YOU … AND JUDAS ISCARIOT … AND MYSELF

What Our Lord said to Judas Iscariot, he says to the world today, to me, to you, to each and every one: ‘You seemingly are very interested in social justice. Why are you not concerned about individual justice? You love your neighbour. Right very commendable, BUT, why do you not love God?’

This is the attitude of the world today. We have swung away from a period in which we were concerned with individual sanctification to the neglect of social order. Now we have gone to the extreme of being immersed with social justice, civil rights and so forth, and we are not the least bit concerned about individual justice and the duty of paying honour and glory to God.

If you march with a banner, if you protest, then your individual life may be impure, alcoholic, anything you please. That does not matter. Judas Iscariot is the patron figure of those who divide that universal law of  God: ‘Love God and love neighbour’.

Adapted from : Fulton J.Sheen

Bible Quotes

I am a creature of a day. I am a spirit come from God, and returning to God. I want to know one thing: the way to heaven. God himself has condescended to teach me the way. He has written it down in a book. Oh, give me that book! At any price give me the book of God. Let me be a man of one book.--John Wesley
It is a mistake to look to the Bible to close a discussion; the Bible seeks to open one. - William Sloane Coffin

It will greatly help you to understand scripture if you note – no only what is spoken and written, but of whom and to whom, with what words, at what time, where, to what intent, with what circumstances, considering what goes before and what follows. --Miles Coverdale,

When you read God's Word, you must constantly be saying to yourself, "It is talking to me, and about me." --Soren Kierkegaard 

Never place a period where God has placed a comma. God is still speaking. Gracie Allen

We do not read the Bible the way it is; we read it the way we are. Evelyn Uyemura

Bible reading is an education in itself. Lord Tennyson

Reading the Bible without meditating on it is like trying to eat without swallowing. Anonymous

The Bible is a book that has been read more and examined less than any book that ever existed. Thomas Paine

It is not at all incredible, that a book which has been so long in the possession of mankind should contain many truths as yet undiscovered. Bishop Butler

It is clear that there must be difficulties for us in a revelation such as the Bible. If someone were to hand me a book that was as simple to me as the multiplication table, and say, 'This is the Word of God. In it He has revealed His whole will and wisdom,' I would shake my head and say, 'I cannot believe it; that is too easy to be a perfect revelation of infinite wisdom.' There must be, in any complete revelation of God's mind and will and character and being, things hard for the beginner to understand; and the wisest and best of us are but beginners. - R.A. Torrey

The letter of Scripture is a veil just as much as it is a revelation; hiding while it reveals, and yet revealing while it hides. Andrew Jukes
Some people like to read so many [Bible] chapters every day. I would not dissuade them from the practice, but I would rather lay my soul asoak in half a dozen verses all day than rinse my hand in several chapters. Oh, to be bathed in a text of Scripture, and to let it be sucked up in your very soul, till it saturates your heart! Charles Haddon Spurgeon

SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS ON THE GOSPEL OF THE THIRTIETH SUNDAY

History has recorded it, the people were conscious of it, they (the Pharisee and the Publican) knew it, … yet the reactions of their particular behaviour offers a great contrast, a contrast which cannot go unnoticed. Mind you, Jesus was a Super Teacher.

The Publican knew that being in the service of the Romans, meant a lot; he knew that he was despised by his brothers, the Jews; he knew that it was customary to cheat on his brothers, as much as possible; he knew that he was considered by one and all to be a sinner; he knew that the term ‘tax-collector’ had many negative connotations. He knew all this, he realized that not all was well with his soul in front of God.

Because he knew all this, he had the courage to go to the Temple, but he did not have the courage to go close to the Presence in the Temple, he stayed close to the entrance (as recorded in the Gospel). He admitted his guilts, he confessed his misgivings … and all this whilst kneeling down, head bowed in submission, in humility and, we might say, in adoration.

We have here a wonderful example of a true Christian repentance and faith., a excellent masterpiece of high spiritual wisdom or theology. He has become a new man, he has converted.

The Pharisee’s behavior and reaction were so much different. He went straight to the front … where he could be seen by all, trailing his long expensive dress and train behind him. He prayed in a loud voice. Well, as long as he prayed we can never condemn him, but accusations and making comparisons with the life of others is not prayer.

