuel (1 Samuel 16:13).  David was just a teenager then and spent many years in the service of King Saul.  David was thirty years old when he was crowned King of Judah, which was the southern half of the Promised Land (2 Samuel 2:4).  He was crowned king of the whole country at the age of thirty-seven and reigned for forty years.  

When David was young and an outlaw, his future looked very bleak, but God’s promise to make him king was now fulfilled.  David had to wait very patiently for God’s promise to be fulfilled, even though he had been promised the kingship many years earlier.  We need to reflect on the patience and humility that David practiced in his long wait.  He went on to become a great king, warrior, poet, singer, musician, writer and spiritual leader of his people.  David was anointed by God and he knew that in time, God’s  time, the plan would come into being.  

David’s time of waiting prepared him for the very important task of being the good shepherd that his country needed. We too need to wait on the Lord and trust that he will direct us in our walk through the kingdom.  David was a leader because he was a follower of God.  Later David took his eyes off of God and he fell into great sin.  David repented and saw how puny his kingdom was next to God’s and he came back and received God’s gift of grace and forgiveness. We too can be like David; we can all come back to God’s holy light by repenting and realizing that God is our only good shepherd and he will never fail to go out and save the lost sheep.  Let us follow David’s example and let our baptismal anointing be the beginning of our eternal life with the “Good Shepherd,” Jesus, who will set us all free forever (John 8:32).

 

COLOSSIANS 1:12-20

     Paul was bringing to light a heresy in the Colossian church that was the beginning of Gnosticism.  The word “Gnosticism” means knowledge and the word “heresy” means a teaching contrary to true doctrine.  The Gnostic heresy attacked Christianity in several ways. It held that important secret knowledge was to be kept from most believers, and it taught that the body is evil.  Paul responded to this heresy by stating that Jesus chose to dwell in a human body.  This heresy denied the humanity of Christ and Paul insisted that in Jesus we see one who is fully alive, human and good.  

Gnosticism was beginning to get known and it could easily sway believers’ minds that did not know God’s will through the teachings of the church.  We see many signs of this heresy still lingering on in our church.  Today, as in the times of Paul, the best way a church can remain true to the teachings of the Lord is through personal study and church teachings.  Paul lists five benefits that Jesus gave us through his death on the cross.  He made us to be part of his kingdom.  He rescued us from Satan and made us his children.  He brought us into his eternal kingdom (Eph 2:5-6).

The Colossian church was caught up in believing that all matter is basically evil.  They believed that God, being a spirit which is all good, would never come to earth as a true human being (being human is part of matter).  They believed that Christ did not make the world, because they believed God would not create anything that was evil.  They believed that special and secret knowledge was the only way people could find God.  Paul told them that only Christ has the power to save.  Paul told them that Jesus is not only equal to God (Phil 2:6), he is God (John 10:30).  

We need to understand that Paul is combatting a heresy that tries to put knowledge above the saving aspects of God.  We, like the Colossians, must believe that Jesus Christ is God and not simply some great prophet.  Our faith will be hollow, misdirected, and meaningless if we see Jesus as anything less than God.   

 

LUKE 23:35-43

     In this passage, Jesus is placed on the cross; and even in his own incredible pain, he seeks to comfort and to forgive others.  The place where Jesus was led to be crucified was called “Golgotha” which means “the skull.”  This was a small hill just outside of the city walls, alongside a main road.  The Romans made the execution a public display as an example of what happens to those who defy Roman law.  It is ironic that Jesus was asked by James and John for the places of honor next to him in his Kingdom (Mark 10:35-39).  Now that Jesus was preparing to enter his Kingdom through his crucifixion, the places on his left and right were to be taken by dying, convicted criminals.  This is an incredible example for all of us that Jesus’ death was for all men, not just a selected few.  We must take Jesus’ words to his two power-hungry disciples, to our own hearts and remember that anyone who wants to be close to Jesus must be prepared to suffer and die as he did.  The only way to paradise is through the cross.  Even as he hung there dying in agony, Jesus was asking his Father to “forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”  We need to reflect on those words, especially with what is going on in today’s world.

