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giftofshewbread · 2 years ago

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Pay Attention

:: By Daymond Duck Published on: July 15, 2023

On July 4, 2023, Jean Worland ([email protected]) posted these words from Hal Lindsey:

In Matthew 16:2-3, Jesus admonished us to discern the times. That means pay attention to what’s going on. Study and apply God’s word. And pray about everything. Today, we see signs of distress all over the world. We can see in real-time things the Bible long ago told us about. And it’s not pretty. Lawlessness, moral confusion, slander, deception, hedonism, uncontrolled rage, and cruelty fill our sightlines. These things are no longer theoretical events to be analyzed from a distance. They’re happening all around us, and it can be scary.

Jesus told us to watch the signs many times (Matt. 24:42-43; Mark 13:33-37; Luke 21:36; Rev. 3:3), but those that are not watching do not know or do not care.

Pay attention because “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (II Cor. 5:10).

The world needs to know what is going on, and it is the responsibility of the Church to speak out.

Here are some events that got my attention in recent days:

One, concerning the decline of America and world government: on July 4, 2023, highly respected World Net Daily (WND) journalist, Bob Unruh, wrote an article about Justin Haskins’ warning that America could lose its independence before the 2024 election.

Haskins is the director of the Socialism Research Center at The Heartland Institute, and his article was posted on a conservative web magazine called the Federalist.

According to Unruh, Haskins said:

A proposal to give the UN great power to deal with “emergencies” could cause the U.S. as we know it to cease to exist.

During an emergency (a natural disaster, a pandemic, whatever), the UN wants the authority to call an emergency and be given power over most of the world.

The UN will be authorized to determine what is an emergency, when it begins, when it ends, and retain power over most of the world for as long as it wants.

Instead of defending America’s independence and sovereignty, the Biden administration has already expressed support for this UN power grab.

Declaring the end of the U.S. sounds dire, but it will be a fact come Sept. 2024 if people don’t stand up.

Here is a link to the article:

https://www.wnd.com/2023/07/biden-helping-u-n-control-life-u-s-know-cease-exist/

(Note: It is difficult to keep all the meetings, —UN, WHO, WEF, IMF —meeting dates, and agendas straight. Haskins wrote about what the UN is trying to do that will destroy the U.S. before the next election. There will be other meetings that could destroy the U.S. The thing to remember about all these groups and meetings is that world leaders are very close to establishing a world government.)

Here are some things I have written about in the past two months:

The World Health Organization (WHO) wants:

A Global Code of Conduct.

A Global Digital Passport.

A Global Digital Currency.

A Global Digital Health Record.

A Global Digital Health Certification Network (GDHCN).

The World Economic Forum (WEF) wants:

Holy Books written by AI.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) wants:

A Global Digital Currency and Transaction Data.

The United Nations (UN) wants:

A Global Digital ID linked to everyone’s bank account.

A seven-year covenant with many to bring in a world government.

Emmanuel Macron wants:

A Global Tax.

Unless God intervenes, the world is on the brink of a world government and the Tribulation Period.

People need to pay attention because where we spend eternity could be at stake.

The Church is running out of time to be salt and light.

(Personal note: Many times, I have said, “The day might come when things start happening so fast that it is impossible to keep up with them.” There are times when I think that day has arrived, and only part of what happens gets reported.)

Two, concerning the decline of America and a possible global economic collapse: on July 7, 2023, it was reported that Russia confirmed that the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) intend to start trading in a new currency backed by gold, and the official announcement will be made at the BRICS Summit in August.

Some officials predict that this will cause the value of the Dollar to plunge, cause a major surge in inflation in the U.S., eventually be seen as the beginning of the end of the Dollar, and send America’s superpower status on a downhill slide from which it will never recover.

I am not an economic expert, but it seems to me that there is no way for this to not have a negative impact on the global economy.

(Note: Several other nations are seeking to join the BRICS nations.)

Three, concerning the turmoil in Israel and its impact on Israel’s future: since January of 2023, there have been major riots and demonstrations in Israel over an upcoming vote on a bill to change Israel’s judiciary.

Israel’s top judges are appointed by other judges.

Liberal judges have taken over the judiciary.

They appoint liberal judges to always ensure a liberal majority on the court, and the liberal majority they appoint always votes to keep Israel a secular nation.

There are conservative Jews that want to worship on the Temple Mount, religious Jews that want to go back under the Mosaic Law (the first five books of the Bible, called the Torah or the Pentateuch), Jews that want to rebuild the Temple, resume the animal sacrifices, etc. But even if those conservative and religious Jews get the Israeli Knesset to pass a bill to do these things, the liberal judges can declare the bill illegal and kill it.

That is right; unelected liberal judges can overrule a majority vote of the elected officials, and they have angered many of the elected officials with their liberal votes.

The latest Netanyahu government is conservative.

It has the support of several religious parties.

Netanyahu’s government wants to pass a bill (called the Reasonableness Standard Bill) to take the power to appoint judges away from the liberal judges and empower the government to appoint judges.

In addition to that, if the Israeli Knesset passes a bill (after three readings and three votes) and the unelected judges declare it illegal, the Knesset wants the power to review the Judge’s decision and perhaps vote to overturn it or part of it, etc.

As I understand it, the ongoing riots and demonstrations in Israel are about two things:

One, who makes the laws in Israel (the people’s elected representatives in the Knesset or a group of unelected liberal judges).

Two, what kind of nation will Israel be in the future, a secular nation or a religious nation?

According to the Bible, Israel will go back under the Mosaic Law (the laws that God gave to Moses), they will rebuild the Temple, and they will resume the animal sacrifices.

(Note: Some orthodox Jews believe the Messiah will give them permission to rebuild the Temple. Based on John 5:43, some prophecy teachers believe the Jews will accept the Antichrist as the Messiah. They believe the covenant that is confirmed (strengthened) by the Antichrist will give the Jews permission to rebuild the Temple, and it will be rebuilt very early in the Tribulation Period. That will be after the Rapture, and Israel may be taking a turn in that direction now.)

Are you paying attention?

In addition to the riots and demonstrations being about whether Israel will be a secular nation or a religious nation in the future, here are two more events that I have written about in recent weeks.

The Jews may soon have the ashes of a red heifer that will permit them to rebuild the Temple.

A member of Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party has submitted a bill to divide the Temple Mount between Muslims and Jews so the Temple can be rebuilt.

The effort to rebuild the Temple appears to be slowly advancing.

(Update: On July 11, 2023, the Reasonableness Standard Bill passed in the Knesset by a vote of 64 to 56. If it passes a second and then a third vote, hopefully before the end of this month, it will become law in Israel. In that case, Israel will soon become more religious and less secular.)

Four, concerning persecution and the coming one-world religion: on July 10, 2023, the New American posted an article that said a UN-authorized report urges “governments to threaten and punish religious leaders and organizations that don’t go along with the LGBTQ orthodoxy.”

Right now, this appears to be just a recommendation, but the Bible teaches that extreme persecution and death await those that do not follow the anti-Christian globalist agenda during the Tribulation Period.

The U.S. pays 22% of the UN budget.

(More: A different article said the UN report condemns the anti-gay interpretation of Judeo-Christian scriptures, it celebrates religious groups that promote gay and transgender values, it says medical workers and institutions should be forced to perform abortions, transgender treatments, surgeries, etc.).

(My opinion: The LGBTQ agenda should not be considered superior to religious beliefs. Freedom of religion will not exist when people are forced to abandon the Scriptures and go along with the LGBTQ agenda. Authorizing the UN to tell people what they can and cannot believe in the Bible, Koran, on any other book is the same as establishing a new global religion. Forcing healthcare workers to perform abortions and mutilate the bodies of children is satanic.)

FYI: God does not send anyone to Hell (all of us are born with a sin nature and destined to go to Hell because we sin), but God has provided a way (Jesus) for everyone to go to Heaven (and He is the only way to get there; John 14:6).

Finally, are you Rapture Ready?

If you want to be rapture ready and go to heaven, you must be born again (John 3:3). God loves you, and if you have not done so, sincerely admit that you are a sinner; believe that Jesus is the virgin-born, sinless Son of God who died for the sins of the world, was buried, and raised from the dead; ask Him to forgive your sins, cleanse you, come into your heart and be your Saviour; then tell someone that you have done this.

