One Walk

Dear Lord God, doubt and fear try to consume my thoughts, distrust and skepticism cloud my vision, harshness and insensitivity slip into my words and actions; all the results of selfishness and pride along with a focus on the things under the sun rather than Your kingdom on earth as it is in heaven and the practice of Your presence.  Yesterday You convicted me about true resentence, through the Spirit You open my heart, mind and eyes to these things, but Lord I need Your help for without You I can do nothing and without eyes of faith I step backwards or veer too far to right of left and risk falling off the path. Today St. Athanasius speaks of tradition, teaching and faith of the Catholic Church, my Church a Church which I myself departed from, yet I was brought back too by God fearing Christians of other Christian denominations. So while I believe in my Catholic Church with all its problems and flaws, I also believe that there are good Christians who for many reasons need and or have chosen a different style of praise and worship; a different Church and that it is up to me and other Catholics to open our hearts and minds, and realize that to the best of my knowledge the Gospel of Christ Jesus does not mention the Catholic Church, but sets forth the His Church, His Body, as those You accept and believe in Him as Your Son and their Savior, so just has it is not up the me or any Christian, Catholic or Baptist for example to convert anyone, it is also not up the me or any Christian, Catholic or Baptist to say this tradition, this teaching or this religion is the only way to accept and believe in Jesus. Just as Paul witnessed to the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem about the Gentiles, I believe we must not place any burdens on our brother and sister Christians; the work of converting, judging and decided which burdens and crosses we each are to bear is Your and only Yours; and believing and living for Jesus through and with the Holy Spirit is what will bring us all together as my Lord Jesus said, if we stay out of Your way and do fall victim to our pride and human nature and think we can do or perform that work which You chose Jesus to do. So my Lord God, today I ask and pray for courage, strength and faith for myself and my crosses, and peace, love and understanding among Christians everywhere. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

The very tradition, teaching, and faith of the Catholic Church from the beginning, which the Lord gave, was preached by the apostles and was preserved by the Fathers. On this was the Church founded, and if anyone departs from this, he neither is, nor any longer ought to be called, a Christian.

— St. Athanasius of Alexandria

Exodus 3:13-20

13 Then Moses said to God, "If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, `The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, `What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?" 14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, `I AM has sent me to you.’" 15 God also said to Moses, "Say this to the people of Israel, `The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you’: this is my name for ever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. 16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, `The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, "I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt; 17 and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt, to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Per’izzites, the Hivites, and the Jeb’usites, a land flowing with milk and honey."’ 18 And they will hearken to your voice; and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, `The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, we pray you, let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.’ 19 I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. 20 So I will stretch out my hand and smite Egypt with all the wonders which I will do in it; after that he will let you go.

Bible Study: [14] I am who am: apparently this utterance is the source of the word Yahweh, the proper personal name of the God of Israel. It is commonly explained in reference to God as the absolute and necessary Being. It may be understood of God as the Source of all created beings. Out of reverence for this name, the term Adonai, "my Lord," was later used as a substitute. The word LORD in the present version represents this traditional usage. The word "Jehovah" arose from a false reading of this name as it is written in the current Hebrew text.

Psalm 105:1, 5, 8-9, 24-27

1 O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples! 5 Remember the wonderful works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered, 8 He is mindful of his covenant for ever, of the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, 9 the covenant which he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac, 24 And the LORD made his people very fruitful, and made them stronger than their foes. 25 He turned their hearts to hate his people, to deal craftily with his servants. 26 He sent Moses his servant, and Aaron whom he had chosen. 27 They wrought his signs among them, and miracles in the land of Ham.

Bible Study: [Psalm 105] A hymn to God who promised the land of Canaan to the holy people. Cf Psalm 78; 106; 136. Israel is invited to praise and seek the presence of God (Psalm 105:1-6), who is faithful to the promise of land to the ancestors (Psalm 105:7-11). In every phase of the national story–the ancestors in the land of Canaan (Psalm 105:12-15), Joseph in Egypt (Psalm 105:16-22), Israel in Egypt (Psalm 105:23-38), Israel in the desert on the way to Canaan (Psalm 105:39-45)–God remained faithful, reiterating the promise of the land to successive servants.

Matthew 11:28-30

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Bible Study: [28-29] These verses are peculiar to Matthew and are similar to Ben Sirach’s invitation to learn wisdom and submit to her yoke (Sirach 51:23, 26). [28] Who labor and are burdened: burdened by the law as expounded by the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 23:4). [29] In place of the yoke of the law, complicated by scribal interpretation, Jesus invites the burdened to take the yoke of obedience to his word, under which they will find rest; cf Jeremiah 6:16.