Do we really understand how horrible sin is to God?  Do we really understand how horrible it is when we let others starve, go homeless, or we fail to clothe the naked?  Do we really understand when we turn our backs on the old, the lonely, the imprisoned, the mentally ill?  Do we really understand how horrible it is when we cause others to live in fear, and when we fail to love?  Jesus understands that we don’t really understand our own cruelty and he shows us the real reason why he died for all of us.  He freed us from the deathhold that Satan had on us and now, in faith, we can choose to love, choose to make all men free, and choose to forgive.  God tells us that if we accept his son, we will live forever (John 3:16).  

Jesus died for us and forgave us our sins.  We must also forgive others as he has forgiven us (Matt 6:15).  Let us be like the good thief (Dismas) on Jesus’ right, and say, “Lord, will you remember me in your Kingdom?”  He will say to us as surely as he said to Dismas,  “Believe in me and you too shall be with me in Paradise.”  Jesus is the dawn that breaks into the darkness of sin and gives us the light eternal.

 

Application 

In the first reading, we saw David being patient and humbly waiting to be crowned King in God’s time.  In the second reading, Paul is telling the Colossians that salvation is a person named Jesus, not some intellectual doctrine.  The Gospel shows us that even as he was dying, Jesus was forgiving those who hurt him.

Let us look at the people and situations around us and specifically say, “Father, forgive so and so for what he or she is doing to me.”  Apply this to family, friends, boss, fellow workers, etc.

Lectio Divina – 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time (Nov 17th) – Cycle C

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PURPOSE OF THIS SCRIPTURE READING – Develop a personal relationship with Jesus through the Word of God with the understanding that the Holy Spirit will teach and remind us of all Jesus said and did. Psalm 32:8 tells us, “I will instruct you and show you the way you should walk, give you counsel and watch over you.”

  1. Say the opening prayer
  2. Read the passage slowly three times as though Jesus were talking to you.
  3. Converse with Jesus, asking questions and listening to Him.

OPEN WITH THE FOLLOWING PRAYER:

Father, I can’t understand Your Word without Your grace, I acknowledge my weakness so your power can reach perfection in me. Send Your Holy Spirit to remind, teach, and guide me to the Truth. May I share as soon as possible whatever You teach me. AMEN

READ, REFLECT AND WRITE 

Luke 21:5-19 – 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 he 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.”

A. What is the Lord personally saying to you?

 

 

 

B. What does the Lord personally want you to do?

 

 

Lectio Divina- 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Nov 10th)- Cycle C

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PURPOSE OF THIS SCRIPTURE READING – Develop a personal relationship with Jesus through the Word of God with the understanding that the Holy Spirit will teach and remind us of all Jesus said and did. Psalm 32:8 tells us, “I will instruct you and show you the way you should walk, give you counsel and watch over you.”

  1. Say the opening prayer
  2. Read the passage slowly three times as though Jesus were talking to you.
  3. Converse with Jesus, asking questions and listening to Him.

OPEN WITH THE FOLLOWING PRAYER:

Father, I can’t understand Your Word without Your grace, I acknowledge my weakness so your power can reach perfection in me. Send Your Holy Spirit to remind, teach, and guide me to the Truth. May I share as soon as possible whatever You teach me. AMEN

READ, REFLECT AND WRITE 

Luke 20:27-38 – Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, came forward and put this question to Jesus, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, If someone’s brother dies leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first married a woman but died childless. Then the second and the third married her, and likewise all the seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be? For all seven had been married to her.” Jesus said to them, “The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise. That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called out ‘Lord,’ the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”

A. What is the Lord personally saying to you?

 

 

 

B. What does the Lord personally want you to do?

 

 

Lectio Divina- 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Nov 3rd)- Cycle C

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PURPOSE OF THIS SCRIPTURE READING – Develop a personal relationship with Jesus through the Word of God with the understanding that the Holy Spirit will teach and remind us of all Jesus said and did. Psalm 32:8 tells us, “I will instruct you and show you the way you should walk, give you counsel and watch over you.”

  1. Say the opening prayer
  2. Read the passage slowly three times as though Jesus were talking to you.
  3. Converse with Jesus, asking questions and listening to Him.