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seekfirst-community · 2 years ago

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Meditation: Who is Jesus for you - and what difference does he make in your life? Many in Israel recognized Jesus as a mighty man of God, even comparing him with the greatest of the prophets. Peter, always quick to respond whenever Jesus spoke, professed that Jesus was truly the "Christ of God" - "the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16). No mortal being could have revealed this to Peter, but only God. Through the "eyes of faith" Peter discovered who Jesus truly was. Peter recognized that Jesus was much more than a great teacher, prophet, and miracle worker. Peter was the first apostle to publicly declare that Jesus was the Anointed One, consecrated by the Father and sent into the world to redeem a fallen human race enslaved to sin and cut off from eternal life with God (Luke 9:20, Acts 2:14-36). The word for "Christ" in Greek is a translation of the Hebrew word for "Messiah" - both words literally mean the Anointed One.

Jesus begins to explain the mission he was sent to accomplish

Why did Jesus command his disciples to be silent about his identity as the anointed Son of God? They were, after all, appointed to proclaim the good news to everyone. Jesus knew that they did not yet fully understand his mission and how he would accomplish it. Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD), an early church father, explains the reason for this silence:

There were things yet unfulfilled which must also be included in their preaching about him. They must also proclaim the cross, the passion, and the death in the flesh. They must preach the resurrection of the dead, that great and truly glorious sign by which testimony is borne him that the Emmanuel is truly God and by nature the Son of God the Father. He utterly abolished death and wiped out destruction. He robbed hell, and overthrew the tyranny of the enemy. He took away the sin of the world, opened the gates above to the dwellers upon earth, and united earth to heaven. These things proved him to be, as I said, in truth God. He commanded them, therefore, to guard the mystery by a seasonable silence until the whole plan of the dispensation should arrive at a suitable conclusion. (Commentary on Luke, Homily 49)

God's Anointed Son must suffer and die to atone for our sins

Jesus told his disciples that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and die in order that God's work of redemption might be accomplished. How startled the disciples were when they heard this word. How different are God's thoughts and ways from our thoughts and ways (Isaiah 55:8). It was through humiliation, suffering, and death on the cross that Jesus broke the powers of sin and death and won for us eternal life and freedom from the slavery of sin and from the oppression of our enemy, Satan, the father of lies and the deceiver of humankind.

We, too, have a share in the mission and victory of Jesus Christ

If we want to share in the victory of the Lord Jesus, then we must also take up our cross and follow where he leads us. What is the "cross" that you and I must take up each day? When my will crosses (does not align) with God's will, then his will must be done. To know Jesus Christ is to know the power of his victory on the cross where he defeated sin and conquered death through his resurrection. The Holy Spirit gives each of us the gifts and strength we need to live as sons and daughters of God. The Holy Spirit gives us faith to know the Lord Jesus personally as our Redeemer, and the power to live the Gospel faithfully, and the courage to witness to others the joy, truth, and freedom of the Gospel. Who do you say that Jesus is?

"Lord Jesus, I believe and I profess that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Take my life, my will, and all that I have, that I may be wholly yours now and forever."

birth control or sin control?

“Be fertile, then, and multiply; abound on earth and subdue it.” —Genesis 9:7; see also Genesis 9:1

The first recorded words from God to humanity are: “Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it” (Gn 1:28). To make sure that humanity got the message, God repeated it two more times (Gn 9:1, 7). Sin then took advantage of humanity’s fertility to transmit a fallen nature to every human being. Likewise, when our fertility seems to multiply our problems, many of us respond with birth control. We reason that less people means less problems for us who already have too many problems. However, the Lord responds to the multiplication of our problems not by shutting down our fertility, but by dealing with our real problem, sin. For example, the Lord tried to deal with our sinfulness through Noah’s flood, while continuing to command us to be fertile and multiply.

We don’t need birth control, but sin control. We don’t even need temporary birth control while we delay dealing with our sins. This is only another excuse to put off repenting. We must repent of our sins now and go to Confession. We treasure God’s Word in our hearts that we may not sin (Ps 119:11). The only way to save our lives is to give our lives totally to the Lord (Mt 16:25). Then our fertility will be used to fill the earth with the Lord’s love and life as we make disciples of all the nations (see Mt 28:19). Be fertile and multiply; repent of sins and fill the earth.

Prayer: Father, give many Christian couples the blessing of having healthy, large families.

Promise: “You are the Messiah!” —Mk 8:29

Praise: George got a vasectomy twice and finally reversed it for good.

Reference: (Discipleship Retreats are one of the main ministries of Presentation Ministries. You will grow in your faith and be equipped to evangelize by attending the series of forty days of retreat. See our website for all upcoming retreats and plan to begin the process, www.presentationministries.com.)

Rescript: "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from February 1, 2023 through March 31, 2023. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio June 15, 2022"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements

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hieromonkcharbel · 3 years ago

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I find something particularly intriguing about this gospel: Joseph’s character, his quandary, and, most intriguing of all, how this quandary was resolved. We see Joseph today struggling, in confusion, and agonizing over what to do. Mary was pregnant and he was the not the father. He could only assume that another was. As a just man, he was sensitive above all things to the sanctity of marriage and yet did not want to manifest his righteousness at Mary’s expense. For the procedure prescribed by Jewish law was to make an example of one convicted of adultery by punishing them publicly: a procedure, you might remember, captured vividly in the gospel where Jesus intervened to protect the woman caught in an adulterous affair from being stoned to death.

Well, it was all too much for Joseph to handle. In fact, he wore himself out thinking about it and fell asleep. However, we are told, this was not the sleep of sloth or of indifference; it was the sleep of contemplation that comes on as a result of faithful, arduous labor. And it was here that the dilemma would be resolved for Joseph; for he began to dream and it was in this dream that God communicated to him.

It was only then that Joseph could disconnect himself from the processes and limitations of human logic; only then that he could receive and know the truth even without understanding it. This child will be Emmanuel, “God with us,” because Mary has conceived him through the Holy Spirit. Jesus is so much God’s Son that God is his only Father; he has been conceived through the Same Spirit that brought life into the world at creation.

It was only then that he could let go in faith and accept what appeared to be unreasonable and unthinkable and do what appeared to be humiliating. The Messiah must belong to the house of David as the prophets have foretold. And so you Joseph, son of David, must name him; for in naming him, you will become his legal father and establish his true lineage.

Upon waking from the dream, we are told, Joseph did all that the angel had commanded him and took Mary as his wife. He embraced and accepted the mystery. This is what the Church is asking us to consider this advent. For you see, Joseph’s experience illuminates the struggle that all of us face who strive to live a life of faith. Each of us like Joseph find ourselves plunged into the mystery that God has set before us – a mystery that is beyond the limits of the human mind to comprehend. It is our destiny to share in the life of the eternal and triune God, a destiny that Christ has made possible for us by becoming one of us, and dying for us. He unites us with himself in this Holy Eucharist and in this unity allows us to participate in the redemptive work of the Cross. He makes our suffering part of his own. But to embrace this destiny, we must like Joseph let go of everything within us that resists it – fear, anxiety, pride, the desire for control. We must, as it were, allow ourselves to dream. In prayer, we must rest in the darkness of faith until He who is our Light comes and turns the night into day.

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orthodoxydaily · 4 years ago

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Wed.,Apr,7, 2021: Annunciation

THE ANNUNCIATION (BLAGOVESCHENIE) OF OUR MOST BLESSED LADY MOTHER OF GOD AND EVER-VIRGIN MARY

Commemorated on March 25_ by the newcalendar

Sermon of Saint Proklos, Patriarch of Constantinople

Our present gathering in honour of the MostHoly Virgin inspires me, brethren, to say of Her a word of praise, of benefit also for those come unto this churchly solemnity. It comprises a praise of women, a glorying of their gender, which (glory) is brought it by Her, She Who is at one same time both Mother, and Virgin. O desired and wondrous gathering! Celebrate, O nature, that wherein honour be rendered to Woman; rejoice, O human race, that wherein the Virgin be glorified. "For when sin did abound, grace did superabound" (Rom. 5: 20). The Holy Mother of God and Virgin Mary hath gathered us here, She the pure treasure of virginity, the intended paradise of Second Adam, – the locus, wherein was accomplished the co-uniting of natures, wherein was affirmed the Counsel of salvific reconciliation. Whoever is it that ever saw, whoever heard, that within a womb the Limitless God would make habitation, Whom the Heavens cannot circumscribe, Whom the womb of a Virgin limiteth not!? He born of woman is not only God and He is not only Man: This One born made woman, being the ancient gateway of sin, into the gateway of salvation: where evil poured forth its poison, bringing on disobedience, there the Word made for Himself a living temple, bringing in thither obedience; from whence the arch-sinner Cain sprang forth, there without seed was born Christ the Redeemer of the human race. The Lover-of-Mankind did not disdain to be born of woman, since this bestowed His life. He was not subject to impurity, being settled within the womb, which He Himself arrayed free from all harm. If perchance this Mother did not remain a Virgin, then that born of Her might be a mere man, and the birth would be no wise miraculous; but since She after birth remained a Virgin, then how is He Who is born indeed – not God? It is an inexplicable mystery, since in an inexplicable manner was born He Who without hindrance went through doors when they were locked. When confessing in Him the co-uniting of two natures, Thomas cried out: "My Lord, and my God!" (Jn. 20: 28).

