November 8, 2013

Friday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time 
Lectionary: 489
Reading 1 ROM 15:14-21

I myself am convinced about you, my brothers and sisters,
that you yourselves are full of goodness,
filled with all knowledge, and able to admonish one another.

St. Paul is praising the Romans that they are full of goodness and that they should teach each other.

But I have written to you rather boldly in some respects to remind you,
because of the grace given me by God
to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles
in performing the priestly service of the Gospel of God,

 But God sent me to teach you the Gentiles and to be a priest amongst you in the service of the Gospel

so that the offering up of the Gentiles may be acceptable,
sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

 so that the Gentiles like the Jews may have an offering acceptable to God by the Holy Spirit.

In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to boast in what pertains to God.

  Because of Christ then, I boast about the faith of God

For I will not dare to speak of anything
except what Christ has accomplished through me
to lead the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed,
by the power of signs and wonders,
by the power of the Spirit of God,
so that from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum
I have finished preaching the Gospel of Christ.

 therefore I will boast about what God has done through me amongst the Gentiles

Thus I aspire to proclaim the Gospel
not where Christ has already been named,
so that I do not build on another’s foundation,
but as it is written:

Those who have never been told of him shall see,
and those who have never heard of him shall understand.

 Therefore  I will preach of the gospel wherever the gospel has not been heard so that I will not interfere with another man's teaching.

Responsorial Psalm PS 98:1, 2-3AB, 3CD-4

R. (see 2b) The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.

R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.

R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.

A. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

The salvation of God has taken flesh and walked  among us,   therefore let us praise God!

Gospel LK 16:1-8

Jesus said to his disciples, “A rich man had a steward
who was reported to him for squandering his property.

 Jesus said, "a rich man had a  servant who was stealing his property

 He summoned him and said,
‘What is this I hear about you?
Prepare a full account of your stewardship,
because you can no longer be my steward.’

   the rich man summoned  the servant and fired  him saying, "I have heard that you are stealing from me therefore I'm letting you go."  

The steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do,
now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me?
I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg.
I know what I shall do so that,
when I am removed from the stewardship,
they may welcome me into their homes.’

 and the servant said to himself I know what I'll do so that I won't have to work hard or sleep outside

He called in his master’s debtors one by one.
To the first he said, ‘How much do you owe my master?’
He replied, ‘One hundred measures of olive oil.’
He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note.
Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.’
Then to another he said, ‘And you, how much do you owe?’
He replied, ‘One hundred measures of wheat.’
He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note;
write one for eighty.’

 so he called in all those who owed money to his master and reduced their debts

And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently.

  and the master was impressed

For the children of this world
are more prudent in dealing with their own generation
than the children of light.”

 because in this world people act wisely towards each other more wisely than the children of God. 

 This sounds as though the rich man was praising the servant for acting wickedly. But he wasn't. The rich man represents God. The servant represents the rest of us.   God expects us to use everything that he has given us,  our lives, our property, everything, for the good of those around us. In so doing we are not stealing from him but we are using his property prudently.  And this is why the master says that children of the world act more prudently with their own than do the children of God.

Shameless claims

Calvino:

Catholic apologsist have confessed to me numerous times that they even pray to their dogs

Really? I believe you are lying. But even if some Catholics pray to their dogs, it is against Catholic Teaching. Not because of it.

They are shameless with the garbage they will propose for their denom.

But, let us consider the lie you just committed. If any supposed Catholics ever confessed such a sin to you, I'd like to see you prove it. Provide the proof that you aren't lying. Otherwise, you have proven yourself shameless in your attacks against Catholics.



Sincerely,

De Maria

November 7, 2013

Thursday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 488
Reading 1 ROM 14:7-12

Brothers and sisters:
None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself.

Life is not about us.  

For if we live, we live for the Lord,
and if we die, we die for the Lord;
so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.

God is the center of our lives whether we recognize it or not.  We belong to God.

For this is why Christ died and came to life,
that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

Christ died and came back in order to prove that He is the Master of both the living and the dead.

Why then do you judge your brother or sister?
Or you, why do you look down on your brother or sister?
For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God;
for it is written:

As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bend before me,
and every tongue shall give praise to God.

So then each of us shall give an account of himself to God.

Therefore, do not judge your brother.  God is the Judge of all.  