OPEN WITH THE FOLLOWING PRAYER:

Father, I can’t understand Your Word without Your grace, I acknowledge my weakness so your power can reach perfection in me. Send Your Holy Spirit to remind, teach, and guide me to the Truth. May I share as soon as possible whatever You teach me. AMEN

READ, REFLECT AND WRITE 

Luke 19:1-10 – 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.”

A. What is the Lord personally saying to you?

 

 

 

B. What does the Lord personally want you to do?

 

 

33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time (Nov 17th) – Cycle C 

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THE BREAD OF LIFE CATHOLIC BIBLE STUDY

By Deacon Ken and Marie Finn

BEFORE YOU BEGIN:

Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit.

“THE PARACLETE, THE HOLY SPIRIT WHOM THE FATHER WILL SEND IN MY NAME, WILL INSTRUCT YOU IN EVERYTHING, AND REMIND YOU OF ALL THAT I TOLD YOU.”  (JOHN 14:26)

 

FIRST DAY Reread last week’s readings.

1. What was a helpful or new thought from the readings or from the homily you heard on Sunday?

 

2. From what you learned, what personal application did you choose to apply to your life this week?

 

 

SECOND DAY            READ MALACHI 3:19-20          FIRST READING          

(“…There will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays…”)

1. What will the day be like that is coming?  Malachi 3:19

 

2. What will happen to all the proud and evildoers?  Malachi 3:19

 

3. How will that day leave them?  Malachi 3:19

 

4. Who says this will happen?  Malachi 3:19

 

5. What do the proud and evildoers do?  Malachi 3:5, 13-14

 

6. For those who fear the name of the Lord, what will arise and  with what kind of rays?  Malachi 3:20

 

7. What will you do?  Malachi 3:20

 

8. What do those who fear the Lord do?  Malachi 3:16

 

9. What is the difference between the proud, the evildoer and the  one who fears the Lord?  Malachi 3:18

 

10. To fear the Lord brings what and what does it avoid? Proverbs 14:27

 

Personal – Examine your conscience over this past week.  What ways have you served the Lord and what ways have you not served him?  Do you have one foot in the kingdom and one outside?  Read Revelation 3:15-16.

 

 

THIRD DAY          READ 2 THESSALONIANS 3:7-12     SECOND READING             

                (“…That we might present ourselves as an example for you to imitate.”)

1. Who is speaking?  To whom are they speaking?  What are they asking them to do in 2 Thessalonians 3:7?  2 Thessalonians 1:1

 

2. Why were they asking the Thessalonians to imitate them? 2 Thessalonians 3:6-8

 

3. What is the workman worth?  Matthew 10:10

 

4. How  did they want to present themselves and for what reason?  2 Thessalonians 3:9

 

5. What was the rule that they laid down while they were with   them?  2 Thessalonians 3:10

 

6. With what did they tell them to work, and for what reason?    1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

 

7. What did Paul and the others hear that some of them were not  doing and how were they acting?  2 Thessalonians 3:11

 

8. What happens when you don’t keep busy but waste time? 1 Timothy 5:13

 

9. What did Paul and the others urge them strongly in the Lord  Jesus Christ to do and how were they to do it?  

2 Thessalonians 3:12

 

10. What should we remember when working?  Colossians 3:23

 

Personal – If you are a student, if you are a homemaker or working on a job, or if you are retired, what has your attitude been towards the work you are doing?  What kind of example are you to outsiders?  Reflect on this.  

 

 

FOURTH DAY              READ LUKE 21:5-19                  GOSPEL      

               (“All will hate you because of me,…”)

1. About what were some people speaking?  Luke 21:5

 

2. What did Jesus say to them about the things they were contemplating?  Luke 21:6

 

3. What two things did they ask Jesus?  Luke 21:7

 

4. Who did Jesus say not to follow and what would they be saying?  Luke 21:8

 

5. What is bound to happen first about which we are not to become perturbed?  Does the end immediately follow this?  Luke 21:9

 

6. What did Jesus continue to say to them?  Luke 21:10-11

 

7. What did he say would happen to them before all this took place?  Luke 21:12

 

8. What action concerning his name would result in persecution and trial?  Acts 5:28

 