The Apostle Paul says, that Christ is "to the Jews indeed scandal, and to the Gentiles yet folly" (1 Cor. 1: 23): they did not perceive the power of the mystery, since it was incomprehensible to the mind: "for had they understood, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory" (1 Cor. 2: 8). If the Word had not settled within the womb, then the flesh would not have ascended with Him onto the Divine Throne; if for God it were disdainful to enter into the womb, which He created, then the Angels too would have disdained service to mankind. That One, Who by His nature was not subject to sufferings, through His love for us subjected Himself to many a suffering. We believe, that Christ not through some gradual ascent towards the Divine nature was made God, but being God, through His mercy He was made Man. We do not say: "a man made God"; but we confess, that God was incarnated and made Man. His Servant was chosen for Himself as Mother by That One Who, in His essence did not have mother, and Who, through Divine foresight having appeared upon the earth in the image of man, does not have here father. How one and the same is He both without father, and without mother, in accord with the words of the Apostle (Heb. 7: 3)? If He – be only a man, then He cannot be without mother – but actually He had a Mother. If He – be God only, then He cannot be without Father – but in fact He has the Father. And yet as God the Creator He has not mother, and as Man He has not father. We can be persuaded in this by the very name of the Archangel, making annunciation to Mary: his name – is Gabriel. What does this name mean? – it means: "God and man". Since That One about Whom he announced is God and Man, then his very name points beforehand to this miracle, so that with faith be accepted the deed of the Divine dispensation. To save people would be impossible for a mere man, since every man has need in the Saviour: "for all, – says Saint Paul, – have sinned, and come short the Glory of God" (Rom. 3: 23). Since sin subjects the sinner to the power of the devil, and the devil subjects him to death, then our condition did become extremely hapless: there was no sort of way to be delivered from death. There were sent physicians, i.e. the prophets, but they could only the more clearly point out the malady. What did they do? When they saw, that the illness was beyond human skill, they summoned from Heaven the Physician; one of them said "Lord, bend the heavens, and come down" (Ps. 143 [144]: 5); others cried out: "Heal me, O Lord, and I shalt be healed" (Jer. 17: 14); "restore Thine power, and come yet to save us" (Ps. 79 [80]: 3). And yet others: "For if God truly be settled with man upon the earth" (3 [1] Kings 8: 27); "speedily send before Thine tender mercy, O Lord, for we are brought very low" (Ps. 78 [79]: 8). Others said: "O woe to me, my soul! For the pious art perished from the earth, and of the upright amongst men there is none" (Mich. 7: 2). "O God, in help attend to me, O Lord, shield me with Thine help" (Ps. 69 [70]: 1). "If there be delay, endure it, for He that cometh shalt come, and not tarry" (Hab. 2: 3). "Perishing like a lost sheep: seek out Thine servant, who doth hope on Thee" (Ps. 118 [119]: 176). "For God wilt come, our God, and wilt not keep silence" (Ps. 49 [50]: 3). That One, Who by nature is Lord, did not disdain human nature, enslaved by the sinister power of the devil, the merciful God would not accede for it to be forever under the power of the devil, the Ever-Existing One came and gave in ransom His Blood; for the redemption of the race of man from death He gave up His Body, which He had accepted of the Virgin, He delivered the world from the curse of the law, annihilating death by His death. "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law", – exclaims Saint Paul (Gal. 3: 13). Thus know, that our Redeemer is not simply a mere man, since all the human race was enslaved to sin. But He likewise is not God only, non-partaking of human nature. He had body, since if He had not clothed Himself in me, He then likewise should not have saved me. But, having settled within the womb of the Virgin, He clothed Himself in my fate, and within this womb He perfected a miraculous change: He bestowed the Spirit and received a body, That One only indeed (dwelling) with the Virgin and (born) of the Virgin. And so, Who is He, made manifest to us? The Prophet David doth point it out for thee in these words: "Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord" (Ps. 117 [118]: 26). But tell us even more clearly, O prophet, Who is He? The Lord is the God of Hosts, says the prophet: "God is the Lord, and hath revealed Himself unto us" (Ps. 117 [118]: 27). "The Word was made flesh" (Jn. 1: 14): there were co-united the two natures, and the union remained without mingling. He came to save, but had also to suffer. What has the one in common with the other? A mere man cannot save; and God in only His nature cannot suffer. By what means was done the one and the other? Wherein that He, Emmanuel, being God, was made also Man; both this, that what He was, He saved by, – and this, that what He was made, He suffered as. Wherefore, when the Church beheld, that the Jewish throng had crowned Him with thorns, bewailing the violence of the throng, – it said: "Daughters of Zion, go forth and behold the crown, of which is crowned He of His mother" (Sng. 3: 11). He wore the crown of thorns and destroyed the judgement to suffering from the thorns. He Only is That One both in the bosom of the Father and in the womb of the Virgin; He Only is That One – in the arms of His Mother and in the wings of the winds (Ps. 103 [104]: 3); He, to Whom the Angels bowed down in worship, at that same time reclined at table with publicans. Upon Him the Seraphim dared not to gaze, and at the same time Pilate pronounced sentence upon Him. He – is That One and Same, Whom the servant did smite and before whom did tremble all creation. He was nailed to the Cross and ascended to the Throne of Glory, – He was placed in the tomb and He stretched out the heavens like a skin (Ps. 103 [104]: 2), – He was numbered amidst the dead and He emptied hell; here upon the earth, they cursed at Him as a transgressor, – there in Heaven, they exclaimed Him glory as the All-Holy. What an incomprehensible mystery! I see the miracles, and I confess, that He – is God; I see the sufferings, and I cannot deny, that He – is Man. Emmanuel opened up the doors of nature, as man, and preserved unharmed the seal of virginity, as God: He emerged from the womb thus as He entered through the announcing; the same wondrously was He both born and conceived: without passion He entered, and without impairment He emerged, as concerning this doth say the Prophet Ezekiel: "He returned me back the way of the gates of the outer sanctuaries, looking upon the east: and these had been shut. And saith the Lord to me: son of man, these gates shalt be closed, and not open, and no one go through them: for the Lord God of Israel, He Only, shalt enter and come forth, and they wilt be shut" (Ez. 44: 1-2). Here – it clearly indicates the Holy Virgin and Mother of God Mary. Let cease all contention, and let the Holy Scripture enlighten our reason, so that we too receive the Heavenly Kingdom unto all eternity. Amen.

Luke 1:24-38

24 Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, 25 Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people. 26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end. 34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" 35 And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible. 38 Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

Proverbs 8:22-30

22 “The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old. 23 I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth. 24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was brought forth;26 While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, Or the primal dust of the world. 27 When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep, 28 When He established the clouds above, When He strengthened the fountains of the deep, 29 When He assigned to the sea its limit, So that the waters would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth, 30 Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him,

#orthodoxy #orthodox christianity #ancientfaith #originofchristianity #spirituality #holyscriptures #gospel #sacredtexts #wisdom

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belovedarise · 4 years ago

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What is Advent?

Advent is a season of waiting for the birth of Jesus on Christmas day. It's often an underrated and overlooked way to experience a deeper meaning of Christmas. Just as the season of Lent helps us to prepare for the full impact of the resurrection on Easter, Advent is a way for people to brace their spirits for the incarnation (God becoming a human) on Christmas. Swipe through for some more info on Advent!

First of all Advent is the beginning of the Liturgical Year on The Church Calendar which is also an often overlooked and underrated way for Christians to engage their faith. The Liturgical Year includes scripture readings, feast days, traditions, music, food and all sorts of traditions that unites Christians from all over the world regardless of their denomination or background as they follow these yearly rhythms together.

