"God established a time for his promise and a time for their fulfillment. The time for promise was in the time of the prophets, until John the Baptist; from John until the end is the time of fulfillment.
God, who is faithful, put himself in our debt, not by receiving anything but by promising so much. A promise was not sufficient for him; he chose to commit himself fin writing as well, as it were making a contract of hi promises. He wanted us to see the way in which his promises were redeemed when he began to discharge them. And so the time of the prophets was, as we have often said, the foretelling of the promises.
He promised eternal salvation, everlasting happiness with the angels, an immortal inheritance, endless glory, the joyful vision of his face, his holy dwelling in heaven, after his resurrection from the dead no further fear of dying. This is as it were, his final promise, the goal of all our striving.. When we reach it we shall ask for nothing more.
But as for the way in which we are to arrive at our final goal, he has revealed this also, by promise and prophecy.
He has promised men divinity, mortals immortality, sinners justification, the poor rising to glory.
But because God's promises seemed impossible to men, God not only made a written contract with men to win their belief but also established a mediator of his good faith, not a prince or angel or archangel, but his only Son. He wanted through his Son, to show us and give us the way he would lead us to the goal he has promised.
It was not enough to make his Son our guide to the way; he made him the way itself, that you might travel with him as leader, and by him as the way." St. Augustine
Here are a few words from Pope BEnedict on this Wednesday
""Our whole personal, familial and social existence passes through this dimension of waiting. Waiting is something that is present in a 1,000 situations, from the smallest and most banal to the most important, which draw us in completely and in the deepest way. Among these, we think of a husband and wife waiting for a child; of waiting for a relative or friend who is coming from far away to visit us; we think of a young person waiting to know his grade on a major exam or the outcome of a job interview; in romantic relationships, of waiting to meet the beloved person, of waiting for a letter, or of receiving forgiveness... One could say that man is alive so long as he waits, so long as hope is alive in his heart. And man is able to recognize that what he waits for and what he hopes for discloses something about his moral and spiritual "stature."
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
St Nick
Isaiah 40:1-11; Ps 96 Th Lord our God comes with Power; Mt 18:12-14
Click here for the origin of santa claus
Today we celebrate the feast of St. Nick, the bishop of the 4th century that was known for his charity. It was on this day growing up that we children in the Berger home would rise real early for we knew there would be a special treat for us on the table.
When we entered the kitchen, there would be 12 bowls laid out overflowing with candy, chocolate and otherwise. We would quickly select the bowl we thought held the most candy in it and then go hide it so the our siblings wouldn't get their fingers on it.
Funny thing about this reality. We were supposed to have learned about charity and giving and yet we all were a little bit selfish in receiving, wanting ours and not wanting others to take from us what we received.
I guess we are all that way at moments. We can all be a bit greedy with the gifts we receive never realizing or realizing only later that it is a gift undeserved and how foolish it is to claim it as our own when we all know gifts are meant to be given not hoarded.
Our PArents tried to teach us that charity is sweet. Good ole St. Nick, may he continue to intercede for us that we may learn how to generously receive and thus generously give in return.
Here are a few words from Pope BEnedict concerning John the Baptist
"Therefore, John’s appeal goes far beyond and deeper than a call to a sober lifestyle: it is a call for inner change, starting with the recognition and confession of our sins. As we prepare for Christmas, it is important that we find time for self contemplation and carry out an honest assessment of our lives. May we be enlightened by a ray of the light that comes from Bethlehem, the light of He who is "the Greatest" and made himself small, he who is "the Strongest" but became weak."
We look to the gospel today and Jesus asks for the "opinion" of his disciples. We are his disciples so perhaps he is asking us what is our opinion.
What do you think about this shepherd who leaves the 99 to search for the one who strays? Before you think about that notice that the JEsus tells us that the shepherd leaves the 99 in the hills, that is on the heights.
The shepherd doesn't abandon the 99 recklessly but rather he makes sure they are safe and sound; they are away from the wolves in the valley. In the hills, on the heights close to the heavens.
Only then does he search diligently so that he might bring the stray upward as well. In deed the one who strays is the one who goes down but in Christ we are all raised to new heights and thus given a cause to rejoice.
JEsus always brings us up, lifts us high, raises us to the Father.
The one who is from on high comes low to us so that w eight be raised, elevated to new kind of living and loving.
This beautiful story truly encapsulates the incarnation, the one on high comes low so that we who are lowly can be raised and in being raised the heavens rejoice.
