One Walk

When: Monday, January 14, 2008 12:00 AM to Tuesday, January 15, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).

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Words of Jesus

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you. "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men. "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.

Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.

Matthew 5:1-15

The Devil never runs upon a man to seize him with his claws until he sees him on the ground, already having fallen by his own will. – St. Thomas More

Abba, Father, Lord God, today the Word's of Jesus to Simon and Andrew lift me up, "Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men." O how I seek to be a light on the hill, to be an example, to be a light that draws others to You; and in doing so help them to also seek to understand and know how blessed we are. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

1 Samuel 1:1-8</vbible/search.asp?abbr=_1Sam&ch=1&bv1=1&ev1=8>

1 There was a certain man of Ramatha'im-zo'phim of the hill country of E'phraim, whose name was Elka'nah the son of Jero'ham, son of Eli'hu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an E'phraimite. 2 He had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Penin'nah. And Penin'nah had children, but Hannah had no children. 3 Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phin'ehas, were priests of the LORD. 4 On the day when Elka'nah sacrificed, he would give portions to Penin'nah his wife and to all her sons and daughters; 5 and, although he loved Hannah, he would give Hannah only one portion, because the LORD had closed her womb. 6 And her rival used to provoke her sorely, to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb. 7 So it went on year by year; as often as she went up to the house of the LORD, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. 8 And Elka'nah, her husband, said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?"

Psalm 116:12-19</vbible/search.asp?abbr=Ps&ch=116&bv1=12&ev1=19>

12 What shall I render to the LORD for all his bounty to me? 13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD, 14 I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people. 15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. 16 O LORD, I am thy servant, the son of thy handmaid. Thou hast loosed my bonds. 17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD. 18 I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people, 19 in the courts of the house of the LORD, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!

Mark 1:14-20</vbible/search.asp?abbr=Mark&ch=1&bv1=14&ev1=20>

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel." 16 And passing along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men." 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zeb'edee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them; and they left their father Zeb'edee in the boat with the hired servants, and followed him.

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 13, 2008 12:00 AM to Monday, January 14, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).

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Words of Jesus

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."

Luke 4:18-19

Sometimes hatred is charming, while love must show itself severe. – St. Augustine

Abba, Father, Lord God, today's readings are presented in the Lector Workbook to clearly show Your hand in the formation of the early Church and just as importantly the growth and change within the Apostles, like Peter. I feel three themes that cause me to discuss them with You. First the same speculations' surround Books of the Old and New Testament; clearly You inspired the Prophets, Apostles and Writer's of these Books to write them through Your Spirit. So too Your Spirit has been with and is within our Church founders and those that have translated and organized these Books for use by the people; as it has been, is, and will be throughout the generations. For it is Your Spirit that inspires us to seek to know and understand; whether out of fear or love. It is Your Spirit that we must keep turning to for this understanding; we must pray and meditate on Your Word keeping a humble heart or we risk forgetting all we know, all we do, all we have is a gift. gift from You through the Spirit. The second theme centers around Jesus' authority and the power of Your Spirit within Him, and how if one opens his or her heart it becomes clear that He is the way and the light; His Word, His Teachings, His Love and His Passion. One with You and Your Spirit. The third theme is that the mystery of You the Father Lord God, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit is one that we must accept without understanding, knowledge by faith, in hope and with love, always being reminded that we will never understand while in human form under the sun and that is Your will. That we believe and act by faith, in the hope of the promise of Your Word through Jesus Chris always with us in the Holy Spirit. For one day with You is truly better than one thousand elsewhere. Amen

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7</vbible/search.asp?abbr=Is_&ch=42&bv1=1&ev1=4&bv2=6&ev2=7>

1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him, he will bring forth justice to the nations. 2 He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; 3 a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. 4 He will not fail or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law. 6 "I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, 7 to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.

Psalm 29:1-4, 3, 9-10</vbible/search.asp?abbr=Ps&ch=29&bv1=1&ev1=4&bv2=3&ev2=3&bv3=9&ev3=10>

1 Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory of his name; worship the LORD in holy array. 3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, upon many waters. 4 The voice of the LORD is powerful, the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. 9 The voice of the LORD makes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forests bare; and in his temple all cry, "Glory!" 10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king for ever.

Acts 10: 34-38</vbible/search.asp?abbr=Acts&ch=10&bv1=34&ev1=38>

34 And Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 You know the word which he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37 the word which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

Matthew 3:13-17</vbible/search.asp?abbr=Matt&ch=3&bv1=13&ev1=17>

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 15 But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness." Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him; 17 and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

Pope Benedict XVI Encyclical Letter

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