November 10, 2012

Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, pope and doctor of the Church

(Reigned 440-61).

Place and date of birth unknown; died 10 November, 461. Leo's pontificate, next to that of St. Gregory I, is the most significant and important in Christian antiquity. At a time when the Church was experiencing the greatest obstacles to her progress in consequence of the hastening disintegration of the Western Empire, while the Orient was profoundly agitated over dogmatic controversies, this great pope, with far-seeing sagacity and powerful hand, guided the destiny of the Roman and Universal Church....Read more.

Lectionary: 490

First Reading from St. Paul's letter to the Philippians

Phil 4:10-19

Brothers and sisters:
I rejoice greatly in the Lord
that now at last you revived your concern for me.

>>>Brethren, I felt as though I had been abandoned.  But now, I thank God that you have shown your love for me.

You were, of course, concerned about me but lacked an opportunity.
Not that I say this because of need,
for I have learned, in whatever situation I find myself,
to be self-sufficient.

>>>Of course, now I realize that you simply did not have the opportunity to show your love for me.  But I will tell you a lesson, I have learned to be self-sufficient in every circumstance.

I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances;
I know also how to live with abundance.

>>>I know how to live do without and how to react in times of plenty.

In every circumstance and in all things
I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry,
of living in abundance and of being in need.

>>>In all situations, I have learned the key of being satisfied whether well fed or hungry.

I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me.
Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.

>>>My strength is from Our Lord.  Still, I appreciate your generosity.

You Philippians indeed know that at the beginning of the Gospel,
when I left Macedonia,
not a single church shared with me
in an account of giving and receiving, except you alone.

>>>You, from Philippi, know that you have shared your blessings with me when no one else would.

For even when I was at Thessalonica
you sent me something for my needs,
not only once but more than once.

>>>Even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me supplies, many times.

It is not that I am eager for the gift;
rather, I am eager for the profit that accrues to your account.
I have received full payment and I abound.

>>>It is not that I'm eager to receive anything from you.  But I'm eager for you to receive that which will accrue to you as a result of your generosity.  I have received full payment from God and it is so much.

I am very well supplied because of what I received from you
through Epaphroditus,
"a fragrant aroma," an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

>>>And what I received from you has filled my supplies.  This your gift through Epaphroditus will issue a fragrant aroma before God, an acceptable sacrifice pleasing to Him.

My God will fully supply whatever you need,
in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

>>>In turn, my God will fully supply whatever you need in resprect to the Grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 112:1b-2, 5-6, 8a And 9

R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Blessed the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed.

R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice;
He shall never be moved;
the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.

R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear.
Lavishly he gives to the poor;
his generosity shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.

R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

>>>The righteous man who obeys the Lord's commands will receive compensation from the Lord in the hereafter:

Revelation 22:12-13

King James Version (KJV)

¹² And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
¹³ I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke

Lk 16:9-15

Jesus said to his disciples:
"I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth,
so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

>>>Dishonest wealth-that is what we have.  Our very life is from God.  It is not our own.

Eternal dwellings-that is the Kingdom of Heaven.  

This saying is a confirmation of the advocacy of the Saints in heaven.  They will be sitting on thrones judging the world.  And if you have made friends with them, they will allow you into heaven:

1 Corinthians 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?  3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?  4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

The person who is trustworthy in very small matters
is also trustworthy in great ones;
and the person who is dishonest in very small matters
is also dishonest in great ones.
If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth,
who will trust you with true wealth?

>>>This is so profound, its hard to know where to start.  Whether we realize it or not, we are all hard wired to judge in this way.  We trust those who have proven themselves trustworthy.  We distrust those who have proved themselves not to be trustworthy.

Dishonest wealth is, again, everything we have.  Nothing is our own.  Not even our lives.  If we act unrighteously with God's wealth, why would we expect Him to bring us into eternal dwellings?  

Romans 2:1-7
1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.  2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.  3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?  4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?  5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;  6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:  7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another,
who will give you what is yours?

>>>Say that a person is entrusted with another's money, such as a banker frequently is.  If that banker does not act righteously with that money, can he expect to be paid?  Of course not.

