Archive for the ‘Bible Readings’ Category

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Prayer & Readings – New Possibilities – With regard to doing the will of the Lord, even if someone should be scandalized by what we do, we must not let that hamper our freedom of action.

August 17, 2007

When: Friday, August 17, 2007 7:30 AM-8:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).
 
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
 
Dear Lord God, this morning I woke to the thoughts of the last few weeks, to the visions of seeing Your hand at work in my life despite all my weaknesses, hang-ups, mistakes and most of all continued focus on what I was or did rather than on what is possible with and through You. So just as the poem goes , as I look back and see one set of foot prints, I know they where Yours because You were carrying me. So I feel I must write this prayer to complete this chapter and begin the new possibilities I have created for myself; the possibility of being powerful and peaceful while creating an abundant life that is focused on You and Your will and purpose for my life. I realized this morning that while in this body that houses my being during my time under the sun, there will be many distractions and obstacles that I created and that just happen, but I can feel Your presence in the moments when it is just You and me; in the morning when I wake, at night as I close my eyes, and during the day when I allow You, I can feel Your to carrying me. These are the moments I seek to exist in, these are the moments I wish to share. So in the name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ I give thanks and praise, letting all the glory and honor of my time, actions, words and thoughts be Yours. Amen
 
With regard to doing the will of the Lord, even if someone should be scandalized by what we do, we must not let that hamper our freedom of action.
— St. Basil the Great
1 Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. 2 And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, `Your fathers lived of old beyond the Euphra’tes, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods. 3 Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan, and made his offspring many. I gave him Isaac; 4 and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. And I gave Esau the hill country of Se’ir to possess, but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt. 5 And I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt with what I did in the midst of it; and afterwards I brought you out. 6 Then I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the sea; and the Egyptians pursued your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea. 7 And when they cried to the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and made the sea come upon them and cover them; and your eyes saw what I did to Egypt; and you lived in the wilderness a long time. 8 Then I brought you to the land of the Amorites, who lived on the other side of the Jordan; they fought with you, and I gave them into your hand, and you took possession of their land, and I destroyed them before you. 9 Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel; and he sent and invited Balaam the son of Be’or to curse you, 10 but I would not listen to Balaam; therefore he blessed you; so I delivered you out of his hand. 11 And you went over the Jordan and came to Jericho, and the men of Jericho fought against you, and also the Amorites, the Per’izzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Gir’gashites, the Hivites, and the Jeb’usites; and I gave them into your hand. 12 And I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out before you, the two kings of the Amorites; it was not by your sword or by your bow. 13 I gave you a land on which you had not labored, and cities which you had not built, and you dwell therein; you eat the fruit of vineyards and oliveyards which you did not plant.’

Psalm 136:1-3, 16-18, 21-22, 24
1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever. 2 O give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures for ever. 3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures for ever; 16 to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures for ever; 17 to him who smote great kings, for his steadfast love endures for ever; 18 and slew famous kings, for his steadfast love endures for ever; 21 and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures for ever; 22 a heritage to Israel his servant, for his steadfast love endures for ever. 24 and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
Matthew 19:3-12
3 And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?" 4 He answered, "Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, `For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh‘? 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder." 7 They said to him, "Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?" 8 He said to them, "For your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another, commits adultery." 10 The disciples said to him, "If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is not expedient to marry." 11 But he said to them, "Not all men can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. 12 For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to receive this, let him receive it."
 
 

Posted in Bible Readings, Daily Bible Readings, Daily Prayers, Richard Angulo | Leave a Comment »

Prayer & Readings – The Transfiguration of the Lord – "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased," You will do well to pay attention to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

August 6, 2007

When: Monday, August 06, 2007 7:30 AM-8:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).
 
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
 
Dear Lord God, thank You for all Your blessings and for this new opportunity, guide my thoughts, actions and words and help me to excel for You; all the glory and honor is Yours. I am but a humble sinner seeking Your will, content in that state. Help me to focus on one issue at a time and not to let myself be distracted by the noise under the sun. Help me to not let myself stand in the way of being there for others. Open my ears, eyes and heart to those in need, let Your grace and mercy flow through me. This I ask in Jesus name, Amen.
When it’s God speaking…..the proper way to behave is to imitate someone who has an irresistible curiosity and who listens at keyholes. You must listen to everything God says at the keyhole of your heart.
— St. John Vianney
9 As I watched, Thrones were set up and the Ancient One took his throne. His clothing was snow bright, and the hair on his head as white as wool; His throne was flames of fire, with wheels of burning fire. 10 A surging stream of fire flowed out from where he sat; Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him, and myriads upon myriads attended him. The court was convened, and the books were opened. 13 As the visions during the night continued, I saw One like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, 14 He received dominion, glory, and kingship; nations and peoples of every language serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed.