That was the main trouble with the Pharisees; they followed the literal word of the Law, but not the spirit. For example we know that they were supposed to fast once a week, but they used to fast two days a week… what is more interesting is the choice of those two days; they fasted on Mondays and Thursdays, because these were the market days; ergo there will be many people. They had a good occasion to whiten their face, to walk in a dizzy sort of way, shouting out prayers as the walked, they would close their eyes when they saw a maiden or a woman coming their way, lest they sin if they look at her closely. Very often they would hurt their face hitting a wall, a pole or anything in the way … and the more blood they had on their face, the more devout they felt.

Yes, Jesus was a Master Teacher, He brought about a very good example fom which we can learn. He wanted to point out the difference between genuine repentance, conversion and faith … and playing the fool with God. They used to overlook the fact that God can always see ‘through’ our thoughts and actions.

But, the Pharisees STILL exist, and so do the Publicans. Let us examine our conscience; have I ever been a Pharisee, in my thoughts and actions? When was it, the last time I behaved like a Pharisee? Is there any chance of behaving like a Publican, in total submission and humility? Let each and every one of us answer these questions in front of Christ Crucified … and then wait for Christ’s reaction to our answers.

MARY  AND  THE  ARK

Constructed during the Israelites' wanderings in the desert and used until the destruction of the First Temple, the Ark was the most important symbol of the Jewish faith, and served as the only physical manifestation of God on earth. The legends associated with this object - and the harsh penalties ascribed for anyone who misuses it - confirm the Ark's centrality to the Jewish faith of that period; the fact that Jews and non-Jews alike continue to study and imitate it confirms its centrality even today.

The Jewish converts to Christianity looked upon the Ark as the symbol of Mary, the Mother of God. As the ‘acacia’ wood of the Ark was indestructible, being very strong wood, the same happened to the body of Mary in the tomb. Her body did not see corruption as it was indestructible.

The Ark was in the possession of Għobed-edom for three months (2Sam.6:11), and Mary’s stay at the house of Elizabeth was of three months. (Lk.1:56) When crossing the desert the Ark was overshadowed by a ‘cloud’ (the Shekinah), likewise the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary in Nazareth when she accepted to become the Mother of God.

Another parallel is found in the Apocryphal Books wherein we find that whilst the Apostles were carrying the body of Mary to the tomb in the Kedron Valley, the high priest tried to topple the holy body being carried, to the ground. At that moment, an angel of the Lord appeared and caused the High priest’s hand to wither. He was punished just as Għuzza had been struck dead when he tried to hold the Ark from falling.

There was a bowl in the Ark wherein they kept some manna, the heavenly bread. This also is a symbol of  Mary because she carried in her womb the ‘Bread of Heaven’ Jesus, for nine months. For this reason the Church acknowledges Mary as the ‘Ark of the New Covenant’.

 

THE SPIRIT MAKES CHRIST REAL

When Our Lord was manifested to us, He spoke to us from without, but the Holy Spirit will speak to us from within. Does that mean that the Holy Spirit is to be a substitute for Christ? NO, the Holy Spirit will make Christ more real than ever. Let us remember the words of Our Lord: “And that day you shall know that I am in the Father, and you in me, and I in you.”

How would He be in us? By revealing His hidden excellence in our hearts. That is why St.Paul said that if we had known Christ according to the flesh, we know Him so no longer. Because now, we know Him in another way. We know Him through the Holy Spirit. Therefore the Holy Spirit, as Our Lord said, will bear witness to Him, not to himself.

From ‘Through the Year with Fulton Sheen.

FOOD  FOR  THOUGHT

When you are in the light everything follows you, but, when you enter the dark, even your own shadow will not follow you.

Peace starts with a smile.

It is very easy to defeat someone, but it is very difficult to win someone.

Don’t let worries get the best of you, remember Moses started as a basket case.

The world suffers a lot not because of the violence of bad people, but because of the silence of good people.

If friendship is your weakest point, then you are the strongest person in the world.

I am grateful to all those who said ‘NO’ to me, because of them I did it myself.

Laughing faces do not mean that there is absence of sorrow! But it means they have the ability to deal with it.

In time of crisis I was not hurt by the harsh words of my enemies …. BUT, by the silence of my friends.

Never play with the feelings of others because, though you may win the game, you will surely lose the person for a lifetime.

Opportunities are like sunrise; if you wait too long, you can miss them.