As Isaiah proclaims, "in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care."
Have you been raised lately? Have you been carried in his arms? If so then rejoice and remember do not entertain false joys always keep your joy real.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Fool proof
Isaiah 35:1-10; ps 85 our God will come to save us; Luke 5:17-26
Advent offers some of the most profoundly hopeful and beautiful readings. As we read from Isaiah the entire landscape of our lives is turned upside down and beauty and life rise to meet us.
Isaiah invites us in for a stroll to see what life can be: "the desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will bloom; abundant flowers and rejoicing with joyful songs..."eyes will be opened, ears will hear, lame will leap, the mute shall sing; streams will burst forth. A highway will be there called the holy wAy, and no one unclean shall pass nor fools go astray. It is for those who have a journey to make and on it the redeemed will walk. Those ransomed shall be crowned with everlasting joy"
Wow! It seems like a Disney special. The best part is that it is "fool proof" for even fools can't go astray.
Amazing.
We just have to acknowledge our own need and be willing to make the journey with one step at a time.
It is a journey of a thousand steps but each one is made in the mercy we seek.
Walk in mercy today both seeking and giving: it us fool proof!
Besides. Look at the gospel. We read these words, "Jesus knew their thoughts."
Who do we think we are kidding? There is no need for pretending, no need for pretense, no need for hiding, no need for putting on air, there is no need for any of that stuff! There is only need for mercy: seeking it and giving it.
We are not as strong as we think we are and thAt is why we lay ourselves before the feet of Jesus.
Only then cAn we hear "rise and walk" only then can we begin the journey home.
Advent offers some of the most profoundly hopeful and beautiful readings. As we read from Isaiah the entire landscape of our lives is turned upside down and beauty and life rise to meet us.
Isaiah invites us in for a stroll to see what life can be: "the desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will bloom; abundant flowers and rejoicing with joyful songs..."eyes will be opened, ears will hear, lame will leap, the mute shall sing; streams will burst forth. A highway will be there called the holy wAy, and no one unclean shall pass nor fools go astray. It is for those who have a journey to make and on it the redeemed will walk. Those ransomed shall be crowned with everlasting joy"
Wow! It seems like a Disney special. The best part is that it is "fool proof" for even fools can't go astray.
Amazing.
We just have to acknowledge our own need and be willing to make the journey with one step at a time.
It is a journey of a thousand steps but each one is made in the mercy we seek.
Walk in mercy today both seeking and giving: it us fool proof!
Besides. Look at the gospel. We read these words, "Jesus knew their thoughts."
Who do we think we are kidding? There is no need for pretending, no need for pretense, no need for hiding, no need for putting on air, there is no need for any of that stuff! There is only need for mercy: seeking it and giving it.
We are not as strong as we think we are and thAt is why we lay ourselves before the feet of Jesus.
Only then cAn we hear "rise and walk" only then can we begin the journey home.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Wilderness
The gospel of this 2nd Sudnay of Advent puts us right smack in the middle of the desert, the wilderness, face to faace with John the Baptist, one of the stars of Advent, the one who comes to announce the arrival of the Messiah, "One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the things of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy SPirit."
Wow!
Let us look at the word and place of the wilderness, the desert.
The term “wilderness” has two different but related meanings, referring to something judged to be wild and bewildering. It is probably the unknown (bewildering) and uncontrolled (wild) character of the place that earned it the name “wilderness.”
There is also another way of understanding the meaning of desert or wilderness.
A careful look at the root of the word midvar (hebrew) reveals the word "davar" (hebrew) meaning “word” or “message.” The Hebraic notion of “desert” or “wilderness” is that holy place where God’s word is unbound and completely free to be heard, experienced and lived. We go to the desert to hear God’s Word, unbound and completely free.
Think about this for a moment. In order to hear the Word of God, we must be willing to enter that place that leaves us bewildered that place of chaos that plAce where we have no control. It is there God invites us to come and listen.
We all have places like thT in our life. We have to fight the urge to get rid of them but rather enter and listen a new. This is what advent invites us to do!
John the Baptist is the Advent prophet. His image is often portrayed in the finger pointing to the one who was coming: Jesus Christ. If we are to take on John’s role of preparing the way in today’s world, our lives also will become the pointing fingers of living witnesses who demonstrate that Jesus can be found and that he is near.
We must find that place within us, that desert, so that we can hear the WOrd unbound and free and let it move us. Thus we become like John the Baptist.
