One Walk

When: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:00 AM to Wednesday, January 23, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).

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Words of Jesus

"I can do nothing on my own authority; as I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me."

John 5:30

Help, Lord, the souls that Thou hast made, the souls to Thee so dear, in prison for the debt unpaid of sin committed here. These holy souls, they suffer on, resigned in heart and will, until Thy high behest is done, and justice has it's fill.

— St. John Henry Newman

Abba, Father, Lord God, O how my heart as wondered and lusted for the things under the sun, but today You comfort me with Your Words of David. For You have told me that even he was not perfect, but kept coming back to You. For only You know what is truly in a man's heart and You know my heart; the darkness and hardness. O how I asked that You continue to liken my heart to that of Jesus Christ. And that through Him I feel the forgiveness needed to light the darkness and soften the hardness in kindness and with a gentle spirit committed to follow Jesus as my Savior, as Son of Man, as Your Son, one in being with You and the Holy Spirit. And that You strengthen my discerning mind to always stay and be in Him, with Him; for I know He is the way to You and You have given Him the authority to carryout Your will under the sun and in heaven. O Lord God for the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on me and on the whole world. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I pray, Amen.

1 Samuel 16:1-13<../vbible/search.asp?abbr=_1Sam&ch=16&bv1=1&ev1=13>

1 The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul, seeing I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons." 2 And Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me." And the LORD said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, `I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.' 3 And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me him whom I name to you." 4 Samuel did what the LORD commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, "Do you come peaceably?" 5 And he said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD; consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice." And he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice. 6 When they came, he looked on Eli'ab and thought, "Surely the LORD'S anointed is before him." 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the LORD sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." 8 Then Jesse called Abin'adab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." 10 And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these." 11 And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and fetch him; for we will not sit down till he comes here." 12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is he." 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

Psalm 89:20-22, 27-28<../vbible/search.asp?abbr=Ps&ch=89&bv1=20&ev1=22&bv2=27&ev2=28>

20 I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him; 21 so that my hand shall ever abide with him, my arm also shall strengthen him. 22 The enemy shall not outwit him, the wicked shall not humble him. 27 And I will make him the first-born, the highest of the kings of the earth. 28 My steadfast love I will keep for him for ever, and my covenant will stand firm for him.

Mark 2:23-28<../vbible/search.asp?abbr=Mark&ch=1&bv1=23&ev1=28>

23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; 24 and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching! With authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." 28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

Pope Benedict XVI Encyclical Letter

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi_en.html

When: Sunday, January 20, 2008 12:00 AM to Monday, January 21, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).

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Words of Jesus

And James and John, the sons of Zeb'edee, came forward to him, and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared."

Mark 10:35-40

When you love unseemly conversation, you prepare a feast for demons and sell you soul for their fodder.

— St. Ephraem the Syrian

Abba, Father, Lord God, today the words of John the Baptist about my Lord Jesus strike clearly 'this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit' for while it is a mystery, I believe in these words and feel You through Jesus in the Spirit living within me. I see the difference in how and what I think, see and do. The challenge I face is staying in this state as I walk under the sun, capturing Your presence in each moment so that through Jesus in the Spirit You can work from within me. For as James and John prove when asking Jesus to sit on His right and left, under the sun we all look to be glorified rather than to bring glorify to You through Jesus. Jesus in the Spirit is the way to learning how to walk under the sun connected to You. So today I ask that You let the Spirit fill my mind, filter how and what I see, so that my words and actions reflect Your presence. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Isaiah 49:3, 5-6</vbible/search.asp?abbr=Is_&ch=49&bv1=3&ev1=3&bv2=5&ev2=6>

3 And he said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified." 5 And now the LORD says, who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD, and my God has become my strength — 6 he says: "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."

Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-10</vbible/search.asp?abbr=Ps&ch=40&bv1=2&ev1=2&bv2=4&ev2=4&bv3=7&ev3=10>

2 He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. 4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after false gods! 7 Then I said, "Lo, I come; in the roll of the book it is written of me; 8 I delight to do thy will, O my God; thy law is within my heart." 9 I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; lo, I have not restrained my lips, as thou knowest, O LORD. 10 I have not hid thy saving help within my heart, I have spoken of thy faithfulness and thy salvation; I have not concealed thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness from the great congregation.

