Dear Lord God, today’s readings are filled with both fact and faith; for the FACT is we are all called to be disciples of Jesus Christ, obedient and submissive more than all, even more than any services we think of rendering You for I know for certain that You oppose the proud, but give grace to the humble." Therefore we are to humble ourselves under Your hand, that in due time You may exalt you. We are to practice casting all our anxieties on You, for You care about each and everyone of us. We must be sober, be watchful for our adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour. We must resist him, firm in our faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering is required of our brotherhood throughout the world under the sun. And after we have suffered a little while, You our God, the God of all grace, who has called us to Your eternal glory in Christ, will Yourself restore, establish, and strengthen us. This is Your dominion for ever and ever. And fact while it can be seen is less desirable and powerful than faith; for FAITH is belief in the unseen, and to have faith one must love You our God, and through that love we will develop a desire to know You more, and in that knowledge the secrets to Your mysteries will be revealed. For I believe the that with FACT a lone, that is without FAITH no one cannot interpret and discern You Word Lord, and that without understanding how FAITH becomes FACT, but not all FACT produces FAITH we will not be able to develop our spiritual beings as You wish. For FACT deals with things under the sun, and like things under the sun, FACT passes away with time, but FAITH in and from above is ever lasting, timeless and powerful, even under the sun. This type of FAITH can only come from You our Lord God through Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
God desires the least degree of obedience and submissiveness more than all those services you think of rendering Him.
— St. John of the Cross
5 Likewise you that are younger be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may exalt you. 7 Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you. 8 Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering is required of your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, and strengthen you. 11 To him be the dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 12 By Silva’nus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God; stand fast in it. 13 She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings; and so does my son Mark. 14 Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you that are in Christ
Bible Study: [5-11] The community is to be subject to the presbyters and to show humility toward one another and trust in God’s love and care (1 Peter 5:5-7). With sobriety, alertness, and steadfast faith they must resist the evil one; their sufferings are shared with Christians everywhere (1 Peter 5:8-9). They will be strengthened and called to eternal glory (1 Peter 5:10-11).[12] Silvanus: the companion of Paul (see 2 Cor 1:19; 1 Thes 1:1; 2 Thes 1:1). Jews and Jewish Christians, like Paul, often had a Hebrew name (Saoul, Silas) and a Greek or Latin name (Paul, Silvanus). On Silvanus’s possible role as amanuensis, see Introduction. [13] The chosen one: feminine, referring to the Christian community (ekklesia) at Babylon, the code name for Rome in Rev 14:8; 17:5; 18:2. Mark, my son: traditionally a prominent disciple of Peter and co-worker at the church in Rome, perhaps the John Mark referred to in Acts 12:12, 25; 13:5, 13; and in Acts 15:37-39, a companion of Barnabas. Perhaps this is the same Mark mentioned as Barnabas’s cousin in Col 4:10, a co-worker with Paul in Philippians 1:24 (see also 2 Tim 4:11).
2 For thy steadfast love was established for ever, thy faithfulness is firm as the heavens. 3 Thou hast said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant: 6 For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD? Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD, 7 a God feared in the council of the holy ones, great and terrible above all that are round about him? 16 who exult in thy name all the day, and extol thy righteousness. 17 For thou art the glory of their strength; by thy favor our horn is exalted.
Bible Study: [Psalm 89] The community laments the defeat of the Davidic king, to whom God promised kingship as enduring as the heavens (Psalm 89:2-5). The psalm narrates how God became king of the divine beings (Psalm 89:6-9) and how the Davidic king became king of earthly kings (Psalm 89:20-38). Since the defeat of the king calls into question God’s promise, the community ardently prays God to be faithful to the original promise to David (Psalm 89:39-52).
15 And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover." 19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it. Amen.
Bible Study: [9-20] This passage, termed the Longer Ending to the Marcan gospel by comparison with a much briefer conclusion found in some less important manuscripts, has traditionally been accepted as a canonical part of the gospel and was defined as such by the Council of Trent. Early citations of it by the Fathers indicate that it was composed by the second century, although vocabulary and style indicate that it was written by someone other than Mark. It is a general resume of the material concerning the appearances of the risen Jesus, reflecting, in particular, traditions found in Luke 24 and John 20. The Shorter Ending: Found after Mark 16:8 before the Longer Ending in four seventh-to-ninth-century Greek manuscripts as well as in one Old Latin version, where it appears alone without the Longer Ending. The Freer Logion: Found after v 14 in a fourth-fifth century manuscript preserved in the Freer Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, this ending was known to Jerome in the fourth century. It reads: "And they excused themselves, saying, "This age of lawlessness and unbelief is under Satan, who does not allow the truth and power of God to prevail over the unclean things dominated by the spirits [or, does not allow the unclean things dominated by the spirits to grasp the truth and power of God]. Therefore reveal your righteousness now.’ They spoke to Christ. And Christ responded to them, "The limit of the years of Satan’s power is completed, but other terrible things draw near. And for those who sinned I was handed over to death, that they might return to the truth and no longer sin, in order that they might inherit the spiritual and incorruptible heavenly glory of righteousness. But . . . .’ "
3 [20] THE SHORTER ENDING – [And they reported all the instructions briefly to Peter’s companions. Afterwards Jesus himself, through them, sent forth from east to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. Amen.]
/ raangulo
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