John gave the people of his time an experience of forgiveness and salvation, knowing full well that he himself was not the Messiah, the one who could save. Do we allow others to have experiences of God, of forgiveness and of salvation?
John the Baptist came to teach us that there is a way out of the darkness and sadness of the world and of the human condition, and that way is Jesus himself. The Messiah comes to save us from the powers of darkness and death, and to put us back on the path of peace and reconciliation so that we might find our way back to God.
The way out of the wilderness of our lives is to first enter the wilderness where the word of GOd can truly be heard. Thus, we let the word, take root and begin to grow and direct our lives into meaning and purpose.
Wow!
Let us look at the word and place of the wilderness, the desert.
The term “wilderness” has two different but related meanings, referring to something judged to be wild and bewildering. It is probably the unknown (bewildering) and uncontrolled (wild) character of the place that earned it the name “wilderness.”
There is also another way of understanding the meaning of desert or wilderness.
A careful look at the root of the word midvar (hebrew) reveals the word "davar" (hebrew) meaning “word” or “message.” The Hebraic notion of “desert” or “wilderness” is that holy place where God’s word is unbound and completely free to be heard, experienced and lived. We go to the desert to hear God’s Word, unbound and completely free.
Think about this for a moment. In order to hear the Word of God, we must be willing to enter that place that leaves us bewildered that place of chaos that plAce where we have no control. It is there God invites us to come and listen.
We all have places like thT in our life. We have to fight the urge to get rid of them but rather enter and listen a new. This is what advent invites us to do!
John the Baptist is the Advent prophet. His image is often portrayed in the finger pointing to the one who was coming: Jesus Christ. If we are to take on John’s role of preparing the way in today’s world, our lives also will become the pointing fingers of living witnesses who demonstrate that Jesus can be found and that he is near.
We must find that place within us, that desert, so that we can hear the WOrd unbound and free and let it move us. Thus we become like John the Baptist.
John gave the people of his time an experience of forgiveness and salvation, knowing full well that he himself was not the Messiah, the one who could save. Do we allow others to have experiences of God, of forgiveness and of salvation?
John the Baptist came to teach us that there is a way out of the darkness and sadness of the world and of the human condition, and that way is Jesus himself. The Messiah comes to save us from the powers of darkness and death, and to put us back on the path of peace and reconciliation so that we might find our way back to God.
The way out of the wilderness of our lives is to first enter the wilderness where the word of GOd can truly be heard. Thus, we let the word, take root and begin to grow and direct our lives into meaning and purpose.
The creed
since the beginning of the Advent season, we have introduced and have been using the 3rd edition of the Roman Missal.
By now, I am surethere are plenty who have grumbled in its use. Many of the "old Timers" probably whine and wonder why the changes, why not just keep it as it was.
Change is often like an avalanche upon the head.
We do not deal well with it.
The translations are a improvement to our previous attempt at understanding the Latin Text. The new changes are a more precise rendition of what the Church has been praying in Latin for centuries.
We should all want to Give God our best attempt.
Let us look at the creed for instance. There are some changes in our profession of faith that I think are instrumental in our faith life.
We believe/I believe
The first noticable change is we now start the creed with "I believe" as suppose to "we believe."
The Latin was always Credo in unum Deum. The first person singular. This is an important translation correction.
We must rememeber tha faith must truly become our own before we can ever share it is a community. We cannot give what we do not possess. What makes us a community of believers is the fact that each of us profess the same faith, "I" believe. It is the the "I" of the profession that makes way for the "we" of the community.
We have a responsibilty to make sure we understand what we each individually profess.
For too long we have just gone about business as usual without really thinking our faith profession through. Now is the time.
Seen and unseen/ visible and invisible
The second noticable change is tha we now profess God is maker of all things "visible and invisible" where as before is was seen and unseen.
Just a quick glance and we discover that to say something is invisible is not the same as being unseen.
There are many things that remain unseen to the naked eye yet are a very visible part of reality.
Think about bacteria for an instant. Think about pollen and mold. These things are very visble and cause a great deal of havoc in our life yet they are also unseen.
My truck, the white toyata that I drive around, is unseen to all of you reading this, but remains very visible.
The church wants make sure we are precise in our language of faith. Our Faith isin a God who creates all that is visible and invisible. There are many things that are invisible yet very real: angels for one, but God himself is invisible for he is immaterial. Think about the wind, it is invisible yet we know it by its effects.