9. What will we be brought to do?  What are we not to do and   for what reason?  Luke 21:13-15

   

10. With what did Stephen speak when engaged in debate? Acts 6:9-10

 

11. Who will deliver us up and what will happen to some of us?  Luke 21:16

 

12. What will all do to us because of Jesus and, yet, what will   happen to the hair on our heads?  Luke 21:17-18

 

13. How will we save our lives?  Luke 21:19

 

14. Read the following  scriptures and write out what they say about patient endurance:

Hebrews 3:14    Hebrews 6:11-12    Hebrews 10:36

 

 

Personal – In what way do you see yourself being persecuted because of the name of Jesus?  In what way are you persecuting others for their obedience to God?  Where do you stand?

 

 

FIFTH DAY               READ PSALM 98:5-9                           

              (“He will rule the world with justice and the peoples with equity.”)

Read and meditate on Psalm 98:5-9.

What is the Lord saying to you personally through the Psalm?

 

How can you apply this to your life?

 

 

SIXTH DAY          READ ALL OF THE COMMENTARY                   

MALACHI 3:19-20

     We  read in this passage that the day of judgment is coming like a blazing furnace for those who have turned their backs on God.  Malachi exhorted and warned the people about being obedient to the Lord or facing terrible consequences. A blazing furnace is white hot and its function is to burn impurities out of precious metal.  It require a hot, dangerous and all consuming fire. Malachi compared judgment day to this. 

Many people were disobedient to God’s will and dishonored his name (Mal.1:6).  They offered false worship (Mal.1:7-14), and they led others into sin (Mal.2:7-9). Many became arrogant and proud, and they called “evil” good (Mal.2:17). These were the people who  Malachi promised would be reduced to stubble on Judgment Day. We need to reflect on our own lifestyle in these troubled times and see if this warning applies to us also. The name of God is mocked and profaned on television and in the movies with great regularity. Idolatry is as common today in this country as it ever was in the time of Abraham.  Today many pay homage to the god of sports, television, pornography, abortion, money, and power. That blazing furnace is as real today as it was in the time of Malachi. 

Malachi was not a prophet of doom, and he left them with a strong message of hope and forgiveness.  He gave us the image of a loving God who will be like a healing warmth of the sun to those that repent and come back to love and obey him. God wills that no man perish. John the Baptist told about the coming of Jesus and said he was like the dawn about to break with light for those in sin and darkness (Luke 1:76-79). Jesus is the light of the world, and we are called to bring that light everywhere.

 

2 THESSALONIANS 3:7-12

     Paul takes a strong stand against laziness in the church leaders and in the people themselves.  He strongly exhorts them to be responsible and hard working Christians.  Paul certainly did not think that working or insisting that people who should work was an attack on their integrity or dignity.  Paul thought that a person should make the most of his time and talents.  Paul exhorted them to provide for themselves and for others as well.  Paul stresses very strongly how important example is to a community.  

We need to stress that today more than ever to our young people and especially our children.  What kind of example are you setting?  Do people see you as a hard working, kind and patient Christian?  Do you spend too much time watching television?  Do you spend time alone every day with the Lord in quiet prayer?  Do you read and study Scripture every day?  These are the type of examples we need to set for others.  

Paul really admonishes the people about wasting time gossiping, a sin against the fifth commandment: “Thou shalt not kill.”  You kill a person socially, emotionally, and even spiritually inch by inch when you are gossiping about him.  Gossips breed distrust, division, discouragement and, finally, despair in the body of Christ.  Gossip, in some cases, is exciting to hear; and it means those who are hearing it feel like insiders.  Instead of building up, gossiping tears down.  Jesus calls us to love others as he has loved us (John 15:12).  We cannot be tearing someone down through gossip and think we are loving, obedient Christians.  We need to pray to the Lord so that he will heal us of this miserable, bad habit.  Our prayers are powerful because our Lord listens and heals (James 5:16).