In the same way, we are entrusted with the good things of life.  God expects us to use them to do good to our neighbor.  But if we use that which He gives us selfishly, can we expect to be rewarded with eternal life?

No servant can serve two masters.
He will either hate one and love the other,
or be devoted to one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and mammon."

>>>We can't serve both God and the Devil.  We can't serve both God and our flesh.  But if we love God, everything will fall into place.

The Pharisees, who loved money,
heard all these things and sneered at him.

>>>The Pharisees, however, loved money and did not believe Him.

And he said to them,
"You justify yourselves in the sight of others,
but God knows your hearts;
for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God."

>>>And Jesus said to them, you make yourself look good before men.  But that which men esteem is an abomination to God.

1 Corinthians 1:20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

Sincerely,

De Maria

The Scripture contains Catholic doctrine

Hi Lutero,

You said to Commander:

De Maria said the scripture contain Catholic doctrine

Correct.

so we must believe in Sola scriptura.

Huh? You mean after all the times that I’ve repeatedly said that Sola Scriptura is a false doctrine which contradicts not only Scripture, but itself, you come to the conclusion that I said we must believe Sola?

We must also find whether un-biblical doctrines of Tradition found in the CCC need to castigated out

There are not any un-biblical doctrines in the Catholic Church. There are several anti-Biblical doctrines in Protestantism.

Sincerely,

De Maria

November 9, 2012

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

Today the Church celebrates the feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome. The Basilica of St. John Lateran is the cathedral of Rome. This is not St. Peter's, but it is the Pope's cathedral. Also called the Church of Holy Savior or the Church of St. John Baptist, it was the baptism church of ancient Rome.  Read more...

Lectionary: 671

First Reading from the holy book of Ezekiel

Ez 47:1-2, 8-9, 12

The angel brought me
back to the entrance of the temple,
and I saw water flowing out
from beneath the threshold of the temple toward the east,
for the façade of the temple was toward the east;
the water flowed down from the southern side of the temple,
south of the altar.

>>>The great Prophet Ezekiel is again having a vision.  An angel brings him to the temple from which water flows in every direction.  I believe the Temple symbolizes Jesus and the water symbolizes the Holy Spirit.

John 4:10

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁰ Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

He led me outside by the north gate,
and around to the outer gate facing the east,
where I saw water trickling from the southern side.

>>>The water which symbolizes the Spirit of God, goes in every direction:

John 3:8

King James Version (KJV)

⁸ The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

He said to me,
"This water flows into the eastern district down upon the Arabah,
and empties into the sea, the salt waters, which it makes fresh.

>>>The salt waters represent the sufferings of the people.  The Holy Spirit heals them.

Wherever the river flows,
every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live,
and there shall be abundant fish,
for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh.

>>>And brings them to the abundant life:

John 10:10

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁰ The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow;
their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail.
Every month they shall bear fresh fruit,
for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary.

>>>The fruit trees represent the people of God who being grafted to the root of Jesse, will bear much fruit:

John 15

King James Version (KJV)

1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

² Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

Their fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine."

>>>And the fruit which they bear is love for one another:

Matthew 25:31-40

King James Version (KJV)

³¹ When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
³² And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
³³ And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
³⁴ Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
³⁵ For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
³⁶ Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
³⁷ Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
³⁸ When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
³⁹ Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
⁴⁰ And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Responsorial Psalm 

Ps 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9

R. (5) The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!

God is our refuge and our strength,
an ever-present help in distress.
Therefore, we fear not, though the earth be shaken
and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea.

R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!

There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God,
the holy dwelling of the Most High.
God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed;
God will help it at the break of dawn.

R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!

The LORD of hosts is with us;
our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
Come! behold the deeds of the LORD,
the astounding things he has wrought on earth.

R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!

>>>The City of God is the Catholic Church.  The rivulets or streams of living Water are the Sacraments.  The Lord is with us in the Eucharist and the Sacraments are His mighty deeds:
740 These "mighty works of God," offered to believers in the sacraments of the Church, bear their fruit in the new life in Christ, according to the Spirit. (This will be the topic of Part Three.)

