#or the twelve tribes of Israel or whatever it was

[i-am-a-freg]

Your numbers now fit this remarkable total! One gross, if *ahem* I may use the expression

#I’m so happy that I can be like bilbo #or the twelve tribes of Israel or whatever it was #with their twelve things #was that a thing or am I just crazy lol

[onomatopagu-et-cie]

Cyrus, Katerina, Campbell

First impressions after re-reading DGM Some theories and observations Notes on Link, part 1 & part 2

Have a nice week-end!!

Again I'm sorry for the awkward english!!!!

(SPOILERS UP TO CH247!!!!)

▶ « Cyrus » and Cross

After focusing on Skulls and Link’s names, I wondered if there was something for Cross and Katerina, two enigmatic characters!

In volume 24, サイラス (‘Sairasu’), which is localized as Cyrus in the English translation, Mana and Neah’s ‘uncle’, is mentioned. This could add to the ‘Cross = Cyrus’ theory:

Cross’s name in Japanese is クロス, which is pronounced ‘Kurosu’. The ancient greek form of Cyrus is Κῦρος, pronounced ‘kuros’ (like how you would pronounce ‘hybris’).

Is Cross the name Cyrus adopted after whatever happened at the Campbell mansion (and also, a symbol of the heavy cross he has to bear for Mana, Neah and Katerina)? Though it’s interesting to note Neah calls him Cross in ch215.

Now in the French translation, his name is localized as ‘Silas’, and the Japanese prononciation could lead to both localizations so I don’t really know if this holds any meaning!

▶ « Katerina »

Katerina is a variant of the name Catherine.

The name became attached to the ancient greek adjective καθαρός, ‘pure’. Also, « Marian Cross » might be a reference to a kind of religious cross:

A SAINT, you say....................

A side note: on the miraculous medal, there were twelve stars, symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel and the apostles. There are two hearts on the medal. One heart bears a crown of thorns — the Christ’s Sacred Heart —, the other is stabbed by a knife — the Immaculate Heart of Mary —. Joined together, the two of them represent the Christ and Mary’s love of the world.

I don’t know if it’s relevant or not, but in ch121, Lavi managed to get out of Road’s dream by stabbing Allen’s illusion in the heart, which ends up piercing through Road’s own heart. And volume 13’s cover features a colorful focus on Lavi and the knife spilling blood in the foreground, which contrast with Cross, two crosses and the coffins coloring the background.

Not to mention:

1) Grave of Maria accompanying Cross: her dress is adorned with roses which are associated to Mary, sometimes represented with a rose crown (the rosary also originates from them). The ‘saint’ from Luberrier’s family is drawn wearing a (presumably) white rose, symbol of purity, innocence and devotion. The black ribbon that covers Maria's head ends up in a butterfly-shaped bow. In christianity, butterflies symbolize rebirth after death like the Christ’s spirit. Though rare, Mary has been represented with butterflies (I also saw that butterfly in spanish is 'mariposa' and its etymology was sometimes supposedly linked to Mary, I wish I could read in spanish ;;).

2) The association of Maria to what looks like a memory of Katerina:

3) In volume 13, Allen says Maria is the corpse of a parasite-type accommodator that is now controlled by Cross’s magic. Though it’s a forbidden spell, he was granted an extraordinary permission from the Order.

On the other hand, Cross suggested that Allen searches for Katerina in the mansion. This leads to the belief that she's pretty much alive, so perhaps Maria and Katerina are unrelated and Cross just remembered Katerina because the two are similar in personality. Their association is really tempting, though.

Especially since her whole face is concealed by her ribbon and we were recently given this page linking the two together!

Or who knows, maybe her soul got separated from her corpse or some other magic happened? We know so little so anything could happen!

It's a great stretch in all this, but Katerina’s name origin has also been linked to Hekate, a goddess of, among other things, liminality between spaces/worlds (entrances, exits, city walls, doors, gates, boundaries and crossroads, the living and dead realms ; one of her epithets was Enodia, ‘she of the road’), the underworld (she was considered the guardian of Hades’s keys, served as a guide), witchcraft (eg. in greek tragedies) and the night. Throughout history, she was also sometimes confounded with other divinities eg. Demeter, Artemis, Persephone. The dog was one of her sacred animals (represented accompanying her and also her sacrifice).

She wasn’t originally associated to the moon, but it became one of her main attributes with witchcraft later, as well as ghosts. In wicca, she is related to the Triple Goddess, which is associated to the archetypes of life (birth, death, rebirth), the Maiden, the Mother and the Crone or the moons (waxing, full and waning).

She was also later said to have a great knowledge of plants, especially to make poison.

The story uses these symbols a lot. The symbol of liminality especially reminds me of Road. (Of course I don’t believe there must be a correlation, references can just be references for the sake of it and highlight meanings, but the research was very fun!)

▶ « Campbell »

A CROOKED mouth…...... ? It’s THE telltale characteristic of the Noah’s memory, while Noah’s physical appearance features golden pupils and stigmata!

Now I don’t know where the story is headed with the Campbells, but I’m really curious to learn more, especially their link to Mana, Neah and the Noah!

#dgm spoilers #dgm meta #d gray man #cross marian #katerina campbell #lavi bookman

[officialyourdailyinspiration]

Devotional Hours Within the Bible

by James Russell Miller

Naaman Healed of Leprosy (2 Kings 5:1-14)

The story of Naaman is interesting in several ways. It gives us a glimpse of the times. The country of Israel was subject to incursions from hostile tribes. In these raids not only was property carried away but women and children were ofttimes taken as captives. Naaman himself was a great man in his country; he was commander-in-chief of the army of Syria. He was held in distinction by the king, who honored Naaman throughout the land. He had won great battles. He was a brave and valiant soldier. But all this list of honors was offset by one sad woe he was a leper!

This story of Naaman is like many a rich man’s life today. He has all that wealth can give him BUT there is some dark shadow, an incurable disease, a secret sorrow, a domestic infelicity, a shame which nothing can blot out and that spoils all the glory. No human life is altogether perfect. No human happiness is altogether complete. Leprosy meant sin every one of us, however great, is a sinner. Leprosy was a terrible disease. It was incurable. Its progress was slow but certain. It ate away the body joint by joint. In the land of Israel it drove a man from his home and friends, to live in isolation. Yet the leprous body is only a type of the leprous soul. We all have this drawback which Naaman had.

The incident of the little girl is instructive, and yet moving. It was a cruel fate that had torn her away from her home in the country of Israel. Young girls will be interested in this little maid and will sympathize with her in her sad misfortune. She may have been ten or twelve years of age. She was carried off by a company of Syrian soldiers from her home, and was held captive. She must have been greatly frightened as the rough men of war seized her and took her away with them. Her mother must have wept bitterly. Her father and brothers must have vowed some time to get the child back. But God had her in His keeping, and He used her while a captive to do good.

This is not the only Bible story of a captive child. We all remember about Joseph, who when but a lad was treacherously sold by his own brothers and carried off to Egypt as a slave. Yet he in his captivity proved a great blessing, not only to Egypt but to his own people and to the very brothers who had sold him! Daniel also was carried away when only a child into a heathen country, and he also did a great deal of good.

Sometimes children are put into places and circumstances of hardship, where they must suffer much; but wherever their lot is cast, and whatever the circumstances are in which they find themselves, they may do good. Wherever God allows us to be placed we shall find not only divine protection but an opportunity for usefulness. God has something for us to do right there or He would not have put us there. Some children find themselves living in hard conditions, without many pleasures, receiving unjust or cruel treatment, it may be; but they may trust God in the hardest circumstances. He will not forget them, and if they commit their lives to Him He will use them for doing good.

This little girl was thoughtful and sympathetic. Evidently she had been well trained, for she knew much about God and God’s prophet. When she learned of Naaman’s condition as a leper she expressed to her mistress the wish that he might visit the prophet who was in her country. It seems a little strange, that this child who had been carried away captive by Naaman’s soldiers, perhaps by Naaman himself, should have this kindly interest in her master. She had been cruelly wronged, torn away from her homeland, and carried as a captive to a foreign country. She was now captive, working as a slave in Naaman’s house. We would not have been surprised, if the child had cherished bitter feelings toward the great captain. But instead of this she looked upon him with pity. She even interested herself so much in his recovery, as to tell her mistress about the prophet who could heal him. We have a lesson here on the treatment of those who have wronged us or injured us. We should always try to do them good.

Another suggestion from this part of the story, is that even a child can do great good. But for this little maid, Naaman probably would have remained a leper, growing worse and worse, until he died. Her words to her mistress made her and Naaman also aware of the healing that was within reach. There is a Prophet greater than Elisha, of whom every Christian child knows Jesus Christ Himself. We should tell those about us who are in sin or in sorrow of this great Healer, that they may come to Him as Naaman went to Elisha and find blessing. If this child had said nothing of the prophet, Naaman would not have learned of the healer!