Responsorial Psalm PS 27:1BCDE, 4, 13-14

R. ( 13) I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
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. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
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. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
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. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.

The Land of the living is heaven.  And in heaven, we shall see the Good things of God.  No one has heard, seen nor imagined the good things which God has in store for those who love Him.

Gospel 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 were complaining that Jesus was in the company of 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?
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 Jesus said, "what man having lost one sheep out of a hundred, will not leave the 99 in the desert and go in search of the lost one?"

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.

But Heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents the way that man rejoiced upon finding the lost sheep.

“Or what woman having ten coins and losing one
would not light a lamp and sweep the house,
searching carefully until she finds 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.’
In just the same way, I tell you,
there will be rejoicing among the angels of God
over one sinner who repents.”

The creatures of heaven rejoice when men turn to God and are saved.

To "pray" means to "request".

Lutero:

Kari, sorry but you have contradicted yourself, saying you must pray TO to ask is illogical.

Prayer is just speaking to God, it becomes the sin of Idolotry when you pray to any humans dead or alive.

That is your definition of prayer. We don't use your definition. We go by the Catholic definition. And to "pray" means to "request".

Sincerely,

De Maria

Everyone who dies in Christ is alive in Christ

Lutero:

Well for me its because you are asking people who have died in body to pray for you, most of us just ask in person a friend or family member that is alive here on eath to remember us in their prayers. You have no idea who you are asking to intercede for you or who you pray to to intercede for you. There is a big difference.

To you. But we believe what Christ said:

John 11:26

King James Version (KJV)
²⁶ And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Everyone who dies in Christ is alive in Christ. We believe!

Hebrews 12:21-24

King James Version (KJV)
²¹ And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake
²² But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
²³ To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
²⁴ And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Sincerely,

De Maria

November 6, 2013

Wednesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 487
Reading 1 ROM 13:8-10

Brothers and sisters:
Owe nothing to anyone,

St. Paul recommends that we should pay all our debts so that no one can make a claim against us.  

except to love one another;

But recognize that we will never pay our debt of love to God and neighbor in full.  

for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Caring for one another is the goal of the Commandments.

The commandments, You shall not commit adultery;
you shall not kill;
you shall not steal;
you shall not covet,
and whatever other commandment there may be,
are summed up in this saying, namely,
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Love does no evil to the neighbor;
hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.

Responsorial Psalm PS 112:1B-2, 4-5, 9

R. ( 5a) Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
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 is gracious and lends to those in need.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He dawns through the darkness, a light for the upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice.

R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Lavishly he gives to the poor;
his generosity shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
or:
R. Alleluia.

God will show mercy on the merciful.  God will give charity to the charitable.  Do good to your neighbor and God will give you a great reward in heaven.

Gospel 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.

Love of God takes priority over even family ties.

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

Those who suffer, must suffer in imitation of Christ, expiating their sins and the sins of mankind in their suffering.

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?
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.’

Don't think that becoming a Christian is easy.  It isn't a matter of simply saying, "I believe in God."  It is a matter of surrendering our whole life, our whole being, to God.

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?
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, since we see God marching towards us a long way off, since we know we must all one day meet our Maker, then now is the right time to make peace with God and with all men and turn to God, doing good persevering to the end.  

Why don't you take God at His Word?

Lutero said:
Why don't you take God at His Word when He said He created everything in six days?

I do. Why don't you take God at His Word when He said:

2 Peter 3:8

King James Version (KJV)
⁸ But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Evolution isn't really a science anyway. It's a theory and unproven theory at that. Those who are pushing for it's acceptance do so to discredit God and to wipe Him out of human culture. Sadly many Christians and Catholics have fallen for this fake science and aiding in helping the atheists to remove God from all aspects of society. Then there would be no grounds to stop abortions or killing because those who doubted God's word and fell for man's "science" helped atheists wipe God out.

The majority of early fathers agreed that Genesis is to be interpreted literally. They believed God created the world/universe in six 24 hour days and in a young earth. Amazing how Catholics dis their own Church authorities.

I don't know what you're talking about. Can you provide details? Because I see no infallible doctrines about the science of creation in the writings of the Church. In fact, the Church has left us free to believe that the earth was created in 6 days, or in millions of years. 

So, if you want to claim that those Catholics who believe in an old earth are disobeying the Church, you will need to provide the proof.