This is humbling for us. Reality does not depend on what we can see or not see. In fact, reality is greater than what meets the eye.
This is what we stand on, this is what we build our foundation of faith on. We do not see everything,a nd what a relief for us.
consubstantial/one in being
When we profess our faith in Jesus Christ, we use to say, "God from God, light form light, True God from ture God, begotten, not made, one in being with the Father" but now we say "consubstantial with the Father."
The word consubstantial replaces "one in being." One in being is a good phrase but it is not precise enough. We talk abot people being one in being with other all the time. Often times we use this to describe couples who are married, we say they are "one in being with each other." Let's face couples who have been together for soem time, think the same, liek the same things, the even begin to look the same.
They truly are one in being with each other. This is a great phrase for husbands and wives but not clear enough to understand the relationship between Jesus and God the Father.
Consubstantial is the word used by the council of Nicea 325 to try to penetrate the great mystery and reality that JEsus is true God, that he is the same stuff as the Father. IT is a difficult word becasue it is a difficult reality.
IT should be jarring every time we profess it, again so that we really think about what we are saying and praying. The fact that Jesus is God is the source of our Hope.
We can not fully comprehend this revelation but we can pray it and profess it.
Incarnate/ born
Prior to this year Advent Season, when we got to the part of the Creed "by the Holy SPirit he was, we would profess, "born" of the virgin MAry. But since Advent we now pray, "incarnate" of the Virgin MAry.
The word "incarnate" is not the same as "born". This is really important. When we profess that JEsus is incarnate of the virgin Mary, we are professing the reality that God becomes flesh at the moment of conception, not just at birth. This is a pro-life profession of faith. Life begins the moment the cells begin to multiply and the baby begins to be formed in the womn of his mother.
When does God enter our time and place in history, the moment he is conceived in his mother's womb.
This is instrumental for us.
How often we expect God to do amazing thngs to make himseld known. How oftenw e demand God to act in concrete and powerful ways so that we can believe in him. How often have we asked him heal this person or that, to change this relaity or that in order for us to truly believe. Yet the "incarnation" at conception points to a very important part of life.
God will come suddenly but often times he comes quietly and hidden.
God was enetering our history and time when JEsus was conceived in his mother's womb but yet no one was the wiser. Quietly and hidden God intervened. IT took 9 months for us to really get a handle of just how God acts, it took 9 months befoe the angels proclaimed to the shepherds, "this child is Emmanuel, God with us."
Just becasue we don't see God acting doesn't mean it isn't acting, behind the seens, in clear sight for all.
I look for/I look forward
the very last line of the creed has also undergone some change. We now profess, "I look forward to the resurrection of the dead" whereas before we professed "I look for the resurrection of the dead."
These are not the same. To look forward to something is slightly different than looking for something. We look for things all the time with a little certainty that we might find it. We look for our keys when they are lost, we look for our car when it is misplaced in a parking lot. But to look forward to something adds a little certainty to out step.
We don't just look for the ressurection of the dead but we look forward to this reality, which indicates a new level of awarenss that is fixed on certainty, one like us ahd already risen from the dead.
This is our hope, this is our expectation.
What we expect begins to be a motivation for our action. It should move us to live differently; it should shape our behavior and how we relate.
Poep Benedict tells us the one who expects nothing, can no longer live. We expect everything.
This is a fundamental reality and a ground of hope and thus a source of motivation for us as believers. We look forward to the resurrection of the dead, thus, we live with great expectations filled with certainty in Christ.
again these are justa few of the chnages we have introduced in to our liturgy. Be thankful, for they are a gift of the Holy SPirit tot eh Church at this time and thus remain a gift for all of us who gather to pray.
By now, I am surethere are plenty who have grumbled in its use. Many of the "old Timers" probably whine and wonder why the changes, why not just keep it as it was.
Change is often like an avalanche upon the head.
We do not deal well with it.
The translations are a improvement to our previous attempt at understanding the Latin Text. The new changes are a more precise rendition of what the Church has been praying in Latin for centuries.
We should all want to Give God our best attempt.
Let us look at the creed for instance. There are some changes in our profession of faith that I think are instrumental in our faith life.
We believe/I believe
The first noticable change is we now start the creed with "I believe" as suppose to "we believe."
The Latin was always Credo in unum Deum. The first person singular. This is an important translation correction.
We must rememeber tha faith must truly become our own before we can ever share it is a community. We cannot give what we do not possess. What makes us a community of believers is the fact that each of us profess the same faith, "I" believe. It is the the "I" of the profession that makes way for the "we" of the community.