We learn here also that there is no place in life without its opportunities for usefulness. We would say that this little child, a captive in a strange land, could not be of any use in the world yet her simple - hearted kindness was the means of the curing of the great soldier. A boy may be in a very humble place just an office boy, an errand boy, a messenger boy; or a girl may be only a little serving maid in some great house. Yet both of them may bear such witness for their Master in their lowly places as to become great blessings to others!

Naaman quickly availed himself of the information which had come through the little slave girl, and with a letter of introduction from his king soon appeared in the country of Samaria. But he went to the wrong place with his leprosy. His king had sent him to the king of Israel instead of to the prophet. And when the letter was read by the king, it caused alarm. He knew that he could not cure the man of his leprosy, and at once he suspected that the letter from the king of Syria was part of a plot to bring about war. As he opened the letter he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy?”

Just so, many people go to the wrong place with their troubles, their sorrows, their sins. The king could not cure Naaman’s leprosy. There are some things which earthly power cannot do. It is said that money will do anything but there are many things which money cannot do. It cannot buy love. It cannot give peace to a troubled heart. It cannot prolong life. The queen’s cry, “Millions for a moment of time,” received no answer. Rich men in authority may have great power but there are poor men who, by their prayers, by their teachings, or by their lives can bring blessings which no rich man could bring. It is better to have Elisha’s power to do good than to be king!

Elisha helped the king out of his perplexing dilemma. “When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.” It was a splendid cavalcade that waited before the prophet’s humble dwelling that day. Although Naaman was a leper and had come to implore help of a lowly servant of God he kept up all his grand style. There was no sign of humility. Indeed, he expected to be cured in a grand way, and then to pay for the healing with a princely sum. He was not there as a poor suppliant, and no doubt he thought he was conferring great honor upon this humble and obscure prophet in coming thus to him.

There are many people in these modem days, who treat Christ’s Church very much as Naaman wished to treat Elisha. They put on all their magnificence when they attend the services. They consider that they honor the Church when they accept its ministrations. They like to be called patrons of the Church. They show favor to it. Such people, like Naaman here, will find it necessary to get out of their chariots, to lay aside their fine trappings, to step down into the valley of humiliation, and to bathe in the fountain of Christ’s blood before they can find any real blessing at God’s hand. There is no way to the favor and mercy of God but by the way of penitence and humility.

Elisha was not awed by the grandeur of the general before his gate. He did not even come out to speak to the great man sitting in the chariot before his door. He showed not a shadow of servility. He simply sent a message to him, telling him to go and wash in Jordan seven times. Naaman was very angry and turned away in rage. He was angry because Elisha had not shown deference to his grandeur. He was not there as one of the common herd but as the great general of Syria. He had formed his own idea of the way he ought to be healed in some grand way. There are people who in their pride and haughtiness, imagine that God should treat them differently from common folks. The way of the cross is altogether too humble for them. They turn away with scorn and rage from it!

But we must not fail to notice how nearly Naaman missed being healed. Had it not been for the entreaties of his attendants he would have gone away a leper still, rather than submit to the prophet’s lowly requirements. There are many people who fail altogether of salvation, for the same reason. They come to the cross but when they hear what they must do to be saved they turn away, keeping their sins and their leprous hearts, rejecting the salvation which can come to them only in Christ’s way!

It is well that Naaman’s servants were wiser than himself. They persuaded him to do as the prophet had bidden him to do. So he thought better of his course; he let the counsel of his friends influence him; he considered how foolish it would be for him to miss the curing of his leprosy. He let his rage cool down and returned humble.

He had a second chance. This shows the divine patience. Thousands of people reject Christ, and then, when they come, by and by they find the way still open. They have a second chance. God waits long to be gracious even to the sinner who has often refused the invitation of mercy. Naaman did as he was bidden. “So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his flesh became as healthy as a young child’s, and he was healed!”

[creature-wizard]

The heck are the 144,000?

In the Book of Revelation, God puts his seal in the foreheads of 144,000 virgin male Jews. It's numerologically significant because the number is twelve (as in the twelve tribes of Israel) times twelve thousand. Loads of people just ignore all of that context, apply the number to whatever it is they'd rather believe, and claim the Book of Revelation somehow validates it.

#answered #144000 #revelation

[lennart11412]

 Luke 22 ►Mount of Olives / Betrayal

New King James Version

 Par ▾ 

The Plot to Kill Jesus

1Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover. 2And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people.

3Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. 4So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. 5And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.

From <https://biblehub.com/nkjv/luke/22.htm>

The Prayer in the Garden

39Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. 40When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

41And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, 42saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” 43[f]Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 44And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

45When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. 46Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”

From <https://biblehub.com/nkjv/luke/22.htm>

2 Samuel 15 ►Mount of Olives / Betrayal

New King James Version

 Par ▾ 

Absalom’s Treason

1After this it happened that Absalom provided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. 2Now Absalom would rise early and stand beside the way to the gate. So it was, whenever anyone who had a lawsuit[a] came to the king for a decision, that Absalom would call to him and say, “What city are you from?” And he would say, “Your servant is from such and such a tribe of Israel.” 3Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your [b]case is good and right; but there is no [c]deputy of the king to hear you.” 4Moreover Absalom would say, “Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice.” 5And so it was, whenever anyone came near to bow down to him, that he would put out his hand and take him and kiss him. 6In this manner Absalom acted toward all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7Now it came to pass after [d]forty years that Absalom said to the king, “Please, let me go to Hebron and pay the vow which I made to the Lord. 8For your servant took a vow while I dwelt at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If the Lord indeed brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’ ”

9And the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron.

10Then Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron!’ ” 11And with Absalom went two hundred men invited from Jerusalem, and they went along innocently and did not know anything. 12Then Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city—from Giloh—while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy grew strong, for the people with Absalom continually increased in number.

David Escapes from Jerusalem

13Now a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are [e]with Absalom.”

14So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee, or we shall not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”

15And the king’s servants said to the king, “We are your servants, ready to do whatever my lord the king commands.” 16Then the king went out with all his household after him. But the king left ten women, concubines, to keep the house. 17And the king went out with all the people after him, and stopped at the outskirts. 18Then all his servants passed [f]before him; and all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who had followed him from Gath, passed before the king.

19Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why are you also going with us? Return and remain with the king. For you are a foreigner and also an exile from your own place. 20In fact, you came only yesterday. Should I make you wander up and down with us today, since I go I know not where? Return, and take your brethren back. Mercy and truth be with you.”

21But Ittai answered the king and said, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be.”

22So David said to Ittai, “Go, and cross over.” Then Ittai the Gittite and all his men and all the little ones who were with him crossed over. 23And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people crossed over. The king himself also crossed over the Brook Kidron, and all the people crossed over toward the way of the wilderness.

24There was Zadok also, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar went up until all the people had finished crossing over from the city. 

25Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, He will bring me back and show me both it and His dwelling place. 26But if He says thus: ‘I have no delight in you,’ here I am, let Him do to me as seems good to Him.”

 27The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer?[g] Return to the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28See, I will wait in the plains of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” 29Therefore Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem. And they remained there.

30So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went up. 

31Then someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, I pray, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”

32Now it happened when David had come to the top of the mountain, where he worshiped God—there was Hushai the Archite coming to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head. 33David said to him, “If you go on with me, then you will become a burden to me. 34But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I was your father’s servant previously, so I will now also be your servant,’ then you may defeat the counsel of Ahithophel for me. 35And do you not have Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? Therefore it will be that whatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall tell to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36Indeed they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and by them you shall send me everything you hear.”

37So Hushai, David’s friend, went into the city. And Absalom came into Jerusalem.

From <https://biblehub.com/nkjv/2_samuel/15.htm>

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

29th July >> Mass Readings (USA)

Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus

  on

Saturday, Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time.

Saturday, Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical Colour: White: A (1))

(Readings for the feria (Saturday))

(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Saturday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)

First Reading Exodus 24:3-8 This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you.

When Moses came to the people and related all the words and ordinances of the LORD, they all answered with one voice, “We will do everything that the LORD has told us.” Moses then wrote down all the words of the LORD and, rising early the next day, he erected at the foot of the mountain an altar and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. Then, having sent certain young men of the children of Israel to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD, Moses took half of the blood and put it in large bowls; the other half he splashed on the altar. Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people, who answered, “All that the LORD has said, we will heed and do.” Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words of his.”

The Word of the

Lord R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 50:1b-2, 5-6, 14-15

R/ Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.

God the LORD has spoken and summoned the earth, from the rising of the sun to its setting. From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.