Bible Study: [1-27] The significance of this vision is the same as that of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel 2; see note on Daniel 2:36-45. To the four succeeding world kingdoms, Babylonian, Median, Persian, and Greek, is opposed the messianic kingdom of the people of God. The imagery of this chapter has been used extensively in the Revelation of St. John, where it is applied to the Roman empire, the persecutor of the Church. [7-8] Alexander’s empire was different from all the others in that it was Western rather than Oriental in inspiration. The ten horns represent the kings of the Seleucid dynasty, the only part of the Hellenistic empire that concerned the author. The little horn is Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-163 B.C.), the worst of the Seleucid kings, who usurped the throne. [9-10] A vision of the heavenly throne of God (the Ancient One), who sits in judgment (symbolized by fire) over the nations. Some of the details of the vision, depicting the divine majesty and omnipotence, are to be found in Ezekial 1. [13-14] One like a son of man: in contrast to the worldly kingdoms opposed to God, which appear as beasts, the glorified people of God that will form his kingdom on earth is represented in human form (Daniel 7:18). Just as our Lord applied the figure of the stone hewn from the mountain to himself (Daniel 2:36-45), he also made the title "Son of Man" his most characteristic way of referring to himself, as the One in whom and through whom the salvation of God’s people came to be realized.
Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 9
1 The LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! 2 Clouds and thick darkness are round about him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth. 6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory. 9 For thou, O LORD, art most high over all the earth; thou art exalted far above all gods.
Bible Study: [Psalm 97] The hymn begins with God appearing in a storm, a traditional picture of some ancient Near Eastern gods (Psalm 97:1-6); cf Psalm 18:8-16; Micah 1:3-4; Hebrews 3:3-15. Israel rejoices in the overthrowing of idol worshipers and their gods (Psalm 97:7-9) and the rewarding of the faithful righteous (Psalm 97:10-12).
2 Peter 1:16-19
16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased," 18 we heard this voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 And we have the prophetic word made more sure. You will do well to pay attention to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
Bible Study: [12-19] The purpose in writing is to call to mind the apostle’s witness to the truth, even as he faces the end of his life (2 Peter 1:12-15), his eyewitness testimony to Christ (1 Peter 1:16-18), and the true prophetic message (2 Peter 1:19) through the Spirit in scripture (2 Peter 1:20-21), in contrast to what false teachers are setting forth (2 Peter 2). [13] Tent: a biblical image for transitory human life (Isaiah 38:12), here combined with a verb that suggests not folding or packing up a tent but its being discarded in death (cf 2 Cor 5:1-4). [16] Coming: in Greek parousia, used at 2 Peter 3:4, 12 of the second coming of Christ. The word was used in the extrabiblical writings for the visitation of someone in authority; in Greek cult and Hellenistic Judaism it was used for the manifestation of the divine presence. That the apostles made known has been interpreted to refer to Jesus’ transfiguration (2pe 1:17) or to his entire first coming or to his future coming in power (2 Peter 3). [17] The author assures the readers of the reliability of the apostolic message (including Jesus’ power, glory, and coming; cf the note on 2 Peter 1:16) by appeal to the transfiguration of Jesus in glory (cf Matthew 17:1-8 and parallels) and by appeal to the prophetic message (2 Peter 1:19; perhaps Numbers 24:17). Here, as elsewhere, the New Testament insists on continued reminders as necessary to preserve the historical facts about Jesus and the truths of the faith; cf 2 Peter 3:1-2; 1 Cor 11:2; 15:1-3. My Son, my beloved: or, "my beloved Son." [18] We: at Jesus’ transfiguration, referring to Peter, James, and John (Matthew 17:1).