Practices like Advent and following the Liturgical Year are particularly important to us at Beloved Arise because we are an ecumenical Christian organization. Ecumenical is a fancy way of saying that we include all Christian expressions; we aren’t associated with any one particular denomination. One way we see this expressed every week is at our virtual youth group where we have Baptists, Pentecostals, Presbyterians, “Non- Denoms”, Catholics, and many more participating in our weekly virtual youth group. Collectively following The Liturgical Year connects us to our more ancient roots instead of focusing on some of the more modern expressions of Christianity that sometimes divide us.

But wait! Isn’t this supposed to be a slide guide about ADVENT!? Yes- we just wanted you to have some brief backstory and context before moving forward.

The word advent can be translated as “coming” or “arrival” and observing this season (which starts on November 29) is about anticipating the arrival of Jesus. On a more meta level it can also be about anticipating the arrival of Christ our hearts and the second coming of Jesus.

Christians from around the world celebrate Advent in a variety of ways that you probably already engage in as part of the Christmas season. Putting up a Christmas tree is traditionally a part of advent along with daily readings, special music, and even a designated traditional color- PURPLE. In many Churches around the world sanctuaries and pastors will be decked out in purple which is a royal color and is yet another way to anticipate the coming of the Prince of Peace- Jesus. There are many resources for daily advent readings, but here is one we would recommend: https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/daily.php?year=B

These days one of the most common ways of celebrating Advent is to light an Advent wreath. Advent wreaths are actually a fairly new tradition as far as Christianity is concerned. The modern Advent wreath was conceived of by a German pastor named Johann Hinrich Wichern in 1839 and involves the lighting of a different candle each Sunday along with daily readings. The Advent wreath is loaded with symbols and meaning that we encourage you to look up, but the most obvious symbol is the slow steady emergence of light in darkness.

Advent traditions and celebrations are just like Christmas traditions in that there is always a surprising depth and richness to these practices that get lost in the modern commercialization of our sacred traditions. There is a deep well of traditions and practices to help guide your experience of Advent that will most likely enhance your experience of Christmas, but we are also invited to add our own traditions to this season as well. Whatever you can do during this time to cultivate a sense of waiting and anticipation for the celebration of the birth of Christ is a way for you to more deeply engage with the spirit of the season and join the global Church in a yearly practice.

Beloved Arise wants to invite you to join us this year in observing Advent. Let’s collectively join together in anticipation of Emmanuel- God with us. It is this message of hope that fuels our call to spread a message of hope and affirmation to queer youth of faith all over the world. God’s love is for everybody and ultimately the message of Christianity is that God broke through the forces of darkness and evil to communicate to spread hope and love to every human and that’s the message that we exist to amplify.

We’d like to conclude this slide guide on Advent with an Advent poem from Rowan Williams who was the Archbishop of Canterberry from 2002 to 2012.

He will come like last leaf’s fall.

One night when the November wind has flayed the trees to bone, and earth wakes choking on the mould, the soft shroud’s folding.

He will come like frost. One morning when the shrinking earth opens on mist, to find itself arrested in the net of alien, sword-set beauty.

He will come like dark. One evening when the bursting red December sun draws up the sheet and penny-masks its eye to yield the star-snowed fields of sky.

He will come, will come, will come like crying in the night, like blood, like breaking, as the earth writhes to toss him free. He will come like child.

To view this in slide guide form, go here.

#advent #christmas #christian #lgbtq #lgbt #lgbtq+#lgbt christian #lgbtq christian #lgbtq+ christian #queer #queer christian #beloved #beloved arise #you are valid #you are loved #you are beloved

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lambof-gojira · 5 years ago

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Graveyard shots. #graveyard #blackandwhite #blackandwhitephoto #blackandwhitephotography #churchesofinstagram #church #churchphotography #creepyart #creepyvibes #creepychurch #amaturephotographer #aesthetic #amateurphotography #landscapephotography #landscape #texture #textureart #texturephotography (at Emmanuel Baust United Church of Christ) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBzQXIvBq1P/?igshid=13digo04l2fns

#graveyard #blackandwhite #blackandwhitephoto #blackandwhitephotography #churchesofinstagram #church #churchphotography #creepyart #creepyvibes #creepychurch #amaturephotographer #aesthetic #amateurphotography #landscapephotography #landscape #texture #textureart #texturephotography

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anastpaul · 6 years ago

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Saint of the Day – 10 March – St Marie Eugénie de Jésus (1817-1898) aged 80 – Foundress of the Religious of the Assumption – Religious, – born 26 August 1817 at Metz, Moselle, France as Eugenie Milleret de Brou (de Bron) and died on 10 March 1898 at Auteuil, Hauts-de-Seine, France of natural causes. Patronages – the Religious of the Assumption and Students. St Marie Eugénie is also known as Anne-Eugénie Milleret de Brou, Eugénie Milleret de Brou, Eugénie Milleret de Bron, Marie Eugénie Milleret de Brou, Mere Marie Eugénie. She was Beatified on 9 February 1975 by St Pope Paul VI and Canonised by Pope Benedict XVI on 3 June 2007.

Anne Marie Eugenie was born in 1817 in Metz after Napoleon’s complete defeat and the restoration of the Monarchy. She belonged to a non-believing and financially comfortable family and it seemed unlikely that she would trace a new spiritual path across the Church of France.

Her father, follower of Voltaire and a liberal, was making his fortune in the banking world and in politics. Eugenie’s mother provided the sensitive Eugenie with an education, which strengthened her character and gave her a strong sense of duty. Family life developed her intellectual curiosity and a romantic spirit, an interest in social questions and a broad world view.

Like her contemporary, George Sand, Anne Eugenie went to Mass on feast days and received the Sacraments of initiation, as was the custom but without any real commitment. However, her First Communion was a great mystical experience that foretold the secret of her future. She did not grasp its prophetic meaning until much later when she recognised it as her path towards total belonging to Jesus Christ and the Church.

Her youth was happy but not without suffering. She was affected when still a child by the death of an elder brother and a baby sister. Her health was delicate and a fall from a horse left serious consequences. Eugenie was mature for her age and learnt how to hide her feelings and to face up to events. Later, after a prosperous period for her father, she experienced the failure of his banks, the misunderstanding and eventual separation of her parents and the loss of all security. She had to leave her family home and go to Paris while Louis, closest to her in age and faithful companion went to live with their father. Eugenie went to Paris with the mother she adored, only to see her die from cholera after a few hours of illness, leaving her alone at the age of fifteen in a society that was worldly and superficial. Searching in anguish and almost desperate for the truth, she arrived at her conversion thirsty for the Absolute and open to the Transcendent.

When she was nineteen, Anne Eugenie attended the Lenten Conferences at Notre Dame in Paris, preached by the young Abbe Lacordaire (1802–1861), already well-known for his talent as orator. Lacordaire was a former disciple of Lamennais – haunted by the vision of a renewed Church with a special place in the world. He understood his time and wanted to change it. He understood young people, their questions and their desires, their idealism and their ignorance of both Christ and the Church. His words touched Eugenie’s heart, answered her many questions and aroused her generosity.

Fr Lacordaire preaching his Lenten Conferences from the elevated pulpit at Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris, 1845.

Fr Henri-Dominique Lacordaire OP, at the convent of Sainte-Sabine in Rome, by Théodore Chassériau (1840)

Eugenie envisaged Christ as the universal liberator and His kingdom on earth established as a peaceful and just society. “I was truly converted, she wrote, and I was seized by a longing to devote all my strength or rather all my weakness to the Church which, from that moment, I saw as alone holding the key to the knowledge and achievement of all that is good.”

Just at this time, another preacher, also a former disciple of Lamennais, appeared on the scene. In the confessional, Father Combalot recognised that he had encountered a chosen soul who was designated to be the foundress of the Congregation he had dreamt of for a long time. He persuaded Eugenie to undertake his work by insisting that this Congregation was willed by God who had chosen her to establish it. He convinced her that only by education could she evangelise minds, make families truly Christian and thus transform the society of her time. Anne Eugenie accepted the project as God’s will for her and allowed herself to be guided by the Abbe Combalot.

At twenty-two, Marie Eugenie became foundress of the Religious of the Assumption, dedicated to consecrate their whole life and strength to extending the Kingdom of Christ in themselves and in the world. In 1839, Mademoiselle Eugenie Milleret, with two other young women, began a life of prayer and study in a flat at rue Ferou near the church of St Sulpice in Paris. In 1841, under the patronage of Madame de Chateaubriand, Lacordaire, Montalembert and their friends, the sisters opened their first school. In a relatively short time there were sixteen sisters of four nationalities in the community.