R/ Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.

“Gather my faithful ones before me, those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” And the heavens proclaim his justice; for God himself is the judge.

R/ Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.

“Offer to God praise as your sacrifice and fulfill your vows to the Most High; Then call upon me in time of distress; I will rescue you, and you shall glorify me.”

R/ Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.

Gospel Acclamation John 8:12

Alleluia, alleluia. I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life. Alleluia, alleluia.

Either:

(The following reading is proper to the memorial, and must be used even if you have otherwise chosen to use the ferial readings)

Gospel John 11:19-27 I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God.

Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother [Lazarus, who had died]. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Or:

(The following reading is proper to the memorial, and must be used even if you have otherwise chosen to use the ferial readings)

Gospel Luke 10:38-42 Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.

Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

----------------------------------

Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus 

(Liturgical Colour: White: A (1))

(Readings for the memorial)

(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Saturday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)

First Reading 1 John 4:7-16 If we love one another, God remains in us.

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love. In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only-begotten Son into the world so that we might have life through him. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us. This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us, that he has given us of his Spirit. Moreover, we have seen and testify that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world. Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him and he in God. We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11

R/ I will bless the Lord at all times. or R/ Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad.

R/ I will bless the Lord at all times. or R/ Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Glorify the LORD with me, let us together extol his name. I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

R/ I will bless the Lord at all times. or R/ Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. When the poor one called out, the LORD heard, and from all his distress he saved him.

R/ I will bless the Lord at all times. or R/ Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Taste and see how good the LORD is; blessed the man who takes refuge in him.

R/ I will bless the Lord at all times. or R/ Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Fear the LORD, you his holy ones, for nought is lacking to those who fear him. The great grow poor and hungry; but those who seek the LORD want for no good thing.

R/ I will bless the Lord at all times. or R/ Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation John 8:12

Alleluia, alleluia. I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life. Alleluia, alleluia.

Either:

Gospel John 11:19-27 I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God.

Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother [Lazarus, who had died]. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Or:

Gospel Luke 10:38-42 Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.

Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

[frmartinshomiliesandreflections]

9th June>> Fr. Martin’s Gospel Reflections / Homilies on:

Matthew 8:18-27 /  Matthew 19:27-29 for the Feast of St Columcille or Columba: ‘Save us, Lord, we are going down’

Or on

Mark 12:35-37 for Friday, Ninth Week in Ordinary Time.

----------------------------------------------

Feast of St Columcille or Columba

Gospel Except USA)

Matthew 8:18-27

Give everything you own to the poor, and follow me.

When Jesus saw the great crowds all about him he gave orders to leave for the other side. One of the scribes then came up and said to him, ‘Master, I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’

   Another man, one of his disciples, said to him, ‘Sir, let me go and bury my father first.’ But Jesus replied, ‘Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their dead.’

   Jesus got into the boat followed by his disciples. Without warning a storm broke over the lake, so violent that the waves were breaking right over the boat. But he was asleep. So they went to him and woke him saying, ‘Save us, Lord, we are going down!’ And he said to them, ‘Why are you so frightened, you men of little faith?’ And with that he stood up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and all was calm again. The men were astounded and said, ‘Whatever kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey him.’

Or

Gospel (Except USA)

Matthew 19:27-29

They will be repaid a hundred times over and inherit eternal life.

Peter spoke to Jesus. ‘What about us?’ he said. ‘We have left everything and followed you. What are we to have, then?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I tell you solemnly, when all is made new and the Son of Man sits on his throne of glory, you will yourselves sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or land for the sake of my name will be repaid a hundred times over, and also inherit eternal life.’

Reflections (6)

(i) Feast of St Columcille or Columba

Columcille was born in Gartan, Co. Donegal in 521 and was of royal lineage, belonging to a branch of the O’Neill dynasty. He studied under Saint Mobhi, in the monastery of Glasnevin. He went on to establish monasteries himself in Derry, Durrow, and possibly Kells. In 563 he left Ireland with twelve companions and founded a monastery on the island of Iona off SW Scotland, which was given to him by the ruler of the Irish Dalriada for the purpose of establishing a monastery. The monastery became a place of learning with the copying and illumination of manuscripts. Columcille remained the rest of his life in Scotland, mainly Iona, returning to Ireland only for occasional visits. He died on June 9, 597. Columcille and his companions preached the gospel in the Western part of Scotland. After his death, monks from Iona went to evangelize Northumbria, where they established monasteries at Lindisfarne and Whitby. Columcille and his companions made the word of God fully known wherever they went. During their ministry, they went through many a stormy time, like the disciples in today’s gospel reading. Yet, just as Jesus was with the disciples in the storm at sea and brought them through it, he was with Columcille and his companions through all their difficult moments, and they came to discover, like those disciples, that the Lord was stronger than the storm. Our own following of the Lord, as a community and as individuals, won’t always be easy; the storms and trials of life will often put our faith to the test. Just as Jesus was asleep in the boat, it can seem to us at such times that the Lord is asleep on our watch. Yet, the Lord is always attentive to us. One of the psalms expresses that conviction very well, ‘He who keeps you will not slumber. He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep’. The Lord is ever watchful and faithful. It is we who can become faithless or, in the rebuke of Jesus to the disciples in the boat, people of ‘little faith’, somewhere between no faith and full faith. We fail to keep the Lord in view. It is because we are all prone to ‘little faith’ that, in the words of Paul in today’s first reading, we need to ‘persevere in prayer’. Perhaps we could keep making our own the prayer of one of the minor characters of the gospel story, the father of a seriously ill boy who prayed to Jesus, ‘Lord, I believe, help my unbelief’.

And/Or

(ii) Feast of St Colum Cille or Columba

Colum Cille was born in Gartan, Co. Donegal in 521 and was of royal lineage. He founded monasteries in Derry, Durrow, and possibly Kells. In 565 he left Ireland with twelve companions and founded a monastery on the island of Iona off SW Scotland, which was given to him for a monastery by the ruler of the Irish Dalriada. Columba remained the rest of his life in Scotland, mainly Iona, returning to Ireland only for occasional visits. He died on June 9, 597. Colum Cille and his companions preached the gospel in the Western part of Scotland. In the words of the first reading from the letter to the Colossians, he made the word of God fully known wherever he went. That reading describes God’s word as the mystery hidden throughout the ages but now revealed. The content of this mystery, according to that reading, is ‘Christ among you, the hope of glory’. This is the heart of the good news. Christ is among us and his presence among us gives us hope, hope of sharing in the glory that he now enjoys. As we journey towards that glory, our calling in this life is, in the words of that same reading, to become ‘mature in Christ’. We are to grow up into Christ who lives among us, and to the extent we do that we become fully mature, as Colum Cille was. Our becoming mature in Christ, our growing up into Christ, is a lifetime’s work, and this work is not just our work; more fundamentally it is the work of the Holy Spirit within us. Today we ask the Spirit to conform us more and more to the image of Christ.

 And/Or

(iii) Saint Colum Cille or Columba

Colum Cille was born in Gartan, Co. Donegal in 521 and was of royal lineage. He founded monasteries in Derry, Durrow, and possibly Kells. In 565, at the age of forty four, he left Ireland with twelve companions and founded a monastery on the island of Iona off SW Scotland, which was given to him for a monastery by the ruler of the Irish Dalriada. He remained the rest of his life in Scotland, mainly Iona, returning to Ireland only for occasional visits. Colum Cille and his companions preached the gospel in the Western part of Scotland. He died on June 9, 597, at the age of seventy six. In the gospel reading Jesus commissions his disciples to go out and bear fruit, fruit that will last. Colum Cille’s life has certainly borne a lasting fruit. That is because, in the words of the gospel reading, he remained in the Lord’s love. His relationship with the Lord was at the heart of his missionary work, his life of witness. We too will be witnesses to the Lord in our own way if we remain in his love, if we strive to grow in our relationship with him, growing to love him as he loves us. It is that remaining in the Lord’s love which enables our lives to bear the rich fruit of the Spirit.

 And/Or

(iv) Saint Colum Cille or Columba

Colum Cille was born in Gartan, Co. Donegal in 521 and was of royal lineage. He founded monasteries in Derry, Durrow, and possibly Kells. In 565 he left Ireland with twelve companions and founded a monastery on the island of Iona off the South West of Scotland, which was given to him for a the purpose of establishing a monastery by the ruler of the Irish Dalriada. Colum Cille remained the rest of his life in Scotland, mainly Iona, returning to Ireland only for occasional visits. He lived in Iona for over thirty years and died on June 9, 597. Colum Cille and his companions preached the gospel in the Western part of Scotland. They made the word of God fully known wherever they went. Colum Cille regarded himself as a man of peace, and his spirit lives on in the Iona community which is based on the island. The Iona Community is a Christian ecumenical community of men and women from different walks of life and different traditions in the Church. They are committed to working together for peace and social justice, the rebuilding of community and the renewal of worship. In the Eucharist we God’s celebrate reconciling love revealed fully in the death and resurrection of Jesus. We are then sent from the Eucharist to be instruments of that reconciling love in our own sphere of influence.