We have a responsibilty to make sure we understand what we each individually profess.
For too long we have just gone about business as usual without really thinking our faith profession through. Now is the time.
Seen and unseen/ visible and invisible
The second noticable change is tha we now profess God is maker of all things "visible and invisible" where as before is was seen and unseen.
Just a quick glance and we discover that to say something is invisible is not the same as being unseen.
There are many things that remain unseen to the naked eye yet are a very visible part of reality.
Think about bacteria for an instant. Think about pollen and mold. These things are very visble and cause a great deal of havoc in our life yet they are also unseen.
My truck, the white toyata that I drive around, is unseen to all of you reading this, but remains very visible.
The church wants make sure we are precise in our language of faith. Our Faith isin a God who creates all that is visible and invisible. There are many things that are invisible yet very real: angels for one, but God himself is invisible for he is immaterial. Think about the wind, it is invisible yet we know it by its effects.
This is humbling for us. Reality does not depend on what we can see or not see. In fact, reality is greater than what meets the eye.
This is what we stand on, this is what we build our foundation of faith on. We do not see everything,a nd what a relief for us.
consubstantial/one in being
When we profess our faith in Jesus Christ, we use to say, "God from God, light form light, True God from ture God, begotten, not made, one in being with the Father" but now we say "consubstantial with the Father."
The word consubstantial replaces "one in being." One in being is a good phrase but it is not precise enough. We talk abot people being one in being with other all the time. Often times we use this to describe couples who are married, we say they are "one in being with each other." Let's face couples who have been together for soem time, think the same, liek the same things, the even begin to look the same.
They truly are one in being with each other. This is a great phrase for husbands and wives but not clear enough to understand the relationship between Jesus and God the Father.
Consubstantial is the word used by the council of Nicea 325 to try to penetrate the great mystery and reality that JEsus is true God, that he is the same stuff as the Father. IT is a difficult word becasue it is a difficult reality.
IT should be jarring every time we profess it, again so that we really think about what we are saying and praying. The fact that Jesus is God is the source of our Hope.
We can not fully comprehend this revelation but we can pray it and profess it.
Incarnate/ born
Prior to this year Advent Season, when we got to the part of the Creed "by the Holy SPirit he was, we would profess, "born" of the virgin MAry. But since Advent we now pray, "incarnate" of the Virgin MAry.
The word "incarnate" is not the same as "born". This is really important. When we profess that JEsus is incarnate of the virgin Mary, we are professing the reality that God becomes flesh at the moment of conception, not just at birth. This is a pro-life profession of faith. Life begins the moment the cells begin to multiply and the baby begins to be formed in the womn of his mother.
When does God enter our time and place in history, the moment he is conceived in his mother's womb.
This is instrumental for us.
How often we expect God to do amazing thngs to make himseld known. How oftenw e demand God to act in concrete and powerful ways so that we can believe in him. How often have we asked him heal this person or that, to change this relaity or that in order for us to truly believe. Yet the "incarnation" at conception points to a very important part of life.
God will come suddenly but often times he comes quietly and hidden.
God was enetering our history and time when JEsus was conceived in his mother's womb but yet no one was the wiser. Quietly and hidden God intervened. IT took 9 months for us to really get a handle of just how God acts, it took 9 months befoe the angels proclaimed to the shepherds, "this child is Emmanuel, God with us."
Just becasue we don't see God acting doesn't mean it isn't acting, behind the seens, in clear sight for all.
I look for/I look forward
the very last line of the creed has also undergone some change. We now profess, "I look forward to the resurrection of the dead" whereas before we professed "I look for the resurrection of the dead."
These are not the same. To look forward to something is slightly different than looking for something. We look for things all the time with a little certainty that we might find it. We look for our keys when they are lost, we look for our car when it is misplaced in a parking lot. But to look forward to something adds a little certainty to out step.
We don't just look for the ressurection of the dead but we look forward to this reality, which indicates a new level of awarenss that is fixed on certainty, one like us ahd already risen from the dead.
This is our hope, this is our expectation.
What we expect begins to be a motivation for our action. It should move us to live differently; it should shape our behavior and how we relate.
Poep Benedict tells us the one who expects nothing, can no longer live. We expect everything.