1 Corinthians 1:1-3</vbible/search.asp?abbr=_1Cor&ch=1&bv1=1&ev1=3>

1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sos'thenes, 2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 1:29-34</vbible/search.asp?abbr=John&ch=1&bv1=29&ev1=34>

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, `After me comes a man who ranks before me, for he was before me.' 31 I myself did not know him; but for this I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel." 32 And John bore witness, "I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him; but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, `He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."

When: Saturday, January 19, 2008 12:00 AM to Sunday, January 20, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).

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Words of Jesus

"For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, `Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, `Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, `Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' But his master answered him, `You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.'

Matthew 25:14-30

God in His infinite goodness sometimes sees fit to test our courage and love by depriving us of the things which it seems to us would be advantageous to our souls; and if He finds us earnest in their pursuit, yet humble, tranquil and resigned to do without them if He wishes us to, He will give us more blessings than we should have had in the possession of what we craved. – St. Philip Neri

Abba, Father, Lord God, today Jesus' parable of the Talents drew my attention, after reading about how spoke to Samuel about how Saul was the one to be king; and how Jesus spoke to the scribes of the Pharisees about His purpose. As with all of Jesus' parables I am learning that they are His living words, and read over time can be interpreted differently. Today I see this parable as never before and I am reminded that Your gifts; physical, mental or spiritual are given to us to be used to help others and to fulfill Your purpose for us. They are not ours to be kept to ourselves, we are to put them to work, to nurture them and expand them, and it is never too late. There is only after, after they are gone, taken away. So I need to focus more, listen better and pray more fervently. O Lord that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory; that Your hand would be with me to keep me from evil and above all keep me from causing any pain. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

1 Samuel 9:1-4, 17-19;<../vbible/search.asp?abbr=_1Sam&ch=9&bv1=1&ev1=4&bv2=17&ev2=19> 10:1<../vbible/search.asp?abbr=_1Sam&ch=10&bv1=1&ev1=1>

1 There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abi'el, son of Zeror, son of Beco'rath, son of Aphi'ah, a Benjaminite, a man of wealth; 2 and he had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he; from his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people. 3 Now the asses of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. So Kish said to Saul his son, "Take one of the servants with you, and arise, go and look for the asses." 4 And they passed through the hill country of E'phraim and passed through the land of Shal'ishah, but they did not find them. And they passed through the land of Sha'alim, but they were not there. Then they passed through the land of Benjamin, but did not find them. 17 When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD told him, "Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! He it is who shall rule over my people." 18 Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate, and said, "Tell me where is the house of the seer?" 19 Samuel answered Saul, "I am the seer; go up before me to the high place, for today you shall eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is on your mind.

Psalm 21:2-7<../vbible/search.asp?abbr=Ps&ch=21&bv1=2&ev1=7>

2 Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withheld the request of his lips. [Selah] 3 For thou dost meet him with goodly blessings; thou dost set a crown of fine gold upon his head. 4 He asked life of thee; thou gavest it to him, length of days for ever and ever. 5 His glory is great through thy help; splendor and majesty thou dost bestow upon him. 6 Yea, thou dost make him most blessed for ever; thou dost make him glad with the joy of thy presence. 7 For the king trusts in the LORD; and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.

Mark 2:13-17<../vbible/search.asp?abbr=Mark&ch=2&bv1=13&ev1=17>

13 He went out again beside the sea; and all the crowd gathered about him, and he taught them. 14 And as he passed on, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him. 15 And as he sat at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were sitting with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. 16 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."

When: Thursday, January 17, 2008 9:00 AM-9:30 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).

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Words of Jesus

And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart; rise, he is calling you."

And throwing off his mantle he sprang up and came to Jesus.

And Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" And the blind man said to him, "Master, let me receive my sight."

And Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.