Sincerely,

De Maria

Why doesn't it stun you when one saint asks another for prayers

Luther said:
PRAYER TO ST. THERESEOlittle St. Theresa of the Child Jesus,who during your short life on earth became a mirrorof angelic purity, of lovestrong as death, and of wholehearted abandonment toGod, now that you rejoicein the reward of your virtues, cast a glance of pityon me as I leave allthings in your hands. Make my troubles your own - speak a word for me to ourLady Immaculate, whose flower of speciallove you were - to that Queen of heaven "whosmiled on you at the dawn oflife." Beg her as the Queenof the heartof Jesus to obtain for me by her powerful intercession, thegrace I yearn for soardently at this moment, and that she join with it ablessing that maystrengthen me during life. Defend me at the hour of death,and lead me straighton to a happy eternity.
Amen
http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/therese3.htm

I should have clarified what actually stunned me here with the above prayer - it's not about what Catholics believe and do regarding praying to Mary and the Saints - I've heard that over and over again............it's that in this particular prayer the first stop is a saint, who is then asked to pray to Mary....begging her, (not just asking) to intercede. I've just never seen a "compound" prayer like this before.

The content itself doesn't surprise me. It saddens me to realize the wasted time spent by those praying in this manner, when they can and do have access to God the Father through Christ Jesus...it's as if they do not yet know this and are floundering around, wading through different saints.

She answered your question. If that stuns you, then why doesn't it stun you when one saint asks another for prayers for another. Same thing. We believe the children of God, the body of Christ, continue to live in Christ after they die. Why don't you?

Hebrews 12:21-24

King James Version (KJV)
²¹ And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake
²² But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
²³ To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
²⁴ And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Scripture tells us that we are walking amongst them right here on earth.

2 Kings 6:16-18

King James Version (KJV)
¹⁶ And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
¹⁷ And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lordopened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
¹⁸ And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

Hebrews 12:1

King James Version (KJV)
12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Matthew 22:32

King James Version (KJV)
³² I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

Sincerely,

De Maria

November 5, 2013

Tuesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 486
Reading 1 ROM 12:5-16AB

Brothers and sisters:
We, though many, are one Body in Christ
and individually parts of one another.

All the Baptized are one body in Christ.

Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us,
let us exercise them:

and we each have different gifts, therefore, let us use them.

if prophecy, in proportion to the faith;

prophecy doesn't necessarily mean foretelling the future.  It also means preaching.

if ministry, in ministering;

ministering includes the ministerial priesthood.

if one is a teacher, in teaching;

teaching means teaching the faith.

if one exhorts, in exhortation;

exhortation is encouraging people to do good.

if one contributes, in generosity;

contributions requires the gift of a generous heart.

if one is over others, with diligence;

those with authority over others, require the gift of caring

if one does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

And those who have the gift of compassion, should give joyfully, without making the object of their compassion feel bad for needing compassion.

Let love be sincere;

love, caring for others, should not be feigned.  It should not be forced.

hate what is evil,

And we should despise sinfulness and wickedness.

hold on to what is good;

follow righteousness

love one another with mutual affection;

take care of each other

anticipate one another in showing honor.

be polite to each other

Do not grow slack in zeal,

Be enthusiastic in your faith towards God.

be fervent in spirit,

passionate in your pursuit of holiness

serve the Lord.

do the will of God

Rejoice in hope,

Expect the Lord joyfully

endure in affliction,

persevere in caring

persevere in prayer.

continue in prayer

Contribute to the needs of the holy ones,

give to the Church

exercise hospitality.

welcome people to your home

Bless those who persecute you,

Do not return evil with evil but return evil with good.

bless and do not curse them.

pray for those who offend you

Rejoice with those who rejoice,

celebrate with those who are happy and do not make people feel bad about their success.

weep with those who weep.

Be understanding to those who are suffering.

Have the same regard for one another;

Treat all men the same

do not be haughty but associate with the lowly.

Do not be overly proud and do not gloat over the poor.

Responsorial Psalm PS 131:1BCDE, 2, 3

R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
O LORD, my heart is not proud,
nor are my eyes haughty;
I busy not myself with great things,
nor with things too sublime for me.

R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
Nay rather, I have stilled and quieted
my soul like a weaned child.
Like a weaned child on its mother’s lap,
so is my soul within me.

