One Walk

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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Dear Lord God, I come to You with a thankful heart, mindful of my need to pray more fervently and purposely aware that I let to many things under the sun interfere with spending more time in prayer with You for those I want to lift up in prayer for blessings, healing, comfort, contentment and salvation, but also those that I am having problems with as a result of their selfish and prideful intentions, coveting of what I have or they believe I have or those that openly claim to be my enemies wanting to hurt or destroy me. O Lord create in me a clean heart each morning, full of faith, hope and love, able to go out into the secular world as Your disciple, to serve and bring honor to You. Allow me to approach and interact with those I am having problems with and especially those that claim to be my enemies with eyes of faith; calmly, confidently, courageously and connected to Your presence. These things I ask and pray in the glorious name of my Lord and Master Jesus Christ, Amen.

Although set by God in a state of rectitude man, enticed by the evil one, abused his freedom at the very start of history. He lifted himself up against God, and sought to attain his goal apart from him.

— Gaudium et spes 13

Acts 18:1-8

1 After this he left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a Jew named Aq’uila, a native of Pontus, lately come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them; 3 and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them, and they worked, for by trade they were tentmakers. 4 And he argued in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks. 5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedo’nia, Paul was occupied with preaching, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. 6 And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, "Your blood be upon your heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles." 7 And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God; his house was next door to the synagogue. 8 Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with all his household; and many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized.

Bible Study:  [2] Aquila . . . Priscilla: both may already have been Christians at the time of their arrival in Corinth (see Acts 18:26). According to 1 Cor 16:19, their home became a meeting place for Christians. Claudius: the Emperor Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome ca. A.D. 40. The Roman historian Suetonius gives as reason for the expulsion disturbances among the Jews "at the instigation of Chrestos," probably meaning disputes about the messiahship of Jesus. [6] Shook out his garments: a gesture indicating Paul’s repudiation of his mission to the Jews there; cf Acts 28:17-31. [7] A worshiper of God: see the note on Acts 8:26-40. [8] Crispus: in 1 Cor 1:14 Paul mentions that Crispus was one of the few he himself baptized at Corinth.

Psalm 98:1-4

1 O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory. 2 The LORD has made known his victory, he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations. 3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. 4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

Bible Study: [Psalm 98] A hymn, similar to Psalm 96, extolling God for Israel’s victory (Psalm 98:1-3). All nations (Psalm 98:4-6) and even inanimate nature (Psalm 98:7-8) are summoned to welcome God’s coming to rule over the world (Psalm 98:9). [1] Marvelous deeds . . . victory: the conquest of all threats to the peaceful existence of Israel, depicted in the psalms variously as a cosmic force such as sea, or nations bent on Israel’s destruction, or evildoers seemingly triumphant. Whose right hand and holy arm: God is pictured as a powerful warrior.

John 16:16-20

16 "A little while, and you will see me no more; again a little while, and you will see me." 17 Some of his disciples said to one another, "What is this that he says to us, `A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, `because I go to the Father’?" 18 They said, "What does he mean by `a little while’? We do not know what he means." 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him; so he said to them, "Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, `A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’? 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.

/      raangulo

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Dear Lord God, a part from You I can do nothing! For You know I firmly believe that You have put the need to know and love You in all our hearts and from the moment of Baptism You begin to grow in us through the Holy Spirit and with that the need to love and know You grows too. Then why is it that we wait? Trying to trick or cheat You out of what is Yours only to look back and find we have only cheated ourselves of time with You, tricked by our selfish and prideful selves into thinking we could find our beatitude (1)) without You.

            O Lord God almighty and power for the sake of His sorrowful passion have mercy on us and on the whole world; let Your grace rain down today, touching and lighting the way home to You for those that are still lost, and touching and reminding us that already found the way that the path is less traveled than the ways under the sun, and the door is narrow so we can only pass one at a time, but the reward is great and as the song goes ‘better is one day with You, than one thousands else where’. So I ask this day that in the name of Jesus Christ You let us feel Your touch, reminding us of Your presence and of all the blessings and gifts You have bestowed on us. Happy Birthday Abuelito, I love you! Amen

This one, true God, of his own goodness and "almighty power", not for increasing his own beatitude, nor for attaining his perfection, but in order to manifest this perfection through the benefits which he bestows on creatures, with absolute freedom of counsel "and from the beginning of time, made out of nothing both orders of creatures, the spiritual and the corporeal. . ."

— Dei Filius

(1)  the perfect happiness and inner peace supposed to be enjoyed by the soul in heaven; extreme happiness and serenity

Acts 17:15, 22 — 18:1

15 Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed. 22 So Paul, standing in the middle of the Are-op’agus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, `To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all men life and breath and everything. 26 And he made from one every nation of men to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after him and find him. Yet he is not far from each one of us, 28 for `In him we live and move and have our being‘; as even some of your poets have said, `For we are indeed his offspring.’ 29 Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the Deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, a representation by the art and imagination of man. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all men by raising him from the dead." 32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said, "We will hear you again about this." 33 So Paul went out from among them. 34 But some men joined him and believed, among them Dionys’ius the Are-op’agite and a woman named Dam’aris and others with them.