Second Reading  from the first epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians

1 Cor 3:9c-11, 16-17

Brothers and sisters:
You are God's building.

>>>We are the Temple of the Holy Spirit:

1 Peter 2:5

King James Version (KJV)

⁵ Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

According to the grace of God given to me,
like a wise master builder I laid a foundation,
and another is building upon it.

>>>St. Paul has laid the foundation and another person is building upon it.

The other person is us.  We are the ones which, if you read the verses 10-15, build upon this foundation either with gold, wood or straw.  These things represent our works, which may be filled with love or completely selfish.  Verses 10-15 illustrate the process of cleansing in Purgatory.

But each one must be careful how he builds upon it,
for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there,
namely, Jesus Christ.

>>>The only foundation that they must lay is Jesus Christ.  

Do you not know that you are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

>>>We are the temple of God and therefore want to build upon our temple with precious materials.  Not wood or straw which will burn away.

If anyone destroys God's temple,
God will destroy that person;
for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.

>>>So, if anyone, we or another, destroys our temple, God will destroy us in hell:

Matthew 18:6

King James Version (KJV)

⁶ But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John

Jn 2:13-22

Since the Passover of the Jews was near,
Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

>>>I'm a firm believer that knowing the Traditions of the Church is a key to understanding the Scriptures.  I often wondered why St. John specifies, the "Passover of the Jews" in this phrase.  As far as I knew, there was only one Passover.  However, once I learned that the Mass is the Christian Passover, then I understood why St. John clarified that Jesus which Passover he was talking about.

Anyway, it was approaching time for the Passover of the Jews, which corresponds to our Easter.

He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves,
as well as the money-changers seated there.

>>>When Jesus went to the Temple of God to worship, He found there many people making personal profit from the God fearing people.

He made a whip out of cords
and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen,
and spilled the coins of the money-changers
and overturned their tables,
and to those who sold doves he said,
"Take these out of here,
and stop making my Father's house a marketplace."

>>>So, in His zeal for the House of God, Jesus chased them out.

His disciples recalled the words of Scripture,
Zeal for your house will consume me.

>>>His disciples recalled the words of Scripture which described the Lord's anger.

At this the Jews answered and said to him,
"What sign can you show us for doing this?"

>>>Apparently, the Jews upset at what Jesus did and they insisted upon some miraculous sign to show that Jesus was authorized to behave this way.  As though healing lepers and raising people from the dead were not enough.

Jesus answered and said to them,
"Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up."

>>>Jesus said to them, "When you destroy this temple, I will raise it in three days, that will be your sign.

The Jews said,
"This temple has been under construction for forty-six years,
and you will raise it up in three days?"
But he was speaking about the temple of his Body.

>>>They thought He was referring to the stone Temple.  But He was referring to His Body which they would crucify.

Therefore, when he was raised from the dead,
his disciples remembered that he had said this,
and they came to believe the Scripture
and the word Jesus had spoken.

>>>And when He came back to them from the dead, His students remembered that He had said He would do so.

Sincerely,

De Maria

Go De Maria!

Antiochus said:

Go De Maria! Go De Maria!

Lutero replied:

Another of those religious bigot chants who make noise like empty vessels gathering no moss.

Do you hate everyone who agrees with me and disagrees with you?

Sincerely,

De Maria

An Invitation

Why should a person who is not Catholic consider entering into the Church? Father Francis Peffley gives five compelling reasons, followed by a simple outline of the steps one would take to begin the process of becoming Catholic. Fr. Peffley is active with parish young adult ministry, retreat work, Catholic apologetics, and evangelization. His hobbies include golf, scuba diving, bowling, and juggling fire torches and machetes.

November 8, 2012

Thursday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 488

A Reading from St. Paul's epistle to the Philippians

Phil 3:3-8a

Brothers and sisters:
We are the circumcision,

 >>>That's an interesting way of putting it.  Because frequently, St. Paul condemns circumcision.  What I think he means is that we are the new Israelites.  We are the new people of God.