 

LUKE 21:5-19

     The temple the disciples were admiring was not Solomon’s temple.  Solomon’s temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in the sixth century B.C.  The temple in Jesus’ day was the one built by Herod the Great, begun in 20 B.C. It was much larger than the earlier temples.  This temple, after many restorations, was destroyed completely in 70 A.D. by the Roman army.  The disciples were commenting on the beauty and durability of the temple.  Jesus tells them the temple will be knocked down and it will become a pile of rubble.  They wanted to know when this terrible event would happen.  Jesus warned them about false Messiahs and natural disasters.  He told them that he would never leave them and that he would be with them even unto the end of time (Matthew 28:16-20).  he warned them about persecution and being dragged into court because of being associated with him.  We see that happening today to those involved in a movement to stop abortion by blocking the entrance into the abortion clinics.  Many of the protestors have been arrested and hauled into court. A tremendous witness is taking place in our country, so many people have come forward and are being imprisoned for the sake of Christ.  Jesus’ warning and his promises still apply to us as we look forward to his return.  In response to their question of “knowing when the end of the age will come,” Jesus stated that they should be less concerned about the date and more concerned about being prepared.

We are called to live God’s way constantly so that no matter when he comes, we will be prepared.  The early church thrived despite incredible persecution.  In the early second century the blood of the Christians was considered the seeds of future believers.  We need to remember that Jesus’ words are as true today as they were yesterday.  Today we have many families who have turned against each other and suffer great persecution at the hands of their own loved ones.  We can be assured that no matter how rough the times may get, he is with us, and his Spirit even teaches us what to say in time of trial.  

Jesus tells us, “Not a hair of your head will be harmed.”  He means that none of his followers will suffer spiritual or eternal loss.  You may lose all of your possessions here on earth, you may be beaten, robbed and even put to death, but you will be saved forever and ever. 

 

Application 

In the first reading we are choosing to be either hot or cold. In the second reading we are called to be a role model.In the Gospel we heard that we need to take a stand with God or against him.  

Let us choose Christ in every situation we encounter in our homes, church, and jobs.  Before we take action in any situation this week let us ask ourselves, “Am I compromising what I believe in by doing this?”

32ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (Nov 10th)- CYCLE C

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THE BREAD OF LIFE CATHOLIC BIBLE STUDY

By Deacon Ken and Marie Finn

BEFORE YOU BEGIN:

Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit.

“THE PARACLETE, THE HOLY SPIRIT WHOM THE FATHER WILL SEND IN MY NAME, WILL INSTRUCT YOU IN EVERYTHING, AND REMIND YOU OF ALL THAT I TOLD YOU.”  (JOHN 14:26)

 

FIRST DAY Reread last week’s readings.

1. What was a helpful or new thought from the readings or from the homily you heard on Sunday?

 

2. From what you learned, what personal application did you choose to apply to your life this week?

 

 

SECOND DAY        READ 2 MACCABEES 7:1-2, 9-14     FIRST READING

           (“We are ready to die rather than transgress the laws of our ancestors.”)

1. How many brothers were arrested and who was with them?  2 Maccabees 7:1

 

2. What did the king do to them?  Why did he do this and of what was this in violation?  2 Maccabees 7:1

 

3. What did one of the brothers say in speaking for the other brothers?  2 Maccabees 7:2

 

4. What would they rather do than transgress the laws of whom? 2 Maccabees 7:2

 

5. After killing the first brother what did they do to the second brother and what did he say?  2 Maccabees 7:7-9

 

6. Who is the King of the world and for what will he raise us up? 1 Timothy 6:14-15, 2 Maccabees 7:9

 

7. What happened to the third brother and what did he say? 2 Maccabees 7:10-11

 

8. At what did the king and his attendants marvel, and for what reason?  2 Maccabees 7:12

 

9. What happened to the fourth brother and what did he choose to do at the hands of men?2 Maccabees 7:13-14

 

10. What was the fourth brother’s God-given hope and what did he say there would not be for the torturers?  2 Maccabees 7:14

 

11. When we die who gives back both breath and life and for what reason?  2 Maccabees 7:23

 

12. What does the Son, Jesus, do?  John 5:19-30.

 

Personal – In what way have you been willing to suffer for your belief in Jesus?  What have you said lately to those around you that took courage to say to them?  Pray and ask God to give you the courage to stand up for what you believe in.