Marie Eugenie and the first sisters wanted to link the ancient and the new – to unite the past treasures of the Church’s spirituality and wisdom with a type of religious life and education able to satisfy the demands of modern minds. It was a matter of respecting the values of the period and at the same time, making the Gospel values penetrate the rising culture of a new industrial and scientific era. The spirituality of the Congregation, centred on Christ and the Incarnation, was both deeply contemplative and dedicated to apostolic action. It was a life given to the search for God and the love and service of others.

Marie Eugenie’s long life covered almost the whole of the 19th century. She loved her times passionately and took an active part in their history. Progressively, she channelled all her energy and gifts in tending and extending the Congregation, which became her life work. God gave her sisters and many friends. One of the first sisters was Irish, a mystic and her intimate friend whom she called at the end of her life, “half of myself.” Kate O’Neill, called Mother Therese Emmanuel in religion, is considered as a co-foundress. Father Emmanuel d’Alzon, became Marie Eugenie’s spiritual director soon after the foundation, was a father, brother or friend according to the seasons. In 1845, he founded the Augustinians of the Assumption and the two founders helped each other in a multitude of ways over a period of forty years. Both had a gift for friendship and they inspired many lay people to work with them and the Church. Together, as they followed Christ and laboured with Him, the religious and laity traced the path of the Assumption and took their place in the great cloud of witnesses.

In the last years of her life, Mother Marie Eugenie experienced a progressive physical weakening, which she lived in silence and humility – a life totally centred on Christ. She received the Eucharist for the last time on 9 March 1898 and on the 10th, she gently passed to the Lord. She was beatified by Pope Paul VI on 9 February 1975 in Rome.

Today, the Religious of the Assumption are present in 34 countries – 8 in Europe, 5 in Asia, 10 in America and 11 in Africa. Almost 1,200 sisters form 170 communities throughout the world.

The Lay Assumption – Assumption Together – made up of Friends of the Assumption and Communities or Fraternities of the Assumption, are numerous – thousands of Friends and hundreds of Lay Assumption committed to live according to the Way of Life….Vatican.va

(via Saint of the Day - 10 March - St Marie Eugénie de Jésus (1817-1898))

#stmarieeugeniedejesus #march10stmarieeugeniedejesus #catholic #catholicism

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fromthefriars · 6 years ago

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An Unusual Christmas (By Fr. Jeremiah Shryock, CFR)

“Your father is recovering well,” the doctor assured us. “He should be ready for a visit in a few minutes.”

My sister and I breathed a sigh of relief. Even though it was a routine heart procedure, our father’s declining health left both of us a bit nervous. “Thank God”, I whispered to myself, realizing that I was perhaps more nervous than I expected. I picked up a magazine that was on the table next to me as my sister began to notify her friends on Facebook that the procedure went well and thanked everyone for their prayers.

A few minutes later a voice came over the intercom. “Code blue, code blue, all available doctors report to the cardiac care unit immediately.”

Alarms began to ring and within seconds a sea of doctors came flooding through the doors that led to the cardiac unit where my father was. A few seconds later, my sister and I turned to each other in panic. “Oh no,” we both said, “that’s dad!”

***

Shortly after my father’s procedure, while the doctors were speaking with him, his face turned blue and his heart stopped. Thankfully, the doctors were able to resuscitate him and bring him back to life quickly, as my sister and I watched in horror. Apparently my father’s lungs filled with fluid, not due to the heart procedure itself, but from the aesthesia and the amount of time he spent lying on his stomach.

A week later, on Christmas Eve, my father finally left the hospital. By the time we got him home, my sister and I were relieved. Despite an exhausting week we were grateful, not only that our dad was alive, but that he was home and able to celebrate Christmas with us. As I unpacked his belongings my father sat in the living room, staring out the window.

“Jeremiah,” my dad said.

“Yes dad.”

“Are we going to have Mass tonight,” he asked?

I froze after hearing his question. Why tonight I thought? When I am at home I usually celebrate Mass in the morning. Suddenly I realized why he was asking if I was going to celebrate Mass this particular evening. It was Christmas Eve! Amidst all the panic and confusion of the past week, I lost track of time and forgot what day it was.

“Oh yeah, of course” I said. “What time?”

“How about 8 pm? I need to rest here for awhile.”

“Ok, that sounds good.”

After I uttered these words a touch of sadness enveloped my heart. One of the gifts of living in a religious community is the shared celebration of certain holy days, Christmas being high on that list. During these celebrations I am surrounded by people who, though different in age and life experience, both love and care for me in a way that is, for lack of a better word, familial. Along with the fraternal support of brothers and sisters in the faith, the celebration of these holy days includes beautiful music, a reverent liturgy and an engaging homily that naturally lifts one’s mind and heart to higher things. This year, however, my Christmas celebration was going to be very different than what I had become accustomed to.

My father lives alone in a simple two-bedroom trailer. When I was ordained a priest several years ago, we converted his other bedroom into a chapel, so that when I come home I have a place to celebrate Mass and pray. This Christmas Eve, rather than celebrating Mass with my community, this humble spare bedroom that can only fit four to five people comfortably, became my church. With me, my dad, sister, brother-in-law and my two nephews in attendance, we were at full capacity.

Once my family was gathered for Mass there was no beautiful music sung and no engaging homily given. My father was too tired to utter any of the Mass parts, and my sister and her family tried their best to fill in for the congregation. When it came time for me to read the Gospel, I was deeply moved by these words: “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord has said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means ‘God is with us” (Mt 1:22-23).

After I read those words, I looked at my dad, standing with the support of a cane, his face still wearing the shock of all he went through. The words “God is with us” were ringing in my heart. Suddenly, in this small trailer, without any of the usual bells and whistles, I felt myself being led to a deeper experience of Christmas than I ever had before.

When we gaze upon a Nativity scene, we can often forget the mysterious and confusing background that preceded this divine moment. Nine months earlier, when Mary is visited by the angel Gabriel, she is “greatly troubled” (Lk 1:29) and must be told by the angel “Do not be afraid Mary” (Lk 1:30). Despite the dizzying and overwhelming nature of such an encounter, Mary says yes to God, without ever being given a detailed account of how this mystery will unfold. Joseph himself, once he discovers that Mary is pregnant, is understandably confused, and decides to divorce her. In fact, his confusion is so reasonable that an angel must appear to him to reveal the cause of this event: “Do not fear to take Mary as your wife for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit” (Mt. 1:20-21).

Joseph and Mary must allow themselves to be led by God. Even though they are both major figures in the drama of salvation history, God only reveals to them what is necessary to make the next step of faith. They cannot see into the future nor can they trust in things like wealth or status to protect them. Their hope is in God and their only strength is their faith, which ironically, will not only enable shepherds to glorify God, but will also enable the Magi, the wise men from the east, to discover the true wisdom they had been seeking their entire life.

As I stood in our little chapel that Christmas Eve and spent a few moments of silence reflecting on the Gospel, I felt a special kinship to Joseph and Mary. Like them, I didn’t know where God was leading me, and like them, the birth of Jesus Christ not only gave me hope and consolation in the present moment, but it reminded me of a truth so great, that something even as cruel as even death cannot take away: “God is with us.”

Many people, including myself at times, are often perplexed before the enormous amount of pain and suffering in our world. “Why doesn’t God do something?” we often ask. “Why is God silent?” God’s answer to our perplexity is much deeper that merely taking away our pain and suffering. God does what is, quite honestly, utterly inconceivable: he becomes one of us. He does this by entering our world, not as a vengeful ruler or an angry judge, but as a defenseless and needy baby. St. John states it in these theological terms: “the Word became flesh” (Jn 1:14).

As we finished the Mass that night, my sister and I helped my dad get ready for bed. After kissing him goodnight, I felt my heart and my mind finally begin to relax. Oddly enough, I felt a deep peace about not knowing exactly what will happen with my father. Rather than entertain all the possible things that could now go wrong with his health, I reminded myself once again that in the birth of Jesus Christ we are given an eternal pledge that God is with us. That’s the best Christmas gift we could ever receive and the only one we really need.