1 After this he left Athens and went to Corinth.

Bible Study: [22-31] In Paul’s appearance at the Areopagus he preaches his climactic speech to Gentiles in the cultural center of the ancient world. The speech is more theological than christological. Paul’s discourse appeals to the Greek world’s belief in divinity as responsible for the origin and existence of the universe. It contests the common belief in a multiplicity of gods supposedly exerting their powers through their images. It acknowledges that the attempt to find God is a constant human endeavor. It declares, further, that God is the judge of the human race, that the time of the judgment has been determined, and that it will be executed through a man whom God raised from the dead. The speech reflects sympathy with pagan religiosity, handles the subject of idol worship gently, and appeals for a new examination of divinity, not from the standpoint of creation but from the standpoint of judgment. [23] To an Unknown God’: ancient authors such as Pausanias, Philostratus, and Tertullian speak of Athenian altars with no specific dedication as altars of "unknown gods" or "nameless altars." [26] From one: many manuscripts read "from one blood." Fixed . . . seasons: or "fixed limits to the epochs." [28] ‘In him we live and move and have our being’: some scholars understand this saying to be based on an earlier saying of Epimenides of Knossos (6th century B.C.). ‘For we too are his offspring’: here Paul is quoting Aratus of Soli, a third-century B.C. poet from Cilicia.

Psalm 148:1-2, 11-14

1 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens, praise him in the heights! 2 Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his host! 11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! 12 Young men and maidens together, old men and children! 13 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven. 14 He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his saints, for the people of Israel who are near to him. Praise the LORD!

Bible Study: [Psalm 148] A hymn inviting the beings of heaven (Psalm 148:1-6) and of earth (Psalm 148:7-14) to praise God. The hymn does not distinguish between inanimate and animate (and rational) nature. [14] The LORD has lifted high the horn of his people: horn = strength, the concrete noun for the abstract. Of all peoples God has chosen Israel to return praise and thanks in a special way.

John 16:12-15

12 "I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Bible Study: [13] Declare to you the things that are coming: not a reference to new predictions about the future, but interpretation of what has already occurred or been said.

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Dear Lord God, practicing Your presence in all things is on my mind and heart today; not feeling anxious or fearful about what tomorrow will bring, but focused on Your will and doing the best I can where ever You place me, is and I think it has always been my goal. But under the sun we are surrounded by wolves that feed off of weaker and or gentler spirits. So I see the road ahead divides into to paths, and as the poem goes one is well traveled, the other is narrower and far less traveled. 

            Then I read today’s Selling Among Wolves article titled Poor Wise Men Have No Voice – where Ecc 9:16 is quoted "Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.” The article goes on to say, ‘We are called to excellence; and when we excel we will experience financial reward. Yes, Jesus was our example and yes, He did suffer unimaginably. He told us that the servant is not above the master and we should expect that all who live godly will suffer persecution. But is that the whole counsel of God on the matter? I think not. Jesus walked among us for 33 years. He didn’t come to set up a business. He came to save the world. And yet, how much of that time was spent suffering? It certainly wasn’t His daily lifestyle.’ As motivational as this sounds, I cannot help but it seems to be missing something. I mean excellence and financial reward do not always go together under the sun. But excellence just for Your sake is, doing my best for You Lord God and loving and care for those spirits You put in my path must be reward enough. If You choose to bless me with the rewards under the sun, then that to is a gift from You.

            I am drawn to verses 5:41-42 of Matthew ".. if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously." Under the sun I think true excellence for You Lord God is being able to give all in the secular world, knowing that we will not always receive our reward under the sun, and some times the wolves will take our reward as theirs. But to continue to pursue excellence knowing this, is excellence in itself. O Lord that You would continue Your work within me, open my eyes and heart to knew secrets and truths, and help me to be excellent for You alone! In Jesus name I ask and pray, Amen.

God fashioned man with his own hands [that is, the Son and the Holy Spirit] and impressed his own form on the flesh he had fashioned, in such a way that even what was visible might bear the divine form.

— St. Irenaeus

Acts 16:22-34

22 The crowd joined in attacking them; and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and every one’s fetters were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." 29 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 and brought them out and said, "Men, what must I do to be saved?" 31 And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and he was baptized at once, with all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house, and set food before them; and he rejoiced with all his household that he had believed in God.

Psalm 138:1-3, 7-8

1 I give thee thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing thy praise; 2 I bow down toward thy holy temple and give thanks to thy name for thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness; for thou hast exalted above everything thy name and thy word. 3 On the day I called, thou didst answer me, my strength of soul thou didst increase. 7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou dost preserve my life; thou dost stretch out thy hand against the wrath of my enemies, and thy right hand delivers me. 8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; thy steadfast love, O LORD, endures for ever. Do not forsake the work of thy hands.

Bible Study: [Psalm 138] Of David – A thanksgiving to God, who came to the rescue of the psalmist. Divine rescue was not the result of the psalmist’s virtues but of God’s loving fidelity (Psalm 138:1-3). The act is not a private transaction but a public act that stirs the surrounding nations to praise God’s greatness and care for the people (Psalm 138:4-6). The psalmist, having experienced salvation, trusts that God will always be there in moments of danger (Psalm 138:7-8).

John 16:5-11

5 But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, `Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convince the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

Bible Study: [5] Not one of you asks me: the difficulty of reconciling this with Simon Peter’s question in John 13:36 and Thomas’ words in John 14:5 strengthens the supposition that the last discourse has been made up of several collections of Johannine material. [8-11] These verses illustrate the forensic character of the Paraclete’s role: in the forum of the disciples’ conscience he prosecutes the world. He leads believers to see (a) that the basic sin was and is refusal to believe in Jesus; (b) that, although Jesus was found guilty and apparently died in disgrace, in reality righteousness has triumphed, for Jesus has returned to his Father; (c) finally, that it is the ruler of this world, Satan, who has been condemned through Jesus’ death (John 12:32).

/      raangulo

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