 

 

THIRD DAY        READ 2 THESSALONIANS 2:16-3:5    SECOND READING

          (“…console your hearts and strengthen them for every good work and word.”)

1. What did God our Father in his mercy give us? 2 Thessalonians 2:16

 

2. What does God do for your heart and for what reason does he do this?  2 Thessalonians 2:17

 

3. For what reason did Paul and the others ask the brothers to   pray for them?  2 Thessalonians 3:1

 

4. What is another reason that Paul asks others to pray for them?  Colossians 4:3-4

 

5. Paul asks them to pray that they be delivered from whom? 2 Thessalonians 3:2

 

6. What is it that not every man has and that the Lord always keeps?  2 Thessalonians 3:2-3

 

7. What two things does the Lord do for you against the evil one?  2 Thessalonians 3:3

 

8. How does God strengthen us?  Psalm 119:28, Ephesians 3:16

 

9. How do we receive this strength?  Acts 3:16

 

10. About what are Paul and the others confident in the Lord? 2 Thessalonians 3:4

 

11. In what are they asking the Lord to rule their hearts? 2 Thessalonians 3:5

 

12. How do we speak and of what is God the tester?  1 Thessalonians 2:4

 

Personal – In what way has God strengthened you for every good work and word through his Word and the teaching of the Holy Spirit this past week?  Be specific.

 

 

FOURTH DAY             READ LUKE 20:27-38                GOSPEL 

       (“God is not the God of the dead but of the living. All are alive for him.”)

1. Who came forward to pose a problem to Jesus and what did they claim?  Luke 20:27-28

 

2. What was the problem they proposed to Jesus?  Luke 20:28-33

 

3. What did Jesus say children of this age do?  Luke 20:34

 

4. What do those judged worthy of a place in the age to come and of resurrection from the dead do in regard to marriage? Luke 20:35

 

5. What do those judged worthy become like and what will not happen to them?  Luke 20:36

 

6. Who are the ones that will rise?  Luke 20:36

 

7. What did Moses in the passage about the bush show? Luke 20:37

 

8. Who does not have God and who does have God?  Luke 20:38

 

9. For what are we alive?  Luke 20:38

 

10. What does Corinthians say about being raised up from the dead?  1 Corinthians 15:12-19

 

11. What does it take to believe in Christ’s resurrection? Acts 20:21.

 

Personal – In what way have you already been resurrected and to what do you look forward?  In what way do others see the resurrected Christ living in you?

 

 

FIFTH DAY           READ PSALM 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15           

         (“Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings…”)

Read and meditate on Psalm 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15.

What is the Lord saying to you personally through the Psalm?

 

How can you apply this to your life?

 

 

SIXTH DAY          READ ALL OF THE COMMENTARY          

2 MACCABEES 7:1-2, 9-14

     This passage has a powerful message of justice and resurrection.  Can you imagine how horrible it must have been for that mother to watch each one of her seven sons being tortured and then being executed?  Can you just imagine the pain in her heart as she leans closely to her last remaining son and encouraging him to save his life by giving it up for God (Matthew 16:25)?  What tremendous courage this mother, who is herself later tortured and murdered, and her sons had.  We need to reflect on this story. 

The fear of pain and death was not in their responses because the hunger and thirst to be at one with God was greater.  We must not dismiss this passage as an exaggerated story told to make a point.  These young men loved life as much as you or I do.  They dreamed about their futures just like you and I do.  They knew that to refuse this command meant torture and death.  Could we do the same?  Today, here in our society, we are being threatened with such a barrage of filth in our movies, television, magazines and now even in our home video tape recordings.  The level of filth and profit is so high that like Habakkuk (1:2), we cry out, how long will I call for help, and you do not hear?  

The degree of brutality has never been equaled as it has here in the United States when we look at the 25 million unborn babies we have murdered.  Our nation is being savagely attacked, and our throats are being slashed by the incredibly overwhelming use of drugs.  The primary motive for this plague of evil is greed and profit.  Where are men like these brothers who will stand up and protest against these outrages?  Where are these men who will die if they have to?  The questions upon us today are: Do we really believe in the Resurrection?  Do we really believe that Jesus died to make all men free and live forever with him? I pray that our nation will come forth and give us men and women like the spiritual giants in today’s passage.  I pray with confidence because he tells us that he will never turn away anyone who calls out to him (John 6:37).