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nijjhar · 1 year ago

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The Rabbis had become so greedy that they even started to fleece their o... The Rabbis had become so greedy that they even started to fleece their own members of the Synagogue. https://youtu.be/f06gUnVkF7s Holy Gospel of our Supernatural Father of our “souls” Elohim, Allah, Parbrahm, etc., delivered by the first Anointed Christ, which in Punjabi we call Satguru Jesus of the highest living God Elohim that dwells within His most beautiful living Temple of God created by the greatest artist demiurge potter, the lord of the Nature Yahweh, Brahma, Khudah, etc. and it is called Harmandir or “Emmanuel” if you are not “greedy” according to Saint Mark 6,30-34. The Apostles gathered with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He told them, "Come away by yourselves on a solitary basis to a deserted place and rest a while." People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. Church of England Vicar objected to my T-shirt that it may cause problems. COE is a Church of Satan headed by Mammon and not God. https://youtu.be/wp_8D3tlu90 Please click on my Playlists at http://www.gnosticgospel.co.uk/playlist.htm Church of England Vicar objected to my T-shirt which may cause problems. Today, 05 December 2010, I visited four Churches. First I went to the United Reformed Church that is just near the Bus stop and I thought let me go in as it was getting late to service. It was normal and a few looked at my T-shirt and logos but with curiosity. Only one man engaged me in the discussion. Then, I thought let me go to the Greek Orthodox Service nearby at Bartholomew Church, corner of Palmer Park and diagonally opposite to URC that I just attended. Serving Priest was from London but he normally is busy with the formalities. However, he gave me his London address and invited me to visit the Church and ask questions. That would be good. After the service, they invite people to join them in their service of Tea and Coffee with food cooked by different members at home. They also served hard drinks as it was cold. I had some cough and it was good for me to have a few. So, in the afternoon or rather evening, I went to Christadelphian Fellowship on Oxford Road with my T-shirt and they also looked with curiosity. They did not like the last two lines that Gnostics are living Christs of living God. This became clear when I attended the next Church of England, Greyfriars Church and over there the head priest, Rev Jonathan Wilmot, Vicar told me to cover my T-shirt as he did not like the way I was dressed. So, I had a rain cover that I put it on covering the back side leaving the front side open. So, he is the first priest to object and I can well imagine that these priests especially of the Church of England are hirelings of Mammon who hate the Light more than the others. In fact, most people who do not understand the Gospel in spirit would not love to see a man like me in their Churches. No wonder someone after reading the last two lines the Gnostics are living Christs of Living God pointed out that only One Christ Jesus. At this I explained to them Christ Thomas and not St.Thomas as propagated by the Anti Christs was known as Christ Thomas in South India and so was His Labourers called Christs and not Christians. Portuguese Pope went there telling people only one Christ Jesus and no other Christ and killed those who were the Labourers of Thomas and burnt their Books. This was told to me by a priest in Wellington, South India. So, please do not be deterred by the people who have no idea of Gospel but blindly follow others leading to so many divisions of the Church of God, ONE FOLD, and One Shepherd, Christ Jesus like the blind defining an elephant. Most of the religious places are infested with Mammon worshipping Antichrists who have no love for Light but love Darkness to carry on fleecing the congregations. For the unlisted videos:- www.gnosticgospel.co.uk/Unlisted.htm My ebook by Kindle. ASIN: B01AVLC9WO Private Bitter Gospel Truth videos:- www.gnosticgospel.co.uk/JAntisem.htm www.gnosticgospel.co.uk/Rest.htm Any helper to finish my Books:- ONE GOD ONE FAITH:- www.gnosticgospel.co.uk/bookfin.pdf and in Punjabi KAKHH OHLAE LAKHH:- www.gnosticgospel.co.uk/pdbook.pdf Very informative Channel:- Punjab Siyan. John's baptism:- www.gnosticgospel.co.uk/johnsig.pdf Trinity:- www.gnosticgospel.co.uk/trinity.pdf

#youtube

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emmanuelucc · 1 year ago

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The Messenger – 2023

New Post has been published on https://emmanuel-ucc.org/the-messenger/the-messenger-2023/

The Messenger – 2023

The Messenger is our monthly newsletter, in which you will find information about Emmanuel United Church of Christ. Enjoy The Messenger! We hope it proves to be a useful resource as well as a means of getting to know us better.

To view The Messenger you will need Adobe Reader. If you do not have Adobe Reader, Click here to download for free.If you see a white screen when you click on The Messenger, just wait, the file is loading. Once the file is loaded and you have read it, click File, “save as” to keep on your computer.

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pamphletstoinspire · 6 years ago

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PALM SUNDAY (by Fr. Prosper Gueranger 1870)

Today, if ye shall hear the voice of the Lord, harden not your hearts.

Early in the morning of this day, Jesus sets out for Jerusalem, leaving Mary His Mother, and the two sisters Martha and Mary Magdalene, and Lazarus, at Bethania. The Mother of sorrows trembles at seeing her Son thus expose Himself to danger, for His enemies are bent upon His destruction; but it is not death, it is triumph, that Jesus is to receive today in Jerusalem. The Messias, before being nailed to the cross, is to be proclaimed King by the people of the great city; the little children are to make her streets echo with their Hosannas to the Son of David; and this in presence of the soldiers of Rome's emperor, and of the high priests and pharisees: the first standing under the banner of their eagles; the second, dumb with rage.

The prophet Zachary had foretold this triumph which the Son of Man was to receive a few days before His Passion, and which had been prepared for Him from all eternity. ‘Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Sion! Shout for joy, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold thy King will come to thee; the Just and the Saviour. He is poor, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of an ass.' [Zach. ix. 9]. Jesus, knowing that the hour has come for the fulfilment of this prophecy, singles out two from the rest of His disciples, and bids them lead to Him an ass and her colt, which they would find not far off. He has reached Bethphage, on Mount Olivet. The two disciples lose no time in executing the order given them by their divine Master; and the ass and the colt are soon brought to the place where He stands.

The holy fathers have explained to us the mystery of these two animals. The ass represents the Jewish people, which had been long under the yoke of the Law; the colt, upon which, as the evangelist says, no man yet hath sat [St. Mark xi. 2], is a figure of the Gentile world, which no one had ever yet brought into subjection. The future of these two peoples is to be decided a few days hence: the Jews will be rejected, for having refused to acknowledge Jesus as the Messias; the Gentiles will take their place, to be adopted as God's people, and become docile and faithful.

The disciples spread their garments upon the colt; and our Saviour, that the prophetic figure might be fulfilled, sits upon him [Ibid. 7, and St. Luke xix. 35.], and advances towards Jerusalem. As soon as it is known that Jesus is near the city, the holy Spirit works in the hearts of those Jews, who have come from all parts to celebrate the feast of the Passover. They go out to meet our Lord, holding palm branches in their hands, and loudly proclaiming Him to be King [St. Luke xix. 38]. They that have accompanied Jesus from Bethania, join the enthusiastic crowd. Whilst some spread their garments on the way, others cut down boughs from the palm-trees, and strew them along the road. Hosanna is the triumphant cry, proclaiming to the whole city that Jesus, the Son of David, has made His entrance as her King.

Thus did God, in His power over men's hearts, procure a triumph for His Son, and in the very city which, a few days later, was to clamour for His Blood. This day was one of glory to our Jesus, and the holy Church would have us renew, each year, the memory of this triumph of the Man-God. Shortly after the birth of our Emmanuel, we saw the Magi coming from the extreme east, and looking in Jerusalem for the King of the Jews, to whom they intended offering their gifts and their adorations: but it is Jerusalem herself that now goes forth to meet this King. Each of these events is an acknowledgment of the kingship of Jesus; the first, from the Gentiles; the second, from the Jews. Both were to pay Him this regal homage, before He suffered His Passion. The inscription to be put upon the cross, by Pilate's order, will express the kingly character of the Crucified: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. Pilate, the Roman governor, the pagan, the base coward, has been unwittingly the fulfiller of a prophecy; and when the enemies of Jesus insist on the inscription being altered, Pilate will not deign to give them any answer but this: ‘What I have written, I have written.' Today, it is the Jews themselves that proclaim Jesus to be their King: they will soon be dispersed, in punishment for their revolt against the Son of David; but Jesus is King, and will be so for ever. Thus were literally verified the words spoken by the Archangel to Mary, when he announced to her the glories of the Child that was to be born of her: ‘The Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of David, His father; and He shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever.' [St. Luke i. 32]. Jesus begins His reign upon the earth this very day; and though the first Israel is soon to disclaim His rule, a new Israel, formed from the faithful few of the old, shall rise up in every nation of the earth, and become the kingdom of Christ, a kingdom such as no mere earthly monarch ever coveted in his wildest fancies of ambition.