R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
O Israel, hope in the LORD,
both now and forever.
R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.

In you O God, I have found peace.  Waiting for you, I have found joy.  In you I place all my hope, now and always.

Gospel LK 14:15-24

One of those at table with Jesus said to him,
“Blessed is the one who will dine in the Kingdom of God.”

Someone who was eating supper with Jesus said, "Happy the man who finds a place at the table of God."

He replied to him,

Jesus replied

“A man gave a great dinner to which he invited many.

A Rich Man invited a multitude to a feast

When the time for the dinner came,
he dispatched his servant to say to those invited,
‘Come, everything is now ready.’

When the time for the feast was at hand, He dispatched servants to call those who were invited.

But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves.
The first said to him,
‘I have purchased a field and must go to examine it;
I ask you, consider me excused.’
And another said, ‘I have purchased five yoke of oxen
and am on my way to evaluate them;
I ask you, consider me excused.’
And another said, ‘I have just married a woman,
and therefore I cannot come.’

But they all excused themselves.

The servant went and reported this to his master.

The servant reported this to his Master

Then the master of the house in a rage commanded his servant,
‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town
and bring in here the poor and the crippled,
the blind and the lame.’

So the Master said, "go and bring anyone that you can find, whether he be sick or lame."

The servant reported, ‘Sir, your orders have been carried out
and still there is room.’

The servant reported, "Master, your command has been fulfilled and there is still space for more."

The master then ordered the servant,
‘Go out to the highways and hedgerows
and make people come in that my home may be filled.
For, I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.’”

And the Master said, "go back out and get more people until My House is filled.  Not one of those previously invited will be allowed to enter."

This is a condemnation of the Jewish people, who were the first invited to dine in Our Father's House. 

Apparently, they are dead to you.

Calvin said:

Scripture says not to contact the dead on behalf of the living....saints in heaven are dead to you.

Apparently, they are dead to you. But Scripture says that those who die in Christ are alive:
John 11:26

King James Version (KJV)
²⁶ And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

We believe.

Those on earth can hear you....you can acutually converse with them. Hardly the same as praying to the dead in Christ, who you have yet to show have the ability to hear you.

Scripture says they do:

Hebrews 12:1
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Revelation 8:3

King James Version (KJV)
³ And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

Luke 16:24

King James Version (KJV)
²⁴ And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

Psalm 103:20

King James Version (KJV)
²⁰ Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

Jeremiah 15:1

King James Version (KJV)
15 Then said the Lord unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth.

Revelation 6:10

King James Version (KJV)
¹⁰ And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

Hebrews 12:24

King James Version (KJV)
²⁴ And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Those I ask to pray for me can actually hear me....and I can hear them.....we are NEVER told to ask the dead in Christ to pray for us.....nor is there even ONE example of praying to the dead that is acceptable in the Scriptures....stunning isn't it.

 You read the Scriptures according to the letter. We read the Scriptures according to how Scripture tells us to read it:

2 Corinthians 3:6

King James Version (KJV)
⁶ Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

According to the Spirit:
1 Corinthians 2:14

King James Version (KJV)
¹⁴ But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Sincerely,

De Maria

November 4, 2013

Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop
Lectionary: 485
Reading 1 ROM 11:29-36

This is a try interesting verse.  More than that, intriguing.

Brothers and sisters:
The gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.

St. Paul is here talking about the gifts and call of God to the Jews.  Those who were called by God received His irrevocable gift:

Hebrews 9:15

King James Version (KJV)

15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Just as you once disobeyed God
but have now received mercy
because of their disobedience,

All mankind disobeyed God.  But God selected the Jews to show them mercy.  But they disobeyed Him.  So, because of their disobedience, God showed the Gentiles mercy.

so they have now disobeyed in order that,
by virtue of the mercy shown to you,
they too may now receive mercy.

And by the mercy shown to the Gentiles, God will also show mercy to the Jews.

For God delivered all to disobedience,
that he might have mercy upon all.

Therefore, God permitted all to disobey His Word in order that He might show mercy to all.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!
How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways!

And this is a mystery which can't be penetrated by the unaided wisdom of man.  It must be aided by God's grace in order to be understood.

For who has known the mind of the Lord
or who has been his counselor?

God's wisdom is above all wisdom of men.  