 And/Or

(v) Feast of St Colum Cille or Columba

Colum Cille was born in Gartan, Co. Donegal in 521 and was of royal lineage. He founded monasteries in Derry, Durrow, and possibly Kells. In 565 he left Ireland with twelve companions and founded a monastery on the island of Iona off SW Scotland, which was given to him for a the purpose of establishing a monastery by the ruler of the Irish Dalriada. Columba remained the rest of his life in Scotland, mainly Iona, returning to Ireland only for occasional visits. He died on June 9, 597. Colum Cille and his companions preached the gospel in the Western part of Scotland. They made the word of God fully known wherever they went. In the course of their ministry they went through many a stormy sea, like the disciples in today’s gospel reading. Yet, just as Jesus was with the disciples in the storm and brought them through it, he was with Colum Cille and his companions through all their difficult moments, and they discovered, like those disciples, that the Lord was stronger than the storm. In spite of many setbacks and in the face of great odds, the Lord worked powerfully through them. Our own following of the Lord won’t always be easy; the storms and trials of life will often put our faith to the test. Yet, the Lord will be with us in those dark moments, as he was with Colum Cille and his companions in their struggles, as he was with the disciples in the boat. If we keep faith in him, he will work powerfully through us and bring us safely to shore.

 And/Or

(vi) Feast of St Columcille or Columba

Columcille was born in Gartan, Co. Donegal in 521 and was of royal lineage, belonging to a branch of the O’Neill dynasty. He studied under Saint Mobhi, in the monastery of Glasnevin. He went on to establish monasteries himself in Derry, Durrow, and possibly Kells. In 563 he left Ireland with twelve companions and founded a monastery on the island of Iona off SW Scotland, which was given to him by the ruler of the Irish Dalriada for the purpose of establishing a monastery. The monastery became a place of learning with the copying and illumination of manuscripts. Columcille remained the rest of his life in Scotland, mainly Iona, returning to Ireland only for occasional visits. He died on June 9, 597. Columcille and his companions preached the gospel in the Western part of Scotland. After his death, monks from Iona went to evangelize Northumbria, where they established monasteries at Lindisfarne and Whitby. Columcille and his companions made the word of God fully known wherever they went. During their ministry, they went through many a stormy time, like the disciples in today’s gospel reading. Yet, just as Jesus was with the disciples in the storm at sea and brought them through it, he was with Columcille and his companions through all their difficult moments, and they came to discover, like those disciples, that the Lord was stronger than the storm. Our own following of the Lord won’t always be easy; the storms and trials of life will often put our faith to the test. Just as Jesus was asleep in the boat, it can seem to us at such times that the Lord is asleep on our watch. Yet, the Lord is always attentive to us. One of the psalms expresses that conviction very well, ‘He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep’. The Lord is ever watchful and faithful. It is we who can become faithless or, in the rebuke of Jesus to the disciples in the boat, people of ‘little faith’. It is because we are all prone to ‘little faith’ that we need to keep making our own that prayer of the father of a seriously ill boy which we find in one of the gospel stories, ‘Lord, I believe, help my unbelief’.

----------------------------------------------------

Friday, Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel (Except USA)

Mark 12:35-37

'David himself calls him Lord'.

At that time while teaching in the Temple, Jesus said, ‘How can the scribes maintain that the Christ is the son of David? David himself, moved by the Holy Spirit, said:

The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand and I will put your enemies under your feet.

David himself calls him Lord, in what way then can he be his son?’ And the great majority of the people heard this with delight.

Gospel (USA)

Mark 12:35-37

How do the scribes claim that the Christ is the son of David?

As Jesus was teaching in the temple area he said, “How do the scribes claim that the Christ is the son of David? David himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said:

The Lord said to my lord, ‘Sit at my right hand    until I place your enemies under your feet.’

David himself calls him ‘lord’; so how is he his son?” The great crowd heard this with delight.

Reflections (4)

(i) Friday, Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

There is a great deal of the praise of God in today’s first reading. When Tobias healed the blindness of his father Tobit, his father, fell on his son’s neck and exclaimed, ‘Blessed be God! Blessed be his great name! Blessed be all his holy angels! Blessed be his great name for evermore!’ When Tobias went into his father’s house, he joyfully blessed God, telling his father everything about the journey he had just completed. Then Tobit set off to the gates of Nineveh to meet his daughter-in-law for the first time, ‘giving joyful praise to God as he went’. When he met, Sarah, his daughter in law, he blessed her with the words, ‘Blessed by your God for sending you to us, my daughter’. Tobit and Tobias recognized the presence of God in all that was happening around them and they gave praise and thanks to God for it. We are all probably much more familiar with the prayer of petition. When we are in difficulty to ask God to help us. We pray to God out of the depths. That is as it should be. Sometimes, we forget to praise and thank God for the blessings that come our way in life. We don’t think of God as easily in good times as in bad times. According to the gospel reading, the majority of the people heard Jesus with delight. The presence of Jesus, his deeds and his words, brought them joy, and led them to praise God. Jesus is God’s gift to us all. We can all hear him with delight. God’s gift of his Son to us gives us very good reason to praise and thank God. We say formal prayers of praise and thanks to God in the Mass. Yet, Tobit and Tobias, and the people in the gospel reading, encourage us to be spontaneous in our prayer of praise and thanks to God. It is a prayer that can arise in our hearts at any time of the day, in any place, in response to the Lord’s many, daily, blessings. In the words of today’s psalm, ‘I will praise the Lord all my days’.

And/Or

(ii) Friday, Ninth Week in Ordinary Time 

This morning’s gospel reading is very short, and most people would find it a little bit obtuse. There is an argument going on between Jesus and the Jewish scribes about the identity of the long-awaited Jewish Messiah. Jesus is confronting the teaching of the scribes according to which the Messiah will be the son of David. Jesus quotes from one of the psalms to show that the Messiah was to be not simply David’s son but David’s Lord. Although a descendant of David, Jesus, as Messiah, is declaring himself to be David’s Lord. In other words, there is more to Israel’s Messiah than the scribes appreciate. As the long awaited Jewish Messiah, Jesus is Lord, Lord of the Sabbath, Lord of David, Lord of all. One of the great confessions of the early church was, ‘Jesus is Lord’. That was a very striking confession in a Jewish context, because up until the time of Jesus, the title ‘Lord’ was given only to God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the God of Israel. This morning’s responsorial psalm, a Jewish prayer, declares ‘My soul, give praise to the Lord’, to God. Jesus is Lord of Israel’s greatest king, David; he is our Lord, Lord of each one of us, Lord of the church. Our calling is to live our lives under his Lordship, or, to put it in another way, to live as his servants, placing ourselves at the service of his purpose for our world.

 And/Or

(iii) Friday, Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

This morning’s gospel reading is short but it may sound a little confusing on first hearing it. Many Jews expected the coming Messiah to be a son of David, a descendant of David. Jesus suggests that the title, ‘Son of David’, is not adequate for God’s Messiah, for himself, Jesus. In the manner of a discussion among Rabbis, Jesus argues his case on the basis of a verse of Scripture, a verse from the Psalms. It was generally understood in the time of Jesus that King David was the author of the psalms. In one psalm, the person praying, understood to be David, refers to the coming anointed one, the coming Messiah, as ‘my Lord’. Jesus argues that if David refers to the coming Messiah as ‘my Lord’, then the Messiah cannot simply be David’s Son. He is clearly David’s Lord. Jesus is really saying that there is much more to him than people imagine. Yes, he is a son of David, a Jew from the line of David. Yet, Jesus’ full identity is not exhausted by the title Son of David. We are being reminded that there is always more to Jesus than we imagine. Our ways of thinking and speaking about Jesus will always fall short of his full identity. He is always more mysterious, more wonderful than we can possible conceive. Saint Paul speaks of ‘the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge’. It is because Jesus in the love of God in human form that he is beyond any title we could give him. Our thoughts and words never do justice to him, and that is ultimately very consoling.

