One Walk

Dear Lord God, maybe it is foolish optimism, but I feel peaceful and liberated from the insanity of being responsible without being empowered, and from an environment of belittlement, distrust and negative energy. O Lord I know I have offended and hurt many people and for this I am truly sorry, I know I lacked kindness and a gentle manner, failing to reflect the fruit of the Spirit, but I do seek Your image and will continue the race. Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that your hand would be with me, and that you would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain. In Jesus name I ask and pray, Amen

The Father of mercies willed that the Incarnation should be preceded by assent on the part of the predestined mother, so that just as a woman had a share in the coming of death, so also should a woman contribute to the coming of life.

— Lumen Gentium

Acts 18:23-28

23 After spending some time there he departed and went from place to place through the region of Galatia and Phryg’ia, strengthening all the disciples. 24 Now a Jew named Apol’los, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, well versed in the scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aq’uila heard him, they took him and expounded to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he wished to cross to Acha’ia, the brethren encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples to receive him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, 28 for he powerfully confuted the Jews in public, showing by the scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.

Bible Study: [18:23-21:16] Luke’s account of Paul’s third missionary journey devotes itself mainly to his work at Ephesus (Acts 19:1-20:1). There is a certain restiveness on Paul’s part and a growing conviction that the Spirit bids him return to Jerusalem and prepare to go to Rome (Acts 19:21). [24,25] Apollos appears as a preacher who knows the teaching of Jesus in the context of John’s baptism of repentance. Aquila and Priscilla instruct him more fully. He is referred to in 1 Cor 1:12; 3:5-6, 22. [26] The Way [of God]: for the Way, see the note on Acts 9:2. Other manuscripts here read “the Way of the Lord,” “the word of the Lord,” or simply “the Way.”

Psalm 47:2-3, 8-10

2 For the LORD, the Most High, is terrible, a great king over all the earth. 3 He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet. 8 God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne. 9 The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted!

Bible Study: [Psalm 47] A hymn calling on the nations to acknowledge the universal rule of Israel’s God (Psalm 47:2-5) who is enthroned as king over Israel and the nations (Psalm 47:6-9).

John 16:23-28

23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my name. 24 Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. 25 “I have said this to you in figures; the hour is coming when I shall no longer speak to you in figures but tell you plainly of the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name; and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from the Father. 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

Bible Study: [30] The reference is seemingly to the fact that Jesus could anticipate their question in John 16:19. The disciples naively think they have the full understanding that is the climax of “the hour” of Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension (John 16:25), but the only part of the hour that is at hand for them is their share in the passion (John 16:32).

/ raangulo

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Dear Lord God, create in me a clean heart, refreshed daily in faith, hope and love; faith in Your promises, hope that You will help me to fulfill Your purpose for me, and love of You, my family and those You place in my path. Today I recall the words of Wally the new host on 88.1 WayFM about prayer; that true faith reveals itself in prayer in trusting that once placed before You, we trust You will handle according to Your will. So there is not need to keep asking or praying over or about the same person, thing or situation. This made sense to me Lord in that I do trust Your will and since there is so much to pray for and about time does not allow us to be repetitive. So with that mind set and a spirit of trusting faith, persevering hope and unconditional love I place today before You and will leave it to You to decide and guide me.

            Well Lord did I let my pride get in the way again; looking back I am not sure if my timing was not the best or if ‘over turning the tables’ that moment was the right thing to do, I know that I should not allow or put up with the such behavior had to come to an end, but I am at peace for myself though meditating on my intentions. I say they were good and it was clear I would only be taken advantages further by those whose intention were not, but once again was my method without the required love and kindness, it sure wasn’t gentle; was I once again thinking that I was right but then acted wrongly. Only You know Lord, for I am not sure. I will seek Your guidance in the coming days and I do ask in the name of Jesus that You protect me, bless me and bring good out of this, for I do care about all those effected and fight the selfishness ambition and pride that lies within in me. I pray that I was right and that You will help me make it so, for I feel today was a day to rise for myself, not die to myself. Help me Jesus, let me know! Amen 

By the unity of the divine nature, which remains present in each of the two components of man, these are reunited. For as death is produced by the separation of the human components, so Resurrection is achieved by the union of the two.

— St. Gregory of Nyssa

Acts 18:9-18

9 And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent; 10 for I am with you, and no man shall attack you to harm you; for I have many people in this city." 11 And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. 12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Acha’ia, the Jews made a united attack upon Paul and brought him before the tribunal, 13 saying, "This man is persuading men to worship God contrary to the law." 14 But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, "If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, I should have reason to bear with you, O Jews; 15 but since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves; I refuse to be a judge of these things." 16 And he drove them from the tribunal. 17 And they all seized Sos’thenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to this. 18 After this Paul stayed many days longer, and then took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aq’uila. At Cen’chre-ae he cut his hair, for he had a vow.

Bible Study: [12] When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia: Gallio’s proconsulship in Achaia is dated to A.D. 51-52 from an inscription discovered at Delphi. This has become an important date in establishing a chronology of the life and missionary work of Paul. [13] Contrary to the law: Gallio (Acts 18:15) understands this to be a problem of Jewish, not Roman, law. [18] He had his hair cut because he had taken a vow: a reference to a Nazirite vow (see Numbers 6:1-21, especially, 6:18) taken by Paul (see also Acts 21:23-27).

Ps 47:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

2 For the LORD, the Most High, is terrible, a great king over all the earth. 3 He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet. 4 He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. [Selah] 5 God has gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet. 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! 7 For God is the king of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm!

Bible Study: [Psalm 47] A hymn calling on the nations to acknowledge the universal rule of Israel’s God (Psalm 47:2-5) who is enthroned as king over Israel and the nations (Psalm 47:6-9). [5] Our heritage . . . the glory: the land of Israel (cf Isaiah 58:14), which God has given Israel in an act of sovereignty. [6] God mounts the throne: "has gone up to the throne," according to the context (Psalm 47:9). Christian liturgical tradition has applied the verse to the ascension of Christ.

Luke 12:22-31

22 And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat, nor about your body, what you shall put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his span of life? 26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass which is alive in the field today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O men of little faith! 29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be of anxious mind. 30 For all the nations of the world seek these things; and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things shall be yours as well.

Bible Study: [13-34] Luke has joined together sayings contrasting those whose focus and trust in life is on material possessions, symbolized here by the rich fool of the parable (Luke 12:16-21), with those who recognize their complete dependence on God (Luke 12:21), those whose radical detachment from material possessions symbolizes their heavenly treasure (Luke 12:33-34).

Jn 16:20-23

20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is in travail she has sorrow, because her hour has come; but when she is delivered of the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my name.

http://www.ewtn.com/library/HOMELIBR/BERBALD.TXT

/      raangulo

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Check out my blog at http://raagroup.blogspot.com/ where daily readings and more are posted daily.