Or who has given him anything
that he may be repaid?

And God owes nothing to any man.

For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To God be glory forever. Amen.

For God made everything.  And God is glorious for all time.

Responsorial Psalm PS 69:30-31, 33-34, 36

R. (14c) Lord, in your great love, answer me.
But I am afflicted and in pain;
let your saving help, O God, protect me.
I will praise the name of God in song,
and I will glorify him with thanksgiving.

R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
“See, you lowly ones, and be glad;
you who seek God, may your hearts revive!
For the LORD hears the poor,
and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.”

R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
For God will save Zion
and rebuild the cities of Judah.
They shall dwell in the land and own it,
and the descendants of his servants shall inherit it,
and those who love his name shall inhabit it.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.

God loves us.  Know that God loves you.  Therefore call upon Him, love Him and He will answer you.  Praise God's name before all and God will praise you in the heavens.

Gospel LK 14:12-14

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine
at the home of one of the leading Pharisees.
He said to the host who invited him,
“When you hold a lunch or a dinner,
do not invite your friends or your brothers or sisters
or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors,
in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.
Rather, when you hold a banquet,
invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;
blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.
For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Don't just give to those who will repay you.  But give to all people whether they can repay you or not.  For Scripture says:

Luke 6:38

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

 

 

Clement considered the Church of Rome authoritative

Lutero:

You've been fed snippets to feed the papacy's lust for supremacy.

It begins: "The CHURCH of God which sojourns at Rome, to the CHURCH of God sojourning at Corinth..."

No, papal bull. No proclamation of, "Clement, called to be a pope by God..." Just the church at Rome writing to the church at Corinth.

It is obvious that Clement considered the Church of Rome authoritative over the Church at Corinth. 

Owing, dear brethren, to the sudden and successive calamitous events which have happened to ourselves, we feel that we have been somewhat tardy turning out attention to the points respecting WHICH YOU CONSULTED US.

Excellent! That means that the Church of Corinth turned to the Church of Rome for direction.

Note, the church at Rome had been consulted. They weren't acting pre-emptively from a position of authority OVER Corinth.

Exactly! They were consulted as a subordinate consults an authority.

"Chap. 14 "It is right and holy therefore, men and brethren, rather to obey God than to follow those who, through pride and sedition, have become the leaders of a detestable emulation.

For we shall incur no slight injury, but rather great danger, if we rashly yield ourselves to the inclinations of men who aim at exciting strife and tumults, so as to draw us away from what is good. Let us be kind one to another after the pattern of the tender mercy and benignity of our Creator."

 Perfect! Note how the Church of Rome considers itself authoritative and legitimate. It declares what is "detestable emulation" with no hesitation. In other words, It declares what is heresy.

Years later, Rome through pride and sedition, yielded themselves to the inclinations of men who aimed at strife and tumults and led to the split with the EOs.

I see it the other way around. But, are you Orthodox? I assumed you were Protestant. But if you are Orthodox, I will gladly show you the error of your Church's government run theology. The Catholic Church remains one to this day. But the Orthodox are separated by nation. Russian, Greek, etc. So, I don't care if you're Protestant or Orthodox, I'll explain to you the faith of Christ taught by the Catholic Church.

Men who are seeking to gain power and authority over the whole church are drawing away from what it good. Again, which is exactly what Rome did.

It is what the Protestants did. The Church continued to obey the Word of God and submits to the Authority given by God:
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.

The Protestants denied the Scripture and rebelled against Christ's Church:
Matthew 18:17

King James Version (KJV)
¹⁷ And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Let's examine how Clement described what the leadership should look like - what those we are supposed to submit to will be:

Yeah and amen! Let's do so in context. First, was Clement a Bishop? Yes. Do Protestants have Bishops? No.

Did Clement hold to all Catholic doctrines? Yes. Do Protestants? No.
Did Clement believe in passing down Tradition? He said, "

If anyone disobeys the things which have been said by him [Jesus] through us," 

So that is a resounding, yes. Do Protestants? No.

So, what Clement wrote is written by a Catholic teaching Catholicism.

Chap. 16 "For Christ is of those who are humble-minded, and not of those who exalt themselves over His flock. Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Sceptre of the Majesty of God, did not come in the pomp of arrogance, although He might have done so, but in a lowly condition, as the Holy Spirit had declared regarding Him.