 And/Or

(iv) Friday, Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

In today’s first reading, Saint Paul says that ‘all scripture is inspired by God, and can profitably be used for teaching, for refuting error, for guiding people’s lives and teaching them to be holy’. For Paul, of course, ‘all scripture’ was what we call the Old Testament, the Jewish Scriptures. In Paul’s time, there was no such thing as a New Testament, a collection of writings inspired by Jesus. If what Paul says of the Jewish Scriptures is true, we as Christians acknowledge that it is even more true of the Christian Scriptures, the four gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the letters of Paul and of other writers, the Book of Revelation. All of it can profitably be used for teaching, for guiding our lives and teaching us to be holy. We have a wonderful resource in all these Scriptures, what the Jewish and the Christian Scriptures, and it is Jesus who shows us how to interpret the Jewish Scriptures. We read the Jewish Scriptures in the light of the Christian Scriptures. In the gospel reading, we find Jesus interpreting one segment of the Jewish Scriptures, one of the Psalms. He shows that, understood properly, that particular psalm shows that Jesus is more than the Son of David; he is Lord. He has the same name that God has in the Jewish Scriptures, the name ‘Lord’. The gospels tell us that when the risen Lord appeared to his disciples, he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. The Lord is the light in which we read all the Scriptures. The more we come to know the Lord, the more we will understand God’s word to us in what Paul in today’s first reading calls ‘all scripture’. That is why when we sit down to read or pray the Scriptures it is good to firstly invite the Lord, the Spirit of the Lord, to enlighten the eyes of our minds and hearts.

 Fr. Martin Hogan.

[childrensbread]

Miracle Week: Encounter the Servant

The Last Supper

💜 A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.

Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors.

But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.

For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

You are those who have stood by me in my trials.

And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ~Luke 22:24-30 ✝️

Devotional

What's God been saying to you this Holy Week? If nothing stands out, don't worry. You're in the right place. This space is for encounter. As you commit time to connecting with God, He'll meet with you.

Pause and breathe. Allow God's love to refresh your mind. Gently recenter your gaze onto Him. Release your fear and receive His grace.

God's mercies are fresh for you today.

We've been pondering Jesus' miracles and observing how they unveil God's grand redemptive plans. In studying Christ's miracles, we've encountered our Maker. He's the God who loves us, provides for us and saves us.

Today, we're contemplating the God who serves us. Creation's King becoming a servant is perhaps the most unexpected miracle of all.

Although there's no supernatural phenomena in today's passage, set during the Last Supper, one of Jesus' lines stands out as extraordinary: "I am among you as one who serves."

It's a bombshell which startlingly overturns our human-made systems of order and hierarchy.

As Jesus, Lord of all, stands in the cross' shadow, hours before His arrest in Gethsemane, He declares Himself a servant. The greatest makes Himself the least. In this moment, every other miracle is reframed. Our perspective is upended. We realize Jesus' supernatural power was never employed to impress, belittle or scare us. It was channeled towards serving us. Christ's miracles were an expression of His love. They were vehicles to help us know Him: Relational invitations rather than heavenly magic tricks.

Let that land. Jesus' miracles were to serve you. It's a breathtaking thought which sets the entire Gospel message alight: Everything Jesus did was motivated by His love for you.

How can we respond to such scandalous generosity? The answer is to follow Christ's example.

Serving others is one of the miracles of God's kingdom we can actively participate in. It shocks our individualistic culture and transforms us in the process. If you ever feel like you have nothing to offer, think again. By helping others, you share Christ with them. He's the most precious gift this universe can offer.

The miracle of servanthood goes even deeper. Ponder this from Matthew 25:

"The righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ..." "The King will reply, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."

Whenever you give yourself for others, you serve God Himself. Servanthood is a direct line to Jesus and a profound form of worship.

Stop and reflect. How can you reflect Christ's servanthood this Maundy Thursday? As you help others, remember this reward: Christ confers on you His kingdom. It's the greatest privilege there is. 💜🙏🙂

Source: Glorify App

Image: Google

My Glorify Referral Link: https://share.glorify-app.com/MRSPINO777 ✝️

#jesusfreak #bibletruth #godislove #jesusisthelightoftheworld #jesusneverfails #godisgood #bible reflection #follow jesus #biblescripture #bibleverse #christian motivation #christian inspiration #christian faith #faithoverfear #god is faithful #bible reading #biblestudy #easter #jesustakethewheel #jesussaves #jesuschrist #faith in jesus

[dailyaudiobiblechronological]

9/12/2022 DAB Chronological Transcription

Ezekiel 46 - 48

Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible Chronological, I'm China. Today is the 12th day of September, welcome. So great to be here with you today. As we are blazing through the month of September, the weather has been so nice. So beautiful. I mean, we had like two weeks of straight rain, really like straight downpours all day long, which really just cooled everything off. And we moved over the summer and our backyard is filled with all these really beautiful old trees and so now they're starting to turn and our yard is being filled with leaves. And I feel like the blip of summer that Nashville gets is almost here. So it's like you have to really watch for it or else you will blink and you will miss it. I hope that wherever you are, I feel like I've yet to meet someone. When you ask them what their favorite season is, if fall isn't a first answer, it's probably the second. So I don't know anyone who doesn't really like fall. So wherever you are, I'm hoping that if the seasons are changing, I know we have people listening all over the world. And I'm aware that seasons are different in different parts of the world. So whatever the weather is outside, may it be beautiful and may it be pleasing to you. That's all I have for you. Okay, today we continue on in the Book of Ezekiel. Slowly but surely we are making our way through it and we are in chapters 46 - 48 today.

Commentary

How fitting is that? So we are reading about Israel finally being restored, finally redeemed, and all these generations later, right? This is a prophecy of the Dead Sea becoming a place that will once live, where there will be fresh water, where not animals but fish will live. Which is crazy because every time we go to the Dead Sea, we see how much the waters are receding. And I just remember this prophecy and even to the point of it, talking about fruit trees bearing fruit around, it is crazy because if you've ever been to the Dead Sea, you're like trees. What are we talking about the same place? And it just reminds you that nothing is too hard for the Lord. Even that, we focus on that like, wow, I can really increase my faith here and the things that I'm believing the Lord to do for me. And then boundaries of the land that will be divided among the twelve tribes of Israel with their inheritance, and then coming all the way down to the gates of the new city. And I love that what is sealed up in today's reading is the name of the city, from that time on will be, the Lord is there. And if that just doesn't proclaim the hand of God and his restoration and his heart towards the people, His, God's people. I'm not really sure what does we've read this entire year we've been in the Old Testament, which is no secret, and we have read time and time again of it's a time for creation, time for building. There's a time of death, there's a time of destruction, there's a time of rebuilding, there's a time of turning towards the Lord and turning away from the Lord. We're creatures of habit, and we are people who are in need of a Savior. And I think that's something that really hit me a couple of years ago when I started chronological. I read it once when I was still doing Daily Audio Bible Teens, and I got to the end of it and was like, wow, there really was a need for a savior. That wasn't something that really clicked for me until I read chronologically. And so as I'm reading through every single part of Scripture, that is a reminder of where the Lord has delivered from, I'm just in awe of the fact that God would be so gracious, be so kind and have the heart to restore. And then obviously we're not there quite yet in Scripture. His heart would be to restore and his heart would be I will send you my only Son.

Prayer

And so, God, I just thank you for your word. I thank you that we are constantly seeing your heart for us and how much you love us and how much you care for us. And I thank you that we have Your Word to remind us of Your nature and your character in your heart when we so quickly forget. And God, I pray that we would be people who do not forget your works, your hand, and your benefits. And Lord, I also just thank you for the fact that we are in need of a Savior, and in that need you provided you sent us Your Son, you gave us a Savior who has overcome the world, who has reconciled the way back to you. And through Him we have eternal life, we have salvation, we are saved. And so, God, I just thank you for that. I thank you that, that's no small thing. I thank you that we now have so much more than what we could even comprehend available to us. So God, I just pray that you give us eyes to see and ears to hear. I thank you for your word today. And it is in Your name we pray, amen.

Announcements

Dailyaudiobible.com is our website. That's the place of connection so you can see what's happening here in the community, so be sure to check that out. We also have a place where you can get connected as well, which is Facebook.com/dailyaudiobiblechronological, oh that's a mouthful. And you can check out what's happening there. And it's just another great way to get connected, stay connected. And that is all for today. I'm China, I love you and I'll be waiting for you here, tomorrow.

Community Prayer Line

Good evening, Daily Audio Bible community. This is Diane Olive and Jeff Brown from Newburgh, Indiana. Shalom. Shalom. We're putting our logs on the fire with the DABC community. And Jill had the reading for today. And I want to join with Darby in Africa for praying for Big Joe. He's trying to reconcile his family. And I'm adding my prayers to yours, Derby and Big Joe, I'm praying for you. I know that God will be with you and as you endeavor to bring your family together. And I want to thank Jill. You touched my heart and I have nothing to say except I will obey. And I think that the lesson for this day was so strong in me, I'm going to take a few days to ponder it and I'm going to start the work in me. And thank you, Jill. I'm going to go back and read this over and over and over again to get the lesson that the Lord wants to teach me, that I need to start the work in me and not point the finger in condemnation against other people till I've been one of the fat sheep. And I have to repent of that. Please forgive me, Lord. And I'm joining Weight Watchers. This is my first.