This is the glorious mystery which ushers in the great week, the week of dolours. Holy Church would have us give this momentary consolation to our heart, and hail our Jesus as our King. She has so arranged the service of today, that it should express both joy and sorrow; joy, by uniting herself with the loyal hosannas of the city of David; and sorrow, by compassionating the Passion of her divine Spouse. The whole function is divided into three parts, which we will now proceed to explain.

The first is the blessing of the palms; and we may have an idea of its importance from the solemnity used by the Church in this sacred rite. One would suppose that the holy Sacrifice has begun, and is going to be offered up in honour of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. Introit, Collect, Epistle, Gradual, Gospel, even a Preface, are said, as though we were, as usual, preparing for the immolation of the spotless Lamb; but, after the triple Sanctus! Sanctus! Sanctus! the Church suspends these sacrificial formulas, and turns to the blessing of the palms. The prayers she uses for this blessing are eloquent and full of instruction; and, together with the sprinkling with holy water and the incensation, impart a virtue to these branches, which elevates them to the supernatural order, and makes them means for the sanctification of our souls and the protection of our persons and dwellings. The faithful should hold these palms in their hands during the procession, and during the reading of the Passion at Mass, and keep them in their homes as an outward expression of their faith, and as a pledge of God's watchful love.

It is scarcely necessary to tell our reader that the palms or olive branches, thus blessed, are carried in memory of those wherewith the people of Jerusalem strewed the road, as our Saviour made His triumphant entry; but a word on the antiquity of our ceremony will not be superfluous. It began very early in the east. It is probable that, as far as Jerusalem itself is concerned, the custom was established immediately after the ages of persecution. St. Cyril, who was bishop of that city in the fourth century, tells us that the palm-tree, from which the people cut the branches when they went out to meet our Saviour, was still to be seen in the vale of Cedron [Cateches. x. versus fin.] Such a circumstance would naturally suggest an annual commemoration of the great event. In the following century, we find this ceremony established, not only in the churches of the east, but also in the monasteries of Egypt and Syria. At the beginning of Lent, many of the holy monks obtained permission from their abbots to retire into the desert, that they might spend the sacred season in strict seclusion; but they were obliged to return to their monasteries for Palm Sunday, as we learn from the life of Saint Euthymius, written by his disciple Cyril [Act. SS. Jan. 2O]. In the west, the introduction of this ceremony was more gradual; the first trace we find of it is in the sacramentary of St. Gregory, that is, at the end of the sixth, or the beginning of the seventh, century. When the faith had penetrated into the north, it was not possible to have palms or olive branches; they were supplied by branches from other trees. The beautiful prayers used in the blessing, and based on the mysteries expressed by the palm and olive trees, are still employed in the blessing of our willow, box, or other branches; and rightly, for these represent the symbolical ones which nature has denied us.

The second of today's ceremonies is the procession, which comes immediately after the blessing of the palms. It represents our Saviour's journey to Jerusalem, and His entry into the city. To make it the more expressive, the branches that have just been blessed are held in the hand during it. With the Jews, to hold a branch in one's hand was a sign of joy. The divine law had sanctioned this practice, as we read in the following passage from Leviticus, where God commands His people to keep the feast of tabernacles: And you shall take to you, on the first day, the fruits of the fairest tree, and branches of palm-trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God [Lev. xxiii. 4O]. It was, therefore, to testify their delight at seeing Jesus enter within their walls, that the inhabitants, even the little children, of Jerusalem, went forth to meet Him with palms in their hands. Let us, also, go before our King, singing our hosannas to Him as the conqueror of death, and the liberator of His people.

During the middle ages, it was the custom, in many churches, to carry the book of the holy Gospels in this procession. The Gospel contains the words of Jesus Christ, and was considered to represent Him. The procession halted at an appointed place, or station: the deacon then opened the sacred volume, and sang from it the passage which describes our Lord's entry into Jerusalem. This done, the cross which, up to this moment, was veiled, was uncovered; each of the clergy advanced towards it, venerated it, and placed at its foot a small portion of the palm he held in his hand. The procession then returned, preceded by the cross, which was left unveiled until all had re-entered the church. In England and Normandy, as far back as the eleventh century, there was practised a holy ceremony which represented, even more vividly than the one we have just been describing, the scene that was witnessed on this day at Jerusalem: the blessed Sacrament was carried in procession. The heresy of Berengarius, against the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, had been broached about that time; and the tribute of triumphant joy here shown to the sacred Host was a distant preparation for the feast and procession which were to be instituted at a later period.

A touching ceremony was also practised in Jerusalem during today's procession, and, like those just mentioned, was intended to commemorate the event related by the Gospel. The whole community of the Franciscans (to whose keeping the holy places are entrusted) went in the morning to Bethphage. There, the father guardian of the holy Land, being vested in pontifical robes, mounted upon an ass, on which garments were laid. Accompanied by the friars and the Catholics of Jerusalem, all holding palms in their hands, he entered the city, and alighted at the church of the holy sepulchre where Mass was celebrated with all possible solemnity.

This beautiful ceremony, which dated from the period of the Latin kingdom in Jerusalem, has been forbidden, for now almost two hundred years, by the Turkish authorities of the city.

We have mentioned these different usages, as we have done others on similar occasions, in order to aid the faithful to the better understanding of the several mysteries of the liturgy. In the present instance, they will learn that, in today's procession, the Church wishes us to honour Jesus Christ as though He were really among us, and were receiving the humble tribute of our loyalty. Let us lovingly go forth to meet this our King, our Saviour, who comes to visit the daughter of Sion, as the prophet has just told us. He is in our midst; it is to Him that we pay honour with our palms: let us give Him our hearts too. He comes that He may be our King; let us welcome Him as such, and fervently cry out to Him: ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!'

At the close of the procession a ceremony takes place, which is full of the sublimest symbolism. On returning to the church, the doors are found to be shut. The triumphant procession is stopped; but the songs of joy are continued. A hymn in honour of Christ our King is sung with its joyous chorus; and at length the subdeacon strikes the door with the staff of the cross; the door opens, and the people, preceded by the clergy, enter the church, proclaiming the praise of Him, who is our resurrection and our life.

This ceremony is intended to represent the entry of Jesus into that Jerusalem of which the earthly one was but the figure – the Jerusalem of heaven, which has been opened for us by our Saviour. The sin of our first parents had shut it against us; but Jesus, the King of glory, opened its gates by His cross, to which every resistance yields. Let us, then, continue to follow in the footsteps of the Son of David, for He is also the Son of God, and He invites us to share His kingdom with Him. Thus, by the procession, which is commemorative of what happened on this day, the Church raises up our thoughts to the glorious mystery of the Ascension, whereby heaven was made the close of Jesus' mission on earth. Alas! the interval between these two triumphs of our Redeemer are not all days of joy; and no sooner is our procession over, than the Church, who had laid aside for a moment the weight of her grief, falls back into sorrow and mourning.

The third part of today's service is the offering of the holy Sacrifice. The portions that are sung by the choir are expressive of the deepest desolation; and the history of our Lord's Passion, which is now to be read by anticipation, gives to the rest of the day that character of sacred gloom, which we all know so well. For the last five or six centuries, the Church has adopted a special chant for this narrative of the holy Gospel. The historian, or the evangelist, relates the events in a tone that is at once grave and pathetic; the words of our Saviour are sung to a solemn yet sweet melody, which strikingly contrasts with the high dominant of the several other interlocutors and the Jewish populace. During the singing of the Passion, the faithful should hold their palms in their hands, and, by this emblem of triumph, protest against the insults offered to Jesus by His enemies. As we listen to each humiliation and suffering, all of which were endured out of love for us, let us offer Him our palm as to our dearest Lord and King. When should we be more adoring, than when He is most suffering?

These are the leading features of this great day. According to our usual plan, we will add to the prayers and lessons any instructions that seem to be needed.

This Sunday, besides its liturgical and popular appellation of Palm Sunday, has had several other names. Thus it was called Hosanna Sunday, in allusion to the acclamation wherewith the Jews greeted Jesus on His entry into Jerusalem. Our forefathers used also to call it Pascha Floridum, because the feast of the Pasch (or Easter), which is but eight days off, is today in bud, so to speak, and the faithful could begin from this Sunday to fulfil the precept of Easter Communion. It was in allusion to this name, that the Spaniards, having on the Palm Sunday of 1513, discovered the peninsula on the Gulf of Mexico, called it Florida. We also find the name of Capililavium given to this Sunday, because, during those times when it was the custom to defer till Holy Saturday the baptism of infants born during the preceding months (where such a delay entailed no danger), the parents used, on this day, to wash the heads of these children, out of respect to the holy chrism wherewith they were to be anointed. Later on, this Sunday was, at least in some churches, called the Pasch of the competents, that is, of the catechumens, who were admitted to Baptism; they assembled today in the church, and received a special instruction on the symbol, which had been given to them in the previous scrutiny. In the Gothic Church of Spain, the symbol was not given till today. The Greeks call this Sunday Baphoros, that is, Palm-bearing. (2,6)

INSTRUCTION FOR PALM-SUNDAY, BY LEONARD GOFFINE, 1871

Why is this day called Palm-Sunday?