Mark 10:47-52

We must neither doubt nor hesitate with respect to the words of the Lord; rather, we must be fully persuaded that every word of God is true and possible, even if our nature should rebel against the idea; for in this lies the test of faith. – St. Basil the Great

Abba, Father, Lord God, aware I am here, standing on my toes to see above the busyness of the world and all its perishing priorities that should be as unimportant now as they will be immediately after it passes. For the only lasting effect I can hope to accomplish is to touch someone for Jesus. So I ask and pray that You will not hold my transgressions against me, for You know my heart, and that I am after Your heart, asking in all supplication that You liken my heart to Jesus. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

1 Samuel 4:1-11<../vbible/search.asp?abbr=_1Sam&ch=4&bv1=1&ev1=11>

1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines; they encamped at Ebene'zer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek. 2 The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who slew about four thousand men on the field of battle. 3 And when the troops came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why has the LORD put us to rout today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD here from Shiloh, that he may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies." 4 So the people sent to Shiloh, and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phin'ehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. 5 When the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel gave a mighty shout, so that the earth resounded. 6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, "What does this great shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?" And when they learned that the ark of the LORD had come to the camp, 7 the Philistines were afraid; for they said, "A god has come into the camp." And they said, "Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before. 8 Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods who smote the Egyptians with every sort of plague in the wilderness. 9 Take courage, and acquit yourselves like men, O Philistines, lest you become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been to you; acquit yourselves like men and fight." 10 So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and they fled, every man to his home; and there was a very great slaughter, for there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. 11 And the ark of God was captured; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phin'ehas, were slain.

Psalm 44:10-11, 14-15, 24-25<../vbible/search.asp?abbr=Ps&ch=44&bv1=10&ev1=11&bv2=14&ev2=15&bv3=24&ev3=25>

10 Thou hast made us turn back from the foe; and our enemies have gotten spoil. 11 Thou hast made us like sheep for slaughter, and hast scattered us among the nations. 14 Thou hast made us a byword among the nations, a laughingstock among the peoples. 15 All day long my disgrace is before me, and shame has covered my face, 24 Why dost thou hide thy face? Why dost thou forget our affliction and oppression? 25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust; our body cleaves to the ground.

Mark 1:40-45<../vbible/search.asp?abbr=Mark&ch=1&bv1=40&ev1=45>

40 And a leper came to him beseeching him, and kneeling said to him, "If you will, you can make me clean." 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, "I will; be clean." 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43 And he sternly charged him, and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, "See that you say nothing to any one; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to the people." 45 But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.

Pope Benedict XVI Encyclical Letter

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi_en.html

When: Wednesday, January 16, 2008 12:00 AM to Thursday, January 17, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).

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Words of Jesus

"I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."

John 17:20-21

God has deemed it better to bring good out of evil than not to permit evil at all. — St. Augustine

Abba, Father, Lord God, thank you for today this day a chance to forgive, forget, love, hope, help and give. Days like this are truly a gift from You; days when we feel good enough about ourselves to think of others first and in doing so reflect the image of Jesus. O how I pray that through Jesus in the Spirit You would help me see, know and make everyday like today. St. Augustine's quote today reminds me of Joseph and how he spoke to his brothers about how they meant to harm him, but You meant it for good. And while the hardships Joseph endured were severe, You were with Him always and he in You. Today's readings also speak of the fact of faith; if we are to believe and practice that belief we can expect no more than that which all who have believed and practiced before, for when we believe we know that we are not of this world and cannot look to any man for counsel for as man in human form we are all plagued with the same flaws, but in You and through Christ Jesus we can find all we need to walk under the sun. And if we keep seeking, keep asking and keep praying we will have days like today and they will grow in number no matter what our state and condition. Thank You Lord God, thank You Jesus; in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit I give thanks and pray – have mercy on us and on the whole world, Amen.

1 Corinthians 4:9-13</vbible/search.asp?abbr=_1Cor&ch=4&bv1=9&ev1=13>

9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are ill-clad and buffeted and homeless, 12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become, and are now, as the refuse of the world, the off scouring of all things.

Psalm 126:1-6</vbible/search.asp?abbr=Ps&ch=126&bv1=1&ev1=6>

1 When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. 2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." 3 The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad. 4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the watercourses in the Negeb! 5 May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy! 6 He that goes forth weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

Matthew 10:16-22</vbible/search.asp?abbr=Matt&ch=10&bv1=16&ev1=22>

16 "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 22 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.

Pope Benedict XVI Encyclical Letter

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi_en.html