Jill, this is Adrian from Maryland with Mighty Tortoise. This is September 9. Thank you so much for your words of encouragement to listen to the Spirit and reach out to others as the Spirit prompts. I actually just went through this myself this week. For several days, God had been prompted, had been like just pushing a friend, a long ago friend into my mind. I just kept thinking about it, okay, there must be a reason. Finally I said, okay, Lord, I think you want me to pray for her. So I started praying for her and then all of a sudden he started prompting me and pushing and not just prompting, he was pushing me to send her a note. Finally yesterday I was like, okay, Lord, can I just finish my breakfast before I write the note? So finally so I got my breakfast done and I write the note. And when I took my Yorkie Maxie out for a walk, we dropped it in the mailbox. I'm just praying now that she will hear my encouragement and in the spirit that it was meant. I just prayed for her health and her spiritual health and peace and for her physical health. If anything was wrong, that God please heal it, and then we'll just see what happens. She hasn't responded to my notes over the years, so I've given up trying to head her a note when Tom died, and she never responded to that. So I don't know. So I had to give it to God. But thank you so much for the encouragement this morning, Joe. That meant a lot to me. It kind of prompted me to believe and understand that, yes, I think that was God prompting me. I already knew that, but it just helped confirm that. So thank you so much, Joe. We love you again. Your friend, Adrian from Maryland.

Hey, DABC family. This is Adam Cnablock from Michigan. I'm calling in to pray for my sister Amanda from Colorado. My word. I totally get a little bit of what your husband is going through with losing his job and trying to find a new one. That is tough when he's trying to provide. And I just pray that God will open the right doors for him and that he will just trust in the Lord with all his heart. Not lean on his own understanding in all his ways. He'll acknowledge him knowing that God will make straight his path and also praying for your son that he will have the ability to go back to school. That the teachers would be more understanding of his autism. Because I happen to be, believe it or not, autistic myself. I'm 25 years old and I've had to overcome a lot of things and it's not an easy road. People can be very cruel and misunderstanding at times. So I just pray, father God, please give Amanda and the family some peace. Help her husband to finding the right job that you have designed specifically for him, and I pray for her son that answers would be given and that you would help him to be able to go back to school to where he can overcome things and just thrive in Your powerful name. Jesus, please just help this family draw them closer together more than ever before. Let them see your mighty hand at work, that they will be able to do it all. And after all is said and done, they will reclaim that you alone, Lord our God, that you are worthy of praying for all you do. In Jesus name, amen.

[lordgodjehovahsway]

Numbers 31: God Commands Moses To Take Vengeance On Midianites

1 The Lord said to Moses, 

2 “Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites. After that, you will be gathered to your people.”

3 So Moses said to the people, “Arm some of your men to go to war against the Midianites so that they may carry out the Lord’s vengeance on them. 

4 Send into battle a thousand men from each of the tribes of Israel.” 

5 So twelve thousand men armed for battle, a thousand from each tribe, were supplied from the clans of Israel. 

6 Moses sent them into battle, a thousand from each tribe, along with Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, who took with him articles from the sanctuary and the trumpets for signaling.

7 They fought against Midian, as the Lord commanded Moses, and killed every man. 

8 Among their victims were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba—the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword. 

9 The Israelites captured the Midianite women and children and took all the Midianite herds, flocks and goods as plunder. 

10 They burned all the towns where the Midianites had settled, as well as all their camps. 

11 They took all the plunder and spoils, including the people and animals, 

12 and brought the captives, spoils and plunder to Moses and Eleazar the priest and the Israelite assembly at their camp on the plains of Moab, by the Jordan across from Jericho.

13 Moses, Eleazar the priest and all the leaders of the community went to meet them outside the camp. 

14 Moses was angry with the officers of the army—the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—who returned from the battle.

15 “Have you allowed all the women to live?” he asked them. 

16 “They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice and enticed the Israelites to be unfaithful to the Lord in the Peor incident, so that a plague struck the Lord’s people. 

17 Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, 

18 but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.

19 “Anyone who has killed someone or touched someone who was killed must stay outside the camp seven days. On the third and seventh days you must purify yourselves and your captives. 

20 Purify every garment as well as everything made of leather, goat hair or wood.”

21 Then Eleazar the priest said to the soldiers who had gone into battle, “This is what is required by the law that the Lord gave Moses: 

22 Gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, lead 

23 and anything else that can withstand fire must be put through the fire, and then it will be clean. But it must also be purified with the water of cleansing. And whatever cannot withstand fire must be put through that water. 

24 On the seventh day wash your clothes and you will be clean. Then you may come into the camp.”

Dividing the Spoils

25 The Lord said to Moses, 

26 “You and Eleazar the priest and the family heads of the community are to count all the people and animals that were captured. 

27 Divide the spoils equally between the soldiers who took part in the battle and the rest of the community. 

28 From the soldiers who fought in the battle, set apart as tribute for the Lord one out of every five hundred, whether people, cattle, donkeys or sheep. 

29 Take this tribute from their half share and give it to Eleazar the priest as the Lord’s part. 

30 From the Israelites’ half, select one out of every fifty, whether people, cattle, donkeys, sheep or other animals. Give them to the Levites, who are responsible for the care of the Lord’s tabernacle.” 

31 So Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the Lord commanded Moses.

32 The plunder remaining from the spoils that the soldiers took was 675,000 sheep, 

33 72,000 cattle, 

34 61,000 donkeys 

35 and 32,000 women who had never slept with a man.

36 The half share of those who fought in the battle was:

337,500 sheep, 

37 of which the tribute for the Lord was 675;

38 36,000 cattle, of which the tribute for the Lord was 72;

39 30,500 donkeys, of which the tribute for the Lord was 61;

40 16,000 people, of whom the tribute for the Lord was 32.

41 Moses gave the tribute to Eleazar the priest as the Lord’s part, as the Lord commanded Moses.

42 The half belonging to the Israelites, which Moses set apart from that of the fighting men— 

43 the community’s half—was 337,500 sheep, 

44 36,000 cattle, 

45 30,500 donkeys 

46 and 16,000 people. 

47 From the Israelites’ half, Moses selected one out of every fifty people and animals, as the Lord commanded him, and gave them to the Levites, who were responsible for the care of the Lord’s tabernacle.

48 Then the officers who were over the units of the army—the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—went to Moses 

49 and said to him, “Your servants have counted the soldiers under our command, and not one is missing. 

50 So we have brought as an offering to the Lord the gold articles each of us acquired—armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings and necklaces—to make atonement for ourselves before the Lord.”

51 Moses and Eleazar the priest accepted from them the gold—all the crafted articles. 

52 All the gold from the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds that Moses and Eleazar presented as a gift to the Lord weighed 16,750 shekels. 

53 Each soldier had taken plunder for himself. 

54 Moses and Eleazar the priest accepted the gold from the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds and brought it into the tent of meeting as a memorial for the Israelites before the Lord.

#Lord God Jehovah #Holy Bible #Numbers ch.31 #Moses #Joshua #Eleazar #Israelites #Revenge #Vengeance #Commands #Midianites #Spoils #War #Battle #Share #Divide

[sliceocheese]

🍪, 🌼, 🙃, 🦋, 🔮, and 💌

(U don’t have to answer all of them)

oh no I will answer them all >:]

🍪: if you were a cookie what cookie would you be

white macadamia nut, y? All the boys in my life think it’s a mistake once they realized it was kinda weird

🌼: what’s the latest thing you said out loud

“great question” (I was replying to this question out loud lmao)

🙃: what’s a weird fact that you know

we have a cult in our home town called “the twelve tribes” or whatever and it was started by a WHITE DUDE and their main belief is that the 12 tribes of Israel got to America some how??? (The 12 tribes of Israel are from the Middle East the cult was started by a… white… dude)

🦋:describe yourself in three words

Weird gay cat

🔮: dream job

… yes

(I have thousands, mostly cus I could do it better than the person doing it rn)

💌: do you talk to yourself

yes! Out loud, in my head, with the limited asl and French I know, backwards, spelling it all out, 100%

(These are all actual ways I talk to myself 💀)

#answer da ask #🍚 #ask game

[officialyourdailyinspiration]

The Wonderful Stream

1 Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and there! I saw water flowing out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east. The water flowed out toward the right side of the temple to the south of the altar. 2 He brought me by way of the north gate and around the outside to the outer gate facing east; there I saw water trickling from the southern side. 3 When he continued eastward with a measuring cord in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and had me wade through the water; it was ankle-deep. 4 He measured off another thousand cubits and once more had me wade through the water; it was up to the knees. He measured another thousand cubits and had me wade through the water; it was up to my waist. 5 Once more he measured off a thousand cubits. Now it was a river I could not wade across. The water had risen so high, I would have to swim—a river that was impassable. 6 Then he asked me, “Do you see this, son of man?” He brought me to the bank of the river and had me sit down. 7 As I was returning, I saw along the bank of the river a great many trees on each side. 8 He said to me, “This water flows out into the eastern district, runs down into the Arabah and empties into the polluted waters of the sea to freshen them. 9 Wherever it flows, the river teems with every kind of living creature; fish will abound. Where these waters flow they refresh; everything lives where the river goes. 10 Fishermen will stand along its shore from En-gedi to En-eglaim; it will become a place for drying nets, and it will abound with as many kinds of fish as the Great Sea. 11 Its marshes and swamps shall not be made fresh, but will be left for salt. 12 Along each bank of the river every kind of fruit tree will grow; their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fresh fruit because the waters of the river flow out from the sanctuary. Their fruit is used for food, and their leaves for healing.”