On account of the palms with which the people strewed the Saviour's path before Him, as He entered Jerusalem; and because palms are on this day blessed before service, by the Church, which “are afterwards carried in solemn procession in commemoration of Christ's solemn entrance into Jerusalem.

Why are palms blessed?

That those who bear them with devotion, may receive protection for soul and body, as prayed for in the blessing; that the inhabitants of the place in which they are kept, may be preserved from all evils; that those who carry the palms, may, by means of the Church's prayers, adorn their souls with good works and thus, in spirit, meet the Saviour; that, through Christ whose members we are, we may conquer the kingdom of death and darkness, and be made worthy to share in His glorious resurrection and triumphant entrance into heaven. St. Augustine writes of the palms: “They are emblems of praise, and the signs of victory; because the Lord by death conquered death, and with the sign of victory, the cross, overcame the devil, the prince of death.” Therefore we go singing hymns of praise, with the cross in advance, in procession around the Church; when we come to the Church door, we find it locked, and the priest knocks at it with the cross, to show, how by Adam's sin heaven was closed to us, and that only since Jesus has killed death, and only by the cross of reconciliation, are the Church doors and the gates of paradise open to men, who love the Lord.

To infuse us with compassion for the suffering Redeemer, the Church, in the person of Christ, cries at the Introit in lamenting tones: Lord, keep not thy help far from me; look to my defence; save me from the lion's mouth, and rescue me in my distress, from the horns of unicorns. O God, my God, look upon me: why hast thou forsaken me? They are my sins (that is, the sins of all men which I have taken upon me), that keep salvation far from me. (Ps. xxi.)

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH. O almighty and eternal God, who wouldst have our Saviour become man, and suffer on a cross, to give mankind an example of humility: mercifully grant, that we may improve by the example of His patience, and partake of His resurrection. Through, &c.

EPISTLE. (Phil. ii. 5 -11) Brethren: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery, to be equal with God: but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man. He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death; even to the death of the cross. For which cause God also hath exalted him, and hath given him a name which is above all namas: that in the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. And that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of the Father.

INSTRUCTION. In this epistle, the apostle, as St. Chrysostom says, in a special manner urges us to humility by which we are made like to Christ, the Lord, who putting off the majesty of His divinity, became man, and obediently humbled Himself to the ignominious death of the cross. “Would that all might hear,” exclaims St. Gregory, “that God resists the proud, and gives His grace to the humble! Would that all might hear: Thou dust and ashes, why dost thou exalt thyself? Would that all might hear the words of the Lord: Learn of me, because I am humble of heart. Because for this the only begotten Son of God assumed the form of our weakness, suffered mockery, insults, and torments, for this that the humble God might teach man not to be proud.”

ASPIRATION. Ah, that my sentiments were as Thine, O my Lord Jesus! who so humbledst Thyself and wast obedient to the most ignominious death of the cross. Grant me, I beseech Thee, O my Redeemer, the grace to diligently follow Thee in humility.

In Mass instead of the gospel the Passion, as it is called, that is, the History of the Passion of our Lord, is read from Matthew chapters xxvi., xxvii., and xxviii.) And neither incense, nor lights are used, nor is the Dominus vobiscum said, thus signifying that Jesus, the Light of the world, was taken away by death, at which, as we know, the faith and devotion of the apostles shook and became almost extinct. When reading the History of the Passion, the priest, when he comes to the words: and bowing his head, he gave up the ghost, with all the congregation, falls on his knees to consider the great mystery of the death of Jesus, by which our redemption was effected, and to give God thanks for it from his inmost heart.

At the blessing of the palms, the priest reads the following

GOSPEL. (Matt. xxi. 1 – 9.) At That Time: Jesus drawing near to Jerusalem; and being come to Bethphage, at Mount Olivet, he sent two of his disciples, and said to them: Go ye into the village that is over against you, and immediately you shall find an ass tied and a colt with her: loose them and bring them to me: and if any man shall say any thing to you, say ye, that the Lord hath need of them: and forthwith he will let them go. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “Tell ye the daughter of Sion: Behold, thy king cometh to thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass and a colt the foal of her that is used to the yoke.” And the disciples going, did as Jesus commanded them. And they brought the ass and the colt: and laid their garments upon them, and made him sit thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way: and others cut down boughs from the trees, and strewed them in the way: and the multitudes that went before and that followed, cried, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.”‘

Why did Jesus enter Jerusalem so solemnly and yet so humble?

To show that He was the promised Messiah and King of the Jews, as foretold by the Prophet Zacliarias (ix. 9.), and that He had come to conquer the world, the flesh, and the devil, for which He used the weapons of meekness, humility, and poverty, and therefore came seated not on a proud steed, but on an ass's weak colt, like a poor person, entering Jerusalem in all humility, thus teaching us that meekness and indifference to earthly goods, are our best weapons for victory over our enemies; to fill the type of the paschal lamb, for on this day the lambs who were to be sacrificed in the temple on the following Friday, were solemnly led into the city. Thus Jesus, like a meek lamb, entered the city of Jerusalem to be sacrificed for us.

Why did the people meet Christ with palm-branches?

This happened by the inspiration of God, to indicate that Christ, the conqueror of death, hell, and the devil, would reconcile man with God, and open the heavenly Jerusalem to him, for the palm is the emblem of victory and peace. By this we learn also the inconsistency and mutability of the world; for the very people who on this day met Christ with palm-branches shouting: “Hosanna to the Son of David,” a few days after shouted: “Crucify him! Crucify him!” — Learn from this to despise the world's praise, and not to imitate the inconsistency of this people by receiving at Easter your Saviour with joy in holy Communion, and soon crucify Him anew by sin. (Hebr. vi. 6.)

How should we take part to-day in the procession of blessed palms?

With the pious intention of meeting Christ in spirit, with the devout people of Jerusalem, adoring Him, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David, Hosanna to Him who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna to the Highest!” and with the heartfelt prayer to Jesus for His grace, that by it we may become blooming, and with Him conquer the world, the flesh, and the devil, and thus merit to be received into the heavenly Jerusalem.

How and why did Christ defend Himself against the slanders of the Jews?

PETITION O Jesus, Thou always fresh and fruitful Tree of Life! grant, that we may by love be like palms ever green, and by the practice of good works blossom and bring forth fruit.

INSTRUCTION FOR HOLY WEEK

Why is this week called Holy Week?

This week is called Holy Week and also the Great Week, because during it Christ consummated the most holy mystery of our redemption, and gave us such unspeakable benefits. It is besides called the Quiet Week, because of the quietness of the Church services.

What remarkable things did Christ do during the first four days of this week?

After He had entered the temple at Jerusalem on Palm Sunday amidst the greatest rejoicings of the people, and was even saluted by the children with the joyous clamor of “Hosanna”, He drove the buyers and sellers out of the temple, and when He had spent the entire day in preaching and healing the sick, He went in the evening to Bethania, where He remained over night in Lazarus' house, because in Jerusalem no one wished to receive Him for fear of His enemies. The three following days He spent in Jerusalem, teaching in the temple, and passing the night in prayer on Mount Olivet. In His sermons during these days, He especially strove to convince the Jewish priests, the lawyers and Pharisees, that He was really the Messiah, and that they would commit a terrible sin, bringing themselves and the whole Jewish nation to destruction by His death, which He foretold. This ruin of the people He illustrated to them most plainly by the withering of the fig-tree under His curse, and foretelling the destruction of the city and temple of Jerusalem. He disputed with them, and confounded them, openly and by parables, that out of anger and hatred, they with one mind decreed to kill Him. To the execution of their design the impious Judas aided the most, for from avarice he betrayed Him for thirty pieces of silver (about fifteen dollars in our money) to the chief priests, and the next day, Thursday, became His betrayer and delivered Him over into their hands.

From: www.pamphletstoinspire.com

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