Amen! The Catholic Teaching. The Priests are the Servants of the Servants of God.
2686 Ordained ministers are also responsible for the formation in prayer of their brothers and sisters in Christ. Servants of the Good Shepherd, they are ordained to lead the People of God to the living waters of prayer: the Word of God, the liturgy, the theological life (the life of faith, hope, and charity), and the Today of God in concrete situations.

Chap. 17 "Let us be imitators also of those who in goat-skins and sheep-skins went about proclaiming the coming of Christ; I mean Elijah, Elisha, and Ezekiel among the prophets, with those others to whom a like testimony is borne in Scripture.

I don't see any Protestants in goat skins. In fact, they preach that in order to be saved, one must be rich. They call it the "prosperity" gospel:

Chap. 38 "Let our whole body, then, be preserved in, Christ Jesus;

Amen! This is Catholic Teaching which Protestant ridicule! 
795 Christ and his Church thus together make up the "whole Christ" (Christus totus). The Church is one with Christ. The saints are acutely aware of this unity:Let us rejoice then and give thanks that we have become not only Christians, but Christ himself. Do you understand and grasp, brethren, God's grace toward us? Marvel and rejoice: we have become Christ. For if he is the head, we are the members; he and we together are the whole man. . . . The fullness of Christ then is the head and the members. But what does "head and members" mean? Christ and the Church.Our redeemer has shown himself to be one person with the holy Church whom he has taken to himself.
Head and members form as it were one and the same mystical person.
A reply of St. Joan of Arc to her judges sums up the faith of the holy doctors and the good sense of the believer: "About Jesus Christ and the Church, I simply know they're just one thing, and we shouldn't complicate the matter."

and let every one be subject to his neighbour, according to the special gift bestowed upon him.

Again, a Catholic Teaching which Protestant ridicule. It is called "faith and works".

2063 The covenant and dialogue between God and man are also attested to by the fact that all the obligations are stated in the first person ("I am the Lord.") and addressed by God to another personal subject ("you"). In all God's commandments, the singular personal pronoun designates the recipient. God makes his will known to each person in particular, at the same time as he makes it known to the whole people:The Lord prescribed love towards God and taught justice towards neighbor, so that man would be neither unjust, nor unworthy of God. Thus, through the Decalogue, God prepared man to become his friend and to live in harmony with his neighbor. . . . The words of the Decalogue remain likewise for us Christians. Far from being abolished, they have received amplification and development from the fact of the coming of the Lord in the flesh.

And then Clement describes how the unholy seek to destroy those who are holier.

Perfectly describing how the Protestants seek to destroy the Catholic Church.

He also points out His high view of Scriptures by calling them "the true utterances of the Holy Spirit."

That is Catholic Teaching. Note that SAINT Clement does not preach "Scripture Alone".

Clement of Rome

Accept our counsel and you will have nothing to regret. . . . If anyone disobeys the things which have been said by him [Jesus] through us, let them know that they will involve themselves in no small danger. We, however, shall be innocent of this sin and will pray with entreaty and supplication that the Creator of all may keep unharmed the number of his elect (Letter to the Corinthians 58:2, 59:1[A.D. 95]).

The things said by Jesus THROUGH US. That isn't Scripture alone. That is TRADITION. Because Clement did not write any of the Scriptures.

Chap 45 "Ye are fond of contention, brethren, and full of zeal about things which do not pertain to salvation. Look carefully into the Scriptures, which are the true utterances of the Holy Spirit.<...>There (Scriptures) you will not find that the righteous were cast off by men who themselves were holy. The righteous were indeed persecuted, but only by the wicked. They were cast into prison, but only by the unholy; they were stoned, but only by transgressers, they were slain, but only by the acursed, and such as had conceived an unrighteous envy against them.

Note also, that Clement is speaking from a positin of authority in the Church. Therefore, he is speaking in the mode of Teaching. What we call, Magisterium.

<...>For what shall we say, brethren? Was Daniel cast into the den of lions by such as feared God? Were Ananias, and Azarias, and Mishsel shut up on a furnace of fire by those who observed the great and glorious worship of the Most Hight? Far from us be such a thought!

Amen! The Catholic Church has never done any such thing. Although liars continually accuse her of such things. But that is because the unholy try to destroy the Holy Church of Jesus Christ, as Clement said above and you duly noted.