The New Israel

Boundaries of the Land. 13 Thus says the Lord God: These are the boundaries of the land which you shall apportion among the twelve tribes of Israel, with Joseph having two portions. 14 You shall apportion it equally because I swore to give it to your ancestors as a heritage; this land, then, is your heritage. 15 These are the borders of the land: on the northern side, from the Great Sea in the direction of Hethlon, Lebo-hamath to Zedad, 16 Berothah, and Sibraim, along the frontiers of Damascus and Hamath, to Hazar-enon, on the border of Hauran. 17 Thus the border extends from the sea to Hazar-enon, north of the border of Damascus, the frontier of Hamath to the north. This is the northern boundary. 18 The eastern border shall be between Damascus and Hauran, while the Jordan will form the border between Gilead and the land of Israel down to the eastern sea as far as Tamar. This is the eastern boundary. 19 The southern border shall go southward from Tamar to the waters of Meribath-kadesh, on to the Wadi of Egypt, and into the Great Sea. This is the southern boundary. 20 The western border shall have the Great Sea as a boundary as far as a point opposite Lebo-hamath. This is the western boundary.

The Northern Portions

21 You shall divide this land according to the tribes of Israel. 22 You shall allot it as heritage for yourselves and for the resident aliens in your midst who have fathered children among you. You shall treat them like native Israelites; along with you they shall receive a heritage among the tribes of Israel. 23 In whatever tribe the resident alien lives, there you shall assign his heritage—oracle of the Lord God. — Ezekiel 47 | New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE) New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Cross References: Genesis 2:9; Genesis 13:10-11; Genesis 14:15; Genesis 48:5; Exodus 15:25; Numbers 34:3; Numbers 34:7,8 and 9; Judges 3:3; Deuteronomy 1:8; Deuteronomy 3:17; Deuteronomy 10:19; Deuteronomy 29:23; Isaiah 11:9; Ezekiel 8:6; Ezekiel 40:3; Ezekiel 40:35; Ezekiel 45:1; Matthew 4:19; John 4:14; Acts 11:18; Revelation 22:1-2; Revelation 22:17

#waters from under the Temple #new Israel #the borders of the land #Ezekiel 47 #Book of Ezekiel #Old Testament #NABRE #New American Bible Revised Edition Bible #Confraternity of Christian Doctrine Inc.

[wisdomfish]

Water Flowing from the Temple

When he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar. Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side.

Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand, the man measured a thousand cubits, and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. And he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?”

Then he led me back to the bank of the river. As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other. And he said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and enters the sea; when the water flows into the sea, the water will become fresh. And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From Engedi to Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea. But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt. And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.”

Thus says the Lord God: “This is the boundary by which you shall divide the land for inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph shall have two portions. And you shall divide equally what I swore to give to your fathers. This land shall fall to you as your inheritance.

“This shall be the boundary of the land: On the north side, from the Great Sea by way of Hethlon to Lebo-hamath, and on to Zedad, Berothah, Sibraim (which lies on the border between Damascus and Hamath), as far as Hazer-hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran. So the boundary shall run from the sea to Hazar-enan, which is on the northern border of Damascus, with the border of Hamath to the north. This shall be the north side.

“On the east side, the boundary shall run between Hauran and Damascus; along the Jordan between Gilead and the land of Israel; to the eastern sea and as far as Tamar. This shall be the east side.

“On the south side, it shall run from Tamar as far as the waters of Meribah-kadesh, from there along the Brook of Egypt to the Great Sea. This shall be the south side.

“On the west side, the Great Sea shall be the boundary to a point opposite Lebo-hamath. This shall be the west side.

“So you shall divide this land among you according to the tribes of Israel. You shall allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the sojourners who reside among you and have had children among you. They shall be to you as native-born children of Israel. With you they shall be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. In whatever tribe the sojourner resides, there you shall assign him his inheritance, declares the Lord God.

Ezekiel 47:1-23

#temple #lebo-hamath #meribah-kadesh #hazer-batticon #sibraim

[allscripture]

Jeroboam Rebels Against Solomon

26 Also, Jeroboam son of Nebat rebelled against the king. He was one of Solomon’s officials, an Ephraimite from Zeredah, and his mother was a widow named Zeruah.

27 Here is the account of how he rebelled against the king: Solomon had built the terraces and had filled in the gap in the wall of the city of David his father. 

28 Now Jeroboam was a man of standing, and when Solomon saw how well the young man did his work, he put him in charge of the whole labor force of the tribes of Joseph.

29 About that time Jeroboam was going out of Jerusalem, and Ahijah the prophet of Shiloh met him on the way, wearing a new cloak. The two of them were alone out in the country,

30 and Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing and tore it into twelve pieces.

31 Then he said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces for yourself, for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘See, I am going to tear the kingdom out of Solomon’s hand and give you ten tribes. 

32 But for the sake of my servant David and the city of Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, he will have one tribe.

33 I will do this because they have forsaken me and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Molek the god of the Ammonites, and have not walked in obedience to me, nor done what is right in my eyes, nor kept my decrees and laws as David, Solomon’s father, did.

34 “‘But I will not take the whole kingdom out of Solomon’s hand; I have made him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of David my servant, whom I chose and who obeyed my commands and decrees.

35 I will take the kingdom from his son’s hands and give you ten tribes. 

36 I will give one tribe to his son so that David my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city where I chose to put my Name. 

37 However, as for you, I will take you, and you will rule over all that your heart desires; you will be king over Israel. 

38 If you do whatever I command you and walk in obedience to me and do what is right in my eyes by obeying my decrees and commands, as David my servant did, I will be with you. I will build you a dynasty as enduring as the one I built for David and will give Israel to you. 

39 I will humble David’s descendants because of this, but not forever.’”

40 Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam, but Jeroboam fled to Egypt, to Shishak the king, and stayed there until Solomon’s death.

1 Kings 11:26-40 (NIV)

#Solomon #Jeroboam #Israel Split in Two Kingdoms #1 Kings #1 Kings11 #NIV #johee-daseenga

[steveezekiel]

UNITED PRAYERS

23. "And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

24. So when they heard that, THEY RAISED THEIR VOICE TO GOD WITH ONE ACCORD and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them."

Acts 4:23,24 (NKJV)

• God wants the believers to walk in Unions.

- Every believer should belong to a family, a company, a union, a group, or whatever.

- When the APOSTLES were challenged and threatened not to preach in the name of Jesus Christ again, What did they do?

THEY went to their company, their companions, and reported what happened to them, and THEY prayed together in unison.

• God sets the solitary in families, that is, He places the lonely in families (Psalm 68:6).

- The devil perpetrated evils in the world, only those who abide where God wanted them are safe.

- When God wanted to bless, He blesses through spiritual families.

- When a family comes together to pray in unison, oneness, on a matter, it attracts GOD'S attention.

HE even promises to answer when a company of believers come together in His name, that He would be there in their midst: "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20).

WHAT you cannot handle alone can be unitedly handled in prayer.

5. "Peter was therefore kept in prison, BUT CONSTANT PRAYER WAS OFFERED TO GOD FOR HIM BY THE CHURCH.

12. So, when he [Peter] had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, WHERE MANY WERE GATHERED PRAYING."

Acts 12:5,12 (NKJV)

• Believers needed one another, both for spiritual reasons and that of natural side of life, thus we are admonished: "NOT FORSAKING THE ASSEMBLING OF OURSELVES TOGETHER, as is the manner of some, BUT EXHORTING ONE ANOTHER, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:25).

- If God has planted you in a place, Church family, abide there that you may prosper and not be a prey in the hand of the enemy.