Luke 9:28-36
28 Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his countenance was altered, and his raiment became dazzling white. 30 And behold, two men talked with him, Moses and Eli’jah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, and when they wakened they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is well that we are here; let us make three booths, one for you and one for Moses and one for Eli’jah" — not knowing what he said. 34 As he said this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" 36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silence and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.
Bible Study: [28-36] Situated shortly after the first announcement of the passion, death, and resurrection, this scene of Jesus’ transfiguration provides the heavenly confirmation to Jesus’ declaration that his suffering will end in glory (Luke 9:32); see also the notes on Matthew 17:1-8 and Mark 9:2-8. [28] Up the mountain to pray: the "mountain" is the regular place of prayer in Luke (see Luke 6:12; 22:39-41). [30] Moses and Elijah: the two figures represent the Old Testament law and the prophets. At the end of this episode, the heavenly voice will identify Jesus as the one to be listened to now (Luke 9:35). See also the note on Mark 9:5. [31] His exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem: Luke identifies the subject of the conversation as the exodus of Jesus, a reference to the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus that will take place in Jerusalem, the city of destiny (see Luke 9:51). The mention of exodus, however, also calls to mind the Israelite Exodus from Egypt to the promised land. [32] They saw his glory: the glory that is proper to God is here attributed to Jesus (see Luke 24:26). [33] Let us make three tents: in a possible allusion to the feast of Tabernacles, Peter may be likening his joy on the occasion of the transfiguration to the joyful celebration of this harvest festival. [34] Over them: it is not clear whether them refers to Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, or to the disciples. For the cloud casting its shadow, see the note on Mark 9:7. [35] Like the heavenly voice that identified Jesus at his baptism prior to his undertaking the Galilean ministry (Luke 3:22), so too here before the journey to the city of destiny is begun (Luke 9:51) the heavenly voice again identifies Jesus as Son. Listen to him: the two representatives of Israel of old depart (Luke 9:33) and Jesus is left alone (Luke 9:36) as the teacher whose words must be heeded (see also Acts 3:22). [36] At that time: i.e., before the resurrection.
 
http://www.atlanticvideo.com/clients/ccom/archive2.php?cat=1
 
Your brother in Christ Jesus, Richard
Email: raa@richardangulo.com
IM: raagroup (AIM, Google, MSN & Skype)
Website: www.richardangulo.com
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom) or Posts by Email
 
 
 
 

Posted in Bible Readings, Daily Bible Readings, Daily Prayers, Richard Angulo | Leave a Comment »

Prayer & Readings – Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity… because sometimes a man who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be enjoyed by a man who did not toil for it.

August 5, 2007

When: Sunday, August 05, 2007 7:30 AM-8:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).
 
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
 
Dear Lord God, O the words of Solomon, he asked for wisdom and You gave it to him, and yet with all the wisdom and all his riches of the world, he cries out all is in vain if not with and in You. So then why is it that under the sun we seek to make the same mistake, to think that wisdom will bring us knowledge and knowledge wealth and wealth happiness; only to find without You emptiness. O Lord God You sent us Your only Son Jesus to teach and show us the way; away that is not of our own but of dependence on You through Him. Well he I sit blessed again by Your mercy and grace, unworthy as I am, seeking Your guidance, strength and courage to treat each moment, take each step, meditate in each thought on You, Your will and Your purpose. For there and only there will I find what I seek, without wisdom, or knowledge of how or why, just rest and peace, content in knowing that moment that carries me forward with You in me and me in You; seeking no more and no less that simply that state. Let my reflection be the image of this state and let this image be a light that others will see You as the source. This I ask in Jesus name, Amen.
O most sweet Jesus, who came into this world to give to all souls the life of your grace, and who, to preserve and increase it in them, willed to be the daily remedy of their weakness and the food for each day, we humbly beseech you, by your heart so burning with love for us, to pour your divine Spirit upon all souls in order that those who have the misfortune to be in the state of mortal sin may, returning to you, find the life of grace that they have lost. Through this same Holy Spirit, may those who are already living by this divine life devoutly approach your divine table every day when it is possible, so that, receiving each day in Holy Communion the antidote of their daily venial sins and each day sustaining in themselves the life of your grace and thus ever purifying themselves the more, they may finally come to a happy life with you. Amen.
— Pope St. Pius X
2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.