Colossians 2:11

King James Version (KJV)

¹¹ In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

¹² Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

The Circumcision without hands is Baptism.

we who worship through the Spirit of God,
who boast in Christ Jesus and do not put our confidence in flesh,

 >>>Apparently, the Jews used to consider themselves holy simply because they were circumcised.   To learn more about circumcision, you need to review the Scriptures about Abraham, which begin in Genesis 12.  For now, Abraham is the one with whom God established the Covenant of Circumcision.  All who are circumcised considered themselves sons of Abraham and therefore saved.  In Romans 3 and 4, St. Paul proved that it was not those circumcised in the flesh who were saved.  But those who, by faith, placed their hope in God.  This is what Abraham did, this is why he was circumcised.  Therefore, those who place their faith in God are children of Abraham.  Not those who have faith in the physical sign of circumcision.

Therefore, St. Paul calls that, "confidence in the flesh".   Whereas, he contrasts that to those who worship in the Spirit.

although I myself have grounds for confidence even in the flesh.

 >>>St. Paul here reveals that he, himself, was a circumcised Pharisee, son of Pharisees.

If anyone else thinks he can be confident in flesh, all the more can I.
Circumcised on the eighth day,
of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin,
a Hebrew of Hebrew parentage,
in observance of the law a Pharisee,
in zeal I persecuted the Church,
in righteousness based on the law I was blameless.

 >>>He did everything they were supposed to do and believed in his righteousness according to those rituals to the point of persecuting the Church of Christ.

But whatever gains I had,
these I have come to consider a loss because of Christ.
More than that, I even consider everything as a loss
because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

 >>>But now, he realizes that all those things were as dung.  And all he longs for is union with our Lord.

Responsorial Psalm 

Ps 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R. (3b) Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!

R. Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.

R. Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.

R. Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

 >>>Descendants of Abraham have faith in God.

Romans 4:18-20

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁸ Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
¹⁹ And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:
²⁰ He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

We can make the same mistake as the Jews.  If we begin to say to ourselves that we are saved because we have been baptized and because we go to Mass on Sundays.  Unless we put the grace of God to work according to His loving Word, we will die in our sins:

Galatians 5:6

King James Version (KJV)

⁶ For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke

Lk 15:1-10

The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
"This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

 >>>The Pharisees and Scribes objected that Jesus attracted tax collectors and other sinners.

So Jesus addressed this parable to them.
"What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them
would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert
and go after the lost one until he finds it?

 >>>So, Jesus said to them, "Which of you, having a hundred sheep and finding one missing, would not leave the 99 and go into the desert after the one lost sheep?"

And when he does find it,
he sets it on his shoulders with great joy
and, upon his arrival home,
he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them,
'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.'

 >>>And upon finding that one lost sheep, would not rejoice as though he had found a whole flock?

I tell you, in just the same way
there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents
than over ninety-nine righteous people
who have no need of repentance.

 >>>In the same way, all of heaven will rejoice over one repentant sinner more than over 99 righteous people.

"Or what woman having ten coins and losing one
would not light a lamp and sweep the house,
searching carefully until she finds it?

 >>>What woman, having collected her dowery (the coins given the groom upon her wedding), having lost one, would not sweep the house day and night until she found it?

And when she does find it,
she calls together her friends and neighbors
and says to them,
'Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.'

 >>>And when she does, call all her friends and neighbors and tell them all about it so they might share her joy?

In just the same way, I tell you,
there will be rejoicing among the angels of God
over one sinner who repents."

 >>>In the same way, the angels of God will rejoice over one sinner who repents.

Sincerely,

De Maria

The Bible repeatedly tells us that God will have mercy on whom He has mercy

Lutero said:

Romans 9:

14 What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! 15 For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.” 16 So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH.” 18 So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires. 

The Bible repeatedly tells us that God will have mercy on whom He has mercy.

That doesn't mean that God is capricious. God has revealed upon Whom He bestows His mercy:
Exodus 20:6

King James Version (KJV)
⁶ And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

God also points out that His mercy does not depend on man - his willing or his running - BUT ON GOD WHO HAS MERCY.