IF you did allow the devil to take you away from your place, your spiritual family, you may later regret.

- The devil knows the importance of being under a spiritual authority and covering, and does know the power of unity and oneness.

IF the devil wanted to destroy an individual, he will deceive him or her to leave their place of coverings.

- God has planted you in a spiritual family to bless you, protect you, preserve you, and cause you to be fruitful.

- You cannot afford to be an orphan!

IF you do not have a family, Or company you can run to, when challenges of Life come, it means you are not safe.

- A sheep that strayed away from the fold may be a prey in the hand of the predators.

IF you stand alone to fight the devil, you may not win.

- You have to line up with God to overcome in this world of darkness.

GOD has put every believer in a family, place to be and stay.

IF you failed to identify your family, group or company, you may become a prey and die prematurely, but that would not be your portion in Jesus' name.

• Those who despised God's order, who do not have a family, may be victims of evil.

AS you gather with your group, family or company to fellowship and pray together, God will honour your gatherings and granted whatever may be your requests.

- Learn to respect the gathering of the saints by being a part of it.

WHEN the APOSTLES were challenged and threatened, they went back to their company, family, and handled the problems in prayer.

- Do you have or belong to a family?

IF you do not have a family, locate one and be identified with them.

• As I concluded, the Bible talks about the people of Laish who were quiet, peaceful, and secure.

THEY live a carefree life! They had no ties with anyone!

- These people were invaded by the tribe of Dan, one of the twelve tribes of Israel.

THEY had sent spies there, THEY discovered the people did not have ties with anyone, and they live a carefree life.

7. So the five men departed and went to Laish. They saw the people who were there, HOW THEY DWELT SAFELY, in the manner of the Sidonians, QUIET AND SECURE. There were no rulers in the land who might put them to shame for anything [they were carefree]. THEY WERE FAR FROM THE SIDONIANS, AND THEY HAD NO TIES WITH ANYONE.

8. Then the spies came back to their brethren at Zorah and Eshtaol, and their brethren said to them, “What is your report?”

9. So they said, “Arise, let us go up against them. For we have seen the land, and indeed it is very good. Would you do nothing? Do not hesitate to go, and enter to possess the land.

10. When you go, YOU WILL COME TO A SECURE PEOPLE AND A LARGE LAND. For God has given it into your hands, a place where there is no lack of anything that is on the earth.”

Judges 18:7-10 (NKJV)

- Someone who claims to be a believer, who do not have a spiritual family, a company, and lives a carefree Life—who is not serious with his or her spiritual life, can easily be preyed on By the enemy, the devil.

27. "Then, with Micah's idols and his priest, the men of Dan came to the town of Laish, whose people were peaceful and secure. THEY ATTACKED WITH SWORDS AND BURNED THE TOWN TO THE GROUND.

28. THERE WAS NO ONE TO RESCUE THE PEOPLE, FOR THEY LIVED A GREAT DISTANCE FROM SIDON AND HAD NO ALLIES NEARBY. This happened in the valley near Beth-rehob."

Judges 18:27,29 (NLT)

• You will not be a prey in Jesus' name.

Peace!

#christianity #gospel #christian living #christian blog #the bible #devotion #jesus #faith #my writing #prayer

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

29th July >> Mass Readings (Except USA)

Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus 

on

Saturday, Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time.

Saturday, Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical Colour: White: A (1))

(Readings for the feria (Saturday))

(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Saturday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)

First Reading Exodus 24:3-8 This is the blood of the Covenant that the Lord has made with you.

Moses went and told the people all the commands of the Lord and all the ordinances. In answer, all the people said with one voice, ‘We will observe all the commands that the Lord has decreed.’ Moses put all the commands of the Lord into writing, and early next morning he built an altar at the foot of the mountain, with twelve standing-stones for the twelve tribes of Israel. Then he directed certain young Israelites to offer holocausts and to immolate bullocks to the Lord as communion sacrifices. Half of the blood Moses took up and put into basins, the other half he cast on the altar. And taking the Book of the Covenant he read it to the listening people, and they said, ‘We will observe all that the Lord has decreed; we will obey.’ Then Moses took the blood and cast it towards the people. This’ he said ‘is the blood of the Covenant that the Lord has made with you, containing all these rules.’

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 49(50):1-2,5-6,14-15

R/ Pay your sacrifice of thanksgiving to God.

The God of gods, the Lord, has spoken and summoned the earth, from the rising of the sun to its setting. Out of Zion’s perfect beauty he shines.

R/ Pay your sacrifice of thanksgiving to God.

‘Summon before me my people who made covenant with me by sacrifice.’ The heavens proclaim his justice, for he, God, is the judge.

R/ Pay your sacrifice of thanksgiving to God.

Pay your sacrifice of thanksgiving to God and render him your votive offerings. Call on me in the day of distress. I will free you and you shall honour me.’

R/ Pay your sacrifice of thanksgiving to God.

Gospel Acclamation John 8:12

Alleluia, alleluia! I am the light of the world, says the Lord; anyone who follows me will have the light of life. Alleluia!

Either:

(The following reading is proper to the memorial, and must be used even if you have otherwise chosen to use the ferial readings)

Gospel John 11:19-27 I am the resurrection and the life.

Many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to sympathise with them over their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus had come she went to meet him. Mary remained sitting in the house. Martha said to Jesus, ‘If you had been here, my brother would not have died, but I know that, even now, whatever you ask of God, he will grant you.’ ‘Your brother’ said Jesus to her ‘will rise again.’ Martha said, ‘I know he will rise again at the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus said:

‘I am the resurrection and the life. If anyone believes in me, even though he dies he will live, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’

‘Yes, Lord,’ she said ‘I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into this world.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Or:

(The following reading is proper to the memorial, and must be used even if you have otherwise chosen to use the ferial readings)

Gospel Luke 10:38-42 Martha works; Mary listens.

Jesus came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord’s feet and listened to him speaking. Now Martha who was distracted with all the serving said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered: ‘Martha, Martha,’ he said ‘you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

-----------------------------

Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus 

(Liturgical Colour: White: A (1))

(Readings for the memorial)

(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Saturday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)

First Reading 1 John 4:7-16 Let us love one another, since love comes from God.

My dear people, let us love one another since love comes from God and everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Anyone who fails to love can never have known God, because God is love. God’s love for us was revealed when God sent into the world his only Son so that we could have life through him; this is the love I mean: not our love for God, but God’s love for us when he sent his Son to be the sacrifice that takes our sins away.

My dear people, since God has loved us so much, we too should love one another. No one has ever seen God; but as long as we love one another God will live in us and his love will be complete in us. We can know that we are living in him and he is living in us because he lets us share his Spirit. We ourselves saw and we testify that the Father sent his Son as saviour of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him, and he in God. We ourselves have known and put our faith in God’s love towards ourselves. God is love and anyone who lives in love lives in God, and God lives in him.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 33(34):2-11

R/ I will bless the Lord at all times. or R/ Taste and see that the Lord is good.

I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise always on my lips; in the Lord my soul shall make its boast. The humble shall hear and be glad.

R/ I will bless the Lord at all times. or R/ Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Glorify the Lord with me. Together let us praise his name. I sought the Lord and he answered me; from all my terrors he set me free.

R/ I will bless the Lord at all times. or R/ Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Look towards him and be radiant; let your faces not be abashed. This poor man called, the Lord heard him and rescued him from all his distress.

R/ I will bless the Lord at all times. or R/ Taste and see that the Lord is good.

The angel of the Lord is encamped around those who revere him, to rescue them. Taste and see that the Lord is good. He is happy who seeks refuge in him.

R/ I will bless the Lord at all times. or R/ Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Revere the Lord, you his saints. They lack nothing, those who revere him. Strong lions suffer want and go hungry but those who seek the Lord lack no blessing.

R/ I will bless the Lord at all times. or R/ Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Gospel Acclamation John 8:12

Alleluia, alleluia! I am the light of the world, says the Lord; anyone who follows me will have the light of life. Alleluia!

Either:

Gospel John 11:19-27 I am the resurrection and the life.

Many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to sympathise with them over their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus had come she went to meet him. Mary remained sitting in the house. Martha said to Jesus, ‘If you had been here, my brother would not have died, but I know that, even now, whatever you ask of God, he will grant you.’ ‘Your brother’ said Jesus to her ‘will rise again.’ Martha said, ‘I know he will rise again at the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus said:

‘I am the resurrection and the life. If anyone believes in me, even though he dies he will live, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’

‘Yes, Lord,’ she said ‘I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into this world.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Or:

Gospel Luke 10:38-42 Martha works; Mary listens.

Jesus came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord’s feet and listened to him speaking. Now Martha who was distracted with all the serving said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered: ‘Martha, Martha,’ he said ‘you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.