21 because sometimes a man who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be enjoyed by a man who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. 22 What has a man from all the toil and strain with which he toils beneath the sun? 23 For all his days are full of pain, and his work is a vexation; even in the night his mind does not rest. This also is vanity.
Bible Study: [2] Vanity of vanities: a Hebrew superlative expressing the supreme degree of futility and emptiness. [3] Under the sun: used throughout this book to signify "on the earth." [3] Though my mind . . . wisdom: while indulging in pleasure the author hopes to discover wherein man’s true happiness consists.[24] Unrestrained indulgence is not advocated here, but legitimate pleasure and the cheerfulness it begets.
Psalm 90:3-6, 12-14, 17
3 Thou turnest man back to the dust, and sayest, "Turn back, O children of men!" 4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. 5 Thou dost sweep men away; they are like a dream, like grass which is renewed in the morning: 6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers. 12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. 13 Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on thy servants! 14 Satisfy us in the morning with thy steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish thou the work of our hands upon us, yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.
Bible Study: [Psalm 90] Of Moses – A communal lament that describes only in general terms the cause of the community’s distress. After confidently invoking God (Psalm 90:1), the psalm turns to a complaint contrasting God’s eternity with the brevity of human life (Psalm 90:2-6) and sees in human suffering the punishment for sin (Psalm 90:7-12). The psalm concludes with a plea for God’s intervention (Psalm 90:13-17).
Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices 10 and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scyth’ian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all.
Bible Study: [1-4] By retaining the message of the gospel that the risen, living Christ is the source of their salvation, the Colossians will be free from false religious evaluations of the things of the world (Col 3:1-2). They have died to these; but one day when Christ . . . appears, they will live with Christ in the presence of God (Col 3:3-4). [8-10] Put . . . away; have taken off; have put on: the terms may reflect baptismal practice, taking off garments and putting on new ones after being united with Christ, here translated into ethical terms.
Luke 12:13-21
13 One of the multitude said to him, "Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me." 14 But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?" 15 And he said to them, "Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." 16 And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; 17 and he thought to himself, `What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, `I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.’ 20 But God said to him, `Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."
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). [21] Rich in what matters to God: literally, "rich for God."
 

Posted in Bible Readings, Daily Bible Readings, Daily Prayers, Richard Angulo | Leave a Comment »

The Biology of Belief

August 4, 2007

When: Friday, August 03, 2007 12:00 PM-4:00 PM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).
 
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Author: Bruce H. Lipton, Ph.D.
Date: 01-NOV-2006
Narrator: Bruce H. Lipton, Ph.D.

Since the publication of The Biology of Belief, Dr. Bruce Lipton has received widespread acclaim as one of the most accessible and knowledgeable voices of "new biology". The science is called epigenetics – a revolutionary field that shows us how the energy of consciousness is as important in shaping life on earth as DNA and chemistry. In this original author adaptation, Dr. Lipton brings his clarity, insight, and humor to unveiling a profound change in how we perceive the way life works, including: How environment, including our thoughts and emotions, controls the character of every cell Quantum physics and life: the key to understanding the bigger picture of how "mind over matter" works Cooperation and evolution: moving beyond the "selfish gene" theory to see that a natural trend toward harmony literally shapes the biosphere Why the oft-dismissed placebo effect is really the most powerful healing tool we have, and much more As scientists have mapped the human genome, it has become clear that there are important aspects of life that defy our traditional models of evolution. The "missing link", according to Dr. Lipton, is consciousness. With The Biology of Belief, listeners join this groundbreaking researcher to learn how this new science radically alters both how we understand life on earth and how we choose to live.

 
 
 

Posted in Bible Readings, Books, Daily Bible Readings, Daily Prayers, Richard Angulo | Leave a Comment »

Prayer & Readings – that You would love me so and continue to watch over, protect and bless me is humbling and I am so grateful.

August 4, 2007

When: Friday, August 03, 2007 6:30 AM-7:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).
 