 

2 THESSALONIANS 2:16-3:5

     Paul knew that the pressures of persecutions, apathy among the people, worldliness of the people and false teachers would cause a wavering of the faith and a looseness with the truth.  He exhorted them to stand firm in the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ passed on to us through scripture and the teachings of the church.  We, too, are being confronted with these temptations that try to turn us away from God.  We need to more than ever hold onto the truth.  This is found in the teachings of Jesus, simply because our lives depend on it.  

We must never forget the reality of his life and love.  Paul is not only exhorting the people, but he is also warning them about the dangers of evil men in their midst.  He is telling them that beneath the surface calm of daily living is the struggle that goes on among invisible spiritual powers.  The question we need to ask ourselves is, do we really believe that?  Our battle is not against human forces but against the principalities and powers, the rulers of this world of darkness, the evil spirits in regions above (Ephesians 6:12).  These evil rulers, satanic beings and evil princes of darkness are not people, but fallen angels over whom Satan has control.  They are not fantasies; they are very real.  We need only to look around and see how the drugs are tearing Americans’ throats open.  

The pornography industry is colossal and it is in every city in the United States.  Abortion or murder is accepted and legally protected in all parts of this great nation.  Is there any doubt that these demons of Satan are active in these abominations that are crippling our nation?  When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and follow the teachings of our Catholic Church, Satan becomes our arch-enemy.  He is out to kill us, and we must remember that the Spirit within us is greater than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4).  Jesus is the only answer to our problems and he has won the victory over Satan for us.  He is the one who will strengthen us and guard us against the evil one (2 Thess. 3:3).  Let us in the Lord follow the teachings of the church with the same obedience and confidence that Paul had in the Thessalonians. 

        

LUKE 20:27-38

     The Sadducees were a group of conservative religious leaders who honored only the Pentateuch (Genesis to Deuteronomy).  They did not believe in the resurrection of the dead because they could not find any mention of it in their first five books of the Old Testament.  They tried to trick Jesus with a question that always bothered the Pharisees.  Jesus answered their real question about resurrection after he addressed their other question on marriage.  Jesus based his response on the writings of Moses. The Sadducees respected Moses so much that they honored only the books that dealt with him and his ancestors.  

Jesus knew that they respected Moses and his answers upheld belief in the resurrection.  Jesus’ answer on marriage didn’t mean that people will not recognize their spouses when they get to heaven; he meant that heaven is not an extension of life as we know it here on earth.  Jesus talks about those who are counted worthy of being raised from the dead to heavenly life.  We might ask ourselves: What does it mean to be worthy of being raised to heavenly life?  We are told that if we believe in Jesus Christ, we shall not perish, rather we shall have eternal life (John 3:16).  

     Jesus told them that they can’t compare what we have on earth with what we will have in heaven.  He answered their question about “the resurrection” by showing that the writings of Moses proved that there is a resurrection.  Moses’ God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  This means that the Lord is some person’s God, which means that person is alive, not dead.  God sees all men who believe in him as living children of him.  

     We need to ask ourselves this question: Do we believe in the resurrection?  Will we rise from the dead like Jesus did?  Will we some day be reunited in heaven with all of our loved ones who died before us?  We are told in Scripture to confess with our lips and believe in our hearts that Jesus is Lord and then we are his children and we will be with him forever.  The real question for the Sadducees was: “Is the Resurrection real?”  God said “YES” when he said that all who believe in his Son will not die but live forever in heaven (John 3:16).  

 

Application

The first reading shows that hunger and thirst for God was much stronger than the fear of pain and death.  The second reading calls us to stand firm in the teaching of scripture and the teachings of our beloved church.  The gospel tells us that heaven is not an extension of life as we know it here on earth.

This week, let all who come in contact with you see that the message of justice and resurrection is alive in you. Let your prayers be heard in your home. Do not be afraid to give thanks and praise to God for something that happens to you in public.  Look around and see where opportunities to witness are present.  Your family will see and experience this courage and follow your example.