Who, then, were they that did such things? The hateful, and those full of all wickedness, were roused to such a pitch of fury, that they inflicted torture on those who served God with a holy and blameless purpose (of heart), not knowing that the Most High is the Defender and Protector of all such as with a pure conscience venerate His all-excellent name...

Amen! The hateful do such things. The Catholic Church has never done them.

What did the RC soon after they achieved power through the state? They began persecuting, torturing and killing others. Clement tells us that those who do this are "hateful" and "full of all wickedness." And "full of zeal about things which do not pertain to salvation."

Clement never says that the Catholic Church did any such thing. You are reading that into his words.

And what sort of examples are we supposed to follow? Clement lists Daniel, Moses, Job, and the 3 children of Israel -

Clement is speaking as leader of the Church. Clement is the second Pope of the Catholic Church. He was Pope before the title, Pope, was even coined.

Chap 46 "Such examples, therefore, brethren, it is right that we should follow; since it is written, "Cleave to the holy, for those that cleave to them shall (themselves) be made holy." And again, in another place, (the Scripture) saith, "With a harmless man thou shalt prove thyself harmless, and with an elect man thou shalt be elect, and with a perverse man thou shalt show thyself perverse." Let us cleave, therefore, to the innocent and righteous, since these are the elect of God.

And here, St. Clement is speaking of himself and the Catholic Church and inspiring all to cleave to her.

He tells us to cleave to those who are innocent and righteous.

Yeah. Those in the Church.

Rome says the papacy is to be submitted to and obeyed

Amen! That is from Scripture. I repeat:
Matthew 18:17

King James Version (KJV)
¹⁷ And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

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.

If you think that is a misunderstanding of Scripture. Then show me from Scripture where Scripture gives you license to disobey the Church.

You can't. Because Scripture calls the Church the Pillar of Truth (1 Tim 3:15) which teaches the Wisdom of God (Eph 3:10). Anyone who tells you to disobey the Church is advising you to disobey Christ:
Luke 10:16

King James Version (KJV)
¹⁶ He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

- and the innocence and righteousness of the papacy has nothing to do with it.

Did Christ appoint you judge over His Church? Whether the Popes were all innocent, Christ will Judge. 

1 Corinthians 2:15

King James Version (KJV)
¹⁵ But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

Romans 14:4

King James Version (KJV)
⁴ Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

Who are you to judge another man's servant?

So, Scripture AND Clement

The Catholic Church wrote the New Testament and canonized the Old and the New into the Bible.
Clement is the 2nd Pope of the Catholic Church.

Therefore, the Catholic Church tell us...

tell us that sinful behavior and sinful deeds are NOT acceptable in the leadership of the church.

Amen!

Even Clement testifies against the Roman Church and the type of leadership she has produced.

On the contrary, St. Clement never mentions anything about the Catholic Church. He, as representative of the Catholic Church at Rome, is reprimanding and teaching all others.

Also if you bother to read the whole letter you will discover that it references throughout the PLURALITY of elders. LINK

And that means what? We know that there is a plurality of elders in the Catholic Church. But one is appointed chief of all others:
John 21:17
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed mysheep.
Matthew 16:18-19

King James Version (KJV)
¹⁸ And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
¹⁹ And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Sincerely,

De Maria

The keys to the Kingdom of David

Lutero:

So what does Isa. 22:22 say the key is to?

The House of David. And who is Jesus?
Matthew 1:1

King James Version (KJV)
1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

2 Corinthians 1:19

King James Version (KJV)
¹⁹ For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.


Therefore, the house of David is the House of God. Because Jesus is God.

And the keys to Christ, the King's, Kingdom, are the same which open the doors to His House.

Sincerely,

De Maria

The St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology Sunday Bible Reflections with Dr. Scott Hahn

November 3rd 2013 - 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Listen Here!
Lover of Souls
Readings:
Wisdom 11:22-12
1 Psalm 145:1-2, 8-11, 13-14
2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2
Luke 19:1-10


Our Lord is a lover of souls, the Liturgy shows us today. As we sing in today’s Psalm, He is slow to anger and compassionate towards all that He has made.

In His mercy, our First Reading tells us, He overlooks our sins and ignorance, giving us space that we might repent and not perish in our sinfulness (see Wisdom 12:10; 