This is a fundamental reality and a ground of hope and thus a source of motivation for us as believers. We look forward to the resurrection of the dead, thus, we live with great expectations filled with certainty in Christ.
again these are justa few of the chnages we have introduced in to our liturgy. Be thankful, for they are a gift of the Holy SPirit tot eh Church at this time and thus remain a gift for all of us who gather to pray.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Vocabulary list for Advent
Isaiah 29:17-24; Ps 27 Th eLord is my light and my salvation; Mt 9:27-31
THe readings today offer us many vocabulary words for the Advent season as we prepare for the celebration of Christ entering our lives.
Just take a look at the words chosen by the prophet Isaiah and the psalmist in todays readings.
"Out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see"
"The lowly will find joy in the Lord"
"THe poor will rejoice"
"For the Tyrant will be no more, the arrogant will have gone"
"THey shall reverence the holy one of Jacob"
"be in awe of the GOd of ISrael"
My personal favorite ccomes from the psalm
"be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord"
Stouthearted means to be bold, brave, and firm. Is this not what true waiting for the Lord entails, for us to be bold, brave, and steadfast as we anticipate is arrival. We cannot quit too soon.
We must be stouthearted in our faith.
This is the theme of Advent: stoutheartedness.
Try it for size.
Try these words on for size.
THe readings today offer us many vocabulary words for the Advent season as we prepare for the celebration of Christ entering our lives.
Just take a look at the words chosen by the prophet Isaiah and the psalmist in todays readings.
"Out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see"
"The lowly will find joy in the Lord"
"THe poor will rejoice"
"For the Tyrant will be no more, the arrogant will have gone"
"THey shall reverence the holy one of Jacob"
"be in awe of the GOd of ISrael"
My personal favorite ccomes from the psalm
"be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord"
Stouthearted means to be bold, brave, and firm. Is this not what true waiting for the Lord entails, for us to be bold, brave, and steadfast as we anticipate is arrival. We cannot quit too soon.
We must be stouthearted in our faith.
This is the theme of Advent: stoutheartedness.
Try it for size.
Try these words on for size.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
these words
Isaiah 26:1-6; Psalm 118 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; Mt 7:21,24-27
"Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock."
What are "these words" that we are to listen to and act on?
Jesus says a lot of things in the gospels, so I thought I might just pull out those things he speaks in chapter 7 of the gospel of Matthew. What does JEsus say right before these lines quoted above. I figured this is a good a place as any to start.
Matthew 7:1 "Stop judging that you may not be judged. For as you judge so you will be judged and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you."
Matthew 7:6 "Do not give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample then underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces."
Matthew 7:7 "ask and it will be given to you,seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be open."
Matthew 7:12 "Do to others whatever you would have them do to you."
Matthew 7:13 "Enter through the narrow gate."
Matthew 7:15 :Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves."
Matthew 7:16 "By their fruits you will know them, Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Every good tree bears good fruit."
SO above are just a few of the things JEsus says right before we here the words above, "Everyone who listens to these words and acts on them is a man who built on rock."
Now here are some "words" to stir us during the Advent season so that we might truly be prepared for the celebration of the Coming of Christ.
For when we stand before Christ, he will look into our hearts, and he will check to see if his words have taken hold. WIll his words be seen by the life we live?
Take one of the above statements of Christ and work on it all day. Let it be your advent duty and your heart's content.
"Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock."
What are "these words" that we are to listen to and act on?
Jesus says a lot of things in the gospels, so I thought I might just pull out those things he speaks in chapter 7 of the gospel of Matthew. What does JEsus say right before these lines quoted above. I figured this is a good a place as any to start.
Matthew 7:1 "Stop judging that you may not be judged. For as you judge so you will be judged and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you."
Matthew 7:6 "Do not give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample then underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces."
Matthew 7:7 "ask and it will be given to you,seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be open."
Matthew 7:12 "Do to others whatever you would have them do to you."
Matthew 7:13 "Enter through the narrow gate."
Matthew 7:15 :Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves."
Matthew 7:16 "By their fruits you will know them, Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Every good tree bears good fruit."
SO above are just a few of the things JEsus says right before we here the words above, "Everyone who listens to these words and acts on them is a man who built on rock."
Now here are some "words" to stir us during the Advent season so that we might truly be prepared for the celebration of the Coming of Christ.
For when we stand before Christ, he will look into our hearts, and he will check to see if his words have taken hold. WIll his words be seen by the life we live?
Take one of the above statements of Christ and work on it all day. Let it be your advent duty and your heart's content.
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