That is true. But God's criteria for man is that man must obey God in order for God to show His mercy upon man:
Matthew 25:31-45

King James Version (KJV)
³¹ When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
³² And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
³³ And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
³⁴ Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
³⁵ For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
³⁶ Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
³⁷ Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
³⁸ When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
³⁹ Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
⁴⁰ And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
⁴¹ Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
⁴² For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
⁴³ I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
⁴⁴ Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
⁴⁵ Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

But, if you want to live under the Law, then you are welcome to do so. Those who choose to live under the Law will be judged by that Law.

That is true. And the Law leads one to Christ:
Galatians 3:24

King James Version (KJV)
²⁴ Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

It is those who keep the Law, whom God justifies:
Romans 2:13

King James Version (KJV)
¹³ (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

I will choose to live under the mercy of God.

If you want to live under the mercy of God, you must obey His Commandments:
Deuteronomy 7:9

King James Version (KJV)
⁹ Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

Matt 5:7 expresses it another way "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."

Again, revisit Matt 25:31-45 and you will see that verse explained.

The reverse of that is Scripturally true - Judged are the Law-keepers, for they will be shown the Law.

You have misspoken. Juded are the Law keepers, for they shall be saved. Those who keep the law have already seen the law. But the lawless are condemned:
Romans 8

King James Version (KJV)
⁴ That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
⁵ For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
⁶ For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
⁷ Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
⁸ So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

1 Pet 2: 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Yeah, because we have received the Sacraments, wherein God sheds His Mercy upon our soul:
Titus 3:5

King James Version (KJV)
⁵ Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Sincerely,

De Maria

Confession of a Mega-Church Pastor

November 7, 2012

Wednesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 487

First Reading from St. Paul's epistle to the Philippians

Phil 2:12-18

My beloved, obedient as you have always been,
not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent,
work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

>>>My beloved, remain obedient and work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

Romans 2:6-9

King James Version (KJV)

⁶ Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
⁷ To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
⁸ But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
⁹ Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

For God is the one who, for his good purpose,
works in you both to desire and to work.

>>>For it is God who accomplishes His purpose by working through you.

1 Corinthians 12:6

King James Version (KJV)

⁶ And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

Do everything without grumbling or questioning,
that you may be blameless and innocent,
children of God without blemish
in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,
among whom you shine like lights in the world,
as you hold on to the word of life,
so that my boast for the day of Christ may be
that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

>>>And do everything cheerfully without grumbling because it will be good for you:

Hebrews 13:17

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁷ Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

But, even if I am poured out as a libation
upon the sacrificial service of your faith,
I rejoice and share my joy with all of you.

>>>I rejoice that I am permitte to suffer for your salvation:

Colossians 1:24

King James Version (KJV)

²⁴ Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:

In the same way you also should rejoice and share your joy with me.

>>>You should rejoice and share your joy with me in the same way.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14

R. (1a) The Lord is my light and my salvation.

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?

R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.

R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.

R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

>>>Jesus is the light of the world:

John 9:4-5

King James Version (KJV)

⁴ I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
⁵ As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke

Lk 14:25-33

Great crowds were traveling with Jesus,
and he turned and addressed them,
"If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother,
wife and children, brothers and sisters,
and even his own life,
he cannot be my disciple.

>>>We must love the Lord above all:

Deuteronomy 6:5

King James Version (KJV)

⁵ And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me
cannot be my disciple.

>>>We must be willing to suffer for Christ and the Gospel:

Romans 8:17

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁷ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Which of you wishing to construct a tower
does not first sit down and calculate the cost
to see if there is enough for its completion?

>>>In order to be saved, we must persevere in good deeds to the end:

Romans 2:7

King James Version (KJV)

⁷ To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

Otherwise, after laying the foundation
and finding himself unable to finish the work
the onlookers should laugh at him and say,
'This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.'

>>>Otherwise, we may find ourselves castaway:
1 Corinthians 9:27
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down
and decide whether with ten thousand troops
he can successfully oppose another king
advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops?

>>>Because we are fighting powerful foes:

Ephesians 6:12

King James Version (KJV)

¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

And in order to win, we must be uncompromising:

Matthew 11:12

King James Version (KJV)

¹² And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

But if not, while he is still far away,
he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms.
In the same way,
everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions
cannot be my disciple."

>>>Therefore, when we choose to follow Christ, we must not look back:

Luke 9:62

King James Version (KJV)

⁶² And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Sincerely,

De Maria