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
 
Dear Lord God, once again You bless me to the point of humility, that You would love me so and continue to watch over, protect and bless me is humbling and I am so grateful. I enter this new endeavor with eyes of faith and heart after Your heart. Always seeking to server out Your will for Your purpose. O Lord that You would bless me so and again provide me an opportunity to enlarge my territory, while keeping me from evil and from causing pain; thank You Lord God, Thank You Jesus; may the Holy Spirit continue to guide my thoughts, words and actions so my light will shine for me. In Jesus name I give all the honor, glory and praise, Amen.
Thy lightning’s enlightened the world: the earth shook and trembled.
— Ps. lxxvi. 19
1 The LORD said to Moses, 4 "These are the appointed feasts of the LORD, the holy convocations, which you shall proclaim at the time appointed for them. 5 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening, is the LORD’s passover. 6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread to the LORD; seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. 7 On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work. 8 But you shall present an offering by fire to the LORD seven days; on the seventh day is a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work." 9 And the LORD said to Moses, 10 "Say to the people of Israel, When you come into the land which I give you and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest; 11 and he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, that you may find acceptance; on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. 15 "And you shall count from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven full weeks shall they be, 16 counting fifty days to the morrow after the seventh sabbath; then you shall present a cereal offering of new grain to the LORD. 27 "On the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be for you a time of holy convocation, and you shall afflict yourselves and present an offering by fire to the LORD. 34 "Say to the people of Israel, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month and for seven days is the feast of booths to the LORD. 35 On the first day shall be a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work. 36 Seven days you shall present offerings by fire to the LORD; on the eighth day you shall hold a holy convocation and present an offering by fire to the LORD; it is a solemn assembly; you shall do no laborious work. 37 "These are the appointed feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim as times of holy convocation, for presenting to the LORD offerings by fire, burnt offerings and cereal offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings, each on its proper day;

Bible Study: [16] The fiftieth: from the Greek word for this we have the name "Pentecost." Cf 2 Macc 12:31; Acts 2:1. It was also called "the feast of the Seven Weeks," or simply "the feast of Weeks" (Numbers 28:26; Deut 16:10; Tobit 2:1). The new cereal offering: of flour made from the new grain. Pentecost was the thanksgiving feast at the end of the grain harvest, which began after Passover. Later tradition made it a commemoration of the giving of the law at Sinai.
Psalm 81:3-6, 10-11
3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day. 4 For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob. 5 He made it a decree in Joseph, when he went out over the land of Egypt. I hear a voice I had not known: 6 "I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket. 10 I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. 11 "But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would have none of me.
Bible Study: [Psalm 81] At a pilgrimage feast, probably harvest in the fall, the people assemble in the temple in accord with the Sinai ordinances (Psalm 81:2-6). They hear a divine word (mediated by a temple speaker) telling how God rescued them from slavery in Egypt (Psalm 81:7-9), gave them the fundamental commandment of fidelity (Psalm 81:9-11), which would bring punishment if they refused to obey (Psalm 81:12-13). But if Israel repents, God will be with them once again, bestowing protection and fertility (Psalm 81:14-16).
Matthew 13:54-58
54 and coming to his own country he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?" 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house." 58 And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.
Bible Study: [54] After the Sermon on the Mount the crowds are in admiring astonishment at Jesus’ teaching (Matthew 7:28); here the astonishment is of those who take offense at him. Familiarity with his background and family leads them to regard him as pretentious. Matthew modifies his Marcan source (Matthew 6:1-6). Jesus is not the carpenter but the carpenter’s son (Matthew 13:55), "and among his own kin" is omitted (Matthew 13:57), he did not work many mighty deeds in face of such unbelief (Matthew 13:58) rather than the Marcan "… he was not able to perform any mighty deed there" (Matthew 6:5), and there is no mention of his amazement at his townspeople’s lack of faith.
 

Posted in Bible Readings, Daily Bible Readings, Daily Prayers, Richard Angulo | Leave a Comment »

Prayer & Readings – Take a moment to think of everything you’re proud of about yourself and your life. Then ask yourself if you would have any of this without God’s permission and aid? Give credit where credit is due; praise and thank Him, not yourself.

August 4, 2007

When: Saturday, August 04, 2007 9:00 AM-9:30 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).
 
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
 
Dear Lord God, thank You, You continue to feed my hunger to know You and quench my thirst for understanding of my place under the sun. It is not just for me to decide or serve just my interest, but to seek your will and trust in Your power and glory to reveal Your purpose for me and to become the steward that You intended me to be, putting behind me the mistakes of my past and focus only on my time with You now. For it is now, with You that I believe I can be most open to hear, see and act on Your will. So Lord God in the name of Jesus I ask and seek Your direction and guidance. O Lord God that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my territory, that You would keep me from evil and from causing pain, Amen.
 
Take a moment to think of everything you’re proud of about yourself and your life. Then ask yourself if you would have any of this without God’s permission and aid? Give credit where credit is due; praise and thank Him, not yourself.
— St. Francis of Assisi
1 The LORD said to Moses on Mount Sinai, 8 "And you shall count seven weeks of years, seven times seven years, so that the time of the seven weeks of years shall be to you forty-nine years. 9 Then you shall send abroad the loud trumpet on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the day of atonement you shall send abroad the trumpet throughout all your land. 10 And you shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants; it shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his family. 11 A jubilee shall that fiftieth year be to you; in it you shall neither sow, nor reap what grows of itself, nor gather the grapes from the undressed vines. 12 For it is a jubilee; it shall be holy to you; you shall eat what it yields out of the field. 13 "In this year of jubilee each of you shall return to his property. 14 And if you sell to your neighbor or buy from your neighbor, you shall not wrong one another. 15 According to the number of years after the jubilee, you shall buy from your neighbor, and according to the number of years for crops he shall sell to you. 16 If the years are many you shall increase the price, and if the years are few you shall diminish the price, for it is the number of the crops that he is selling to you. 17 You shall not wrong one another, but you shall fear your God; for I am the LORD your God.

Bible Study: [10] Fiftieth year: to arrive at this number, the preceding year of jubilee is included in the count, and therefore this is more exactly the forty-ninth year, the seventh sabbatical year. Liberty: Israelite slaves were set free (Lev 25:50) and landed property was returned to its original owner (Lev 25:13): two important laws for preserving the social and economic equilibrium. Jubilee: derived from the Hebrew word yobel, "ram’s horn," which was blown on this occasion.
 
Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 7-8
2 that thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving power among all nations. 3 Let the peoples praise thee, O God; let all the peoples praise thee! 5 Let the peoples praise thee, O God; let all the peoples praise thee! 7 God has blessed us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!
Bible Study: [Psalm 67] A petition for a bountiful harvest (Psalm 67:7), made in the awareness that Israel’s prosperity will persuade the nations to worship its God.
Matthew 14:1-12
1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus; 2 and he said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist, he has been raised from the dead; that is why these powers are at work in him." 3 For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison, for the sake of Hero’di-as, his brother Philip’s wife; 4 because John said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her." 5 And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet. 6 But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Hero’di-as danced before the company, and pleased Herod, 7 so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter." 9 And the king was sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given; 10 he sent and had John beheaded in the prison, 11 and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 And his disciples came and took the body and buried it; and they went and told Jesus.
Bible Study: [1-12] The murder of the Baptist by Herod Antipas prefigures the death of Jesus (see Matthew 17:12). The Marcan source (Matthew 6:14-29) is much reduced and in some points changed. In Mark Herod reveres John as a holy man and the desire to kill him is attributed to Herodias (Matthew 6:19, 20), whereas here that desire is Herod’s from the beginning (Matthew 6:5). [1] Herod the tetrarch: Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great. When the latter died, his territory was divided among three of his surviving sons, Archelaus who received half of it (Matthew 2:23), Herod Antipas who became ruler of Galilee and Perea, and Philip who became ruler of northern Transjordan. Since he received a quarter of his father’s domain, Antipas is accurately designated tetrarch ("ruler of a fourth [part]"), although in Matthew 14:9 Matthew repeats the "king" of his Marcan source (Matthew 6:26). [3] Herodias was not the wife of Herod’s half-brother Philip but of another half-brother, Herod Boethus. The union was prohibited by Lev 18:16; 20:21. According to Josephus (Antiquities 18, 5, 2 #116-19), Herod imprisoned and then executed John because he feared that the Baptist’s influence over the people might enable him to lead a rebellion.
 

Posted in Bible Readings, Daily Bible Readings, Daily Prayers, Richard Angulo | Leave a Comment »

Prayer & Readings – Nothing can come but that that God wills.

August 2, 2007

When: Thursday, August 02, 2007 7:30 AM-8:30 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).
 
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
 
Dear Lord God, the law of attraction, the Secret and all the theories, books and teachings on connecting to the source should prompt one to ask questions. As St Thomas states nothing happens that is not You will, but tragedy force one to ask questions. We learn love You and we want to know you and one cannot know and love You without asking questions. I believe You have planted in our hearts the need to love and know You and created in our heart a place that only You can fill, yet this makes me ask questions. Today’s reading teach us about Wisdom, Wisdom as a being with You as the source of that Wisdom, but yet it is distinct from You but from and part of You; how can one not ask questions. Today my thoughts are pulled to ask these questions, but I focus on You and try to think only of acceptance and thanksgiving without wondering how or why, but only that it is You will and You are the Source. And that for me the answers and the way with the true secrets lie in Jesus Christ who through the Holy Spirit dwells in me with You for Your purpose not mine. So I ask You Lord God in the name of Jesus Christ help me move past the questions to the answer, Jesus Christ. And in a time and in a world under the sun with so much need for You, and questions about You, that You would use me and help me to just share and spread Your message, the Gospel and leave the rest to You. Amen
Nothing can come but that that God wills. And I make me very sure that whatsoever that be, seem it never so bad in sight, it shall indeed be the best.
— St. Thomas More to his daughter
1 Wisdom will praise herself, and will glory in the midst of her people. 2 In the assembly of the Most High she will open her mouth, and in the presence of his host she will glory: 3 "I came forth from the mouth of the Most High, and covered the earth like a mist. 4 I dwelt in high places, and my throne was in a pillar of cloud. 16 Like a terebinth I spread out my branches, and my branches are glorious and graceful. 22 Whoever obeys me will not be put to shame, and those who work with my help will not sin." 23 All this is the book of the covenant of the Most High God, the law which Moses commanded us as an inheritance for the congregations of Jacob.

Bible Study: [1-27] In this chapter Wisdom speaks in the first person, describing her origin, her dwelling place in Israel, and the reward she gives her followers. As in Prov 8 Wisdom is described as a being who comes from God and is distinct from him. While we do not say with certainty that this description applies to a personal being, it does foreshadow the beautiful doctrine of the Word of God later developed in St. John’s Gospel (John 1:1-14).
 
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be 4 through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; 5 the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 A man named John was sent from God. 7 He came for testimony, 6 to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own, but his own people 7 did not accept him. 12 But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, 13 who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God. And the Word became flesh 9 and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.
 
In the liturgy this chapter is applied to the Blessed Virgin because of her constant and intimate association with Christ, the Incarnate Wisdom. [22] Here the author begins to speak once more, Wisdom having ended her discourse in the preceding verse. Wisdom and the law of Moses are now identified.
Psalm 34:5, 7, 9-10, 18-19
5 Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed. 7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 9 O fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no want! 10 The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. 18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
Bible Study: [Psalm 34] Of David – A thanksgiving in acrostic form, each line beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In this psalm one letter is missing and two are in reverse order. The psalmist, fresh from the experience of being rescued (Psalm 34:5, 7), can teach the "poor," those who are defenseless, to trust in God alone (Psalm 34:4, 12). God will make them powerful (Psalm 34:5-11) and give them protection (Psalm 34:12-22).
Galatians 4:3-7
3 So with us; when we were children, we were slaves to the elemental spirits of the universe. 4 But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" 7 So through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir.
Bible Study: [3] The elemental powers of the world: while the term can refer to the "elements" like earth, air, fire, and water or to elementary forms of religion, the sense here is more likely that of celestial beings that were thought in pagan circles to control the world; cf Gal 4:8; Col 2:8, 20. 4 [6] Children: see the note on Gal 3:26; here in contrast to the infant or young person not of age (Gal 3:1, 3). Abba: cf Mark 14:36 and the note; Romans 8:15.
Luke 1:26-33
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!" 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end."
Bible Study:  [26-38] The announcement to Mary of the birth of Jesus is parallel to the announcement to Zechariah of the birth of John. In both the angel Gabriel appears to the parent who is troubled by the vision (Luke 1:11-12, 26-29) and then told by the angel not to fear (Luke 1:13, 30). After the announcement is made (Luke 1:14-17, 31-33) the parent objects (Luke 1:18, 34) and a sign is given to confirm the announcement (Luke 1:20, 36). The particular focus of the announcement of the birth of Jesus is on his identity as Son of David (Luke 1:32-33) and Son of God (Luke 1:32, 35).
 

Posted in Bible Readings, Daily Bible Readings, Daily Prayers, Richard Angulo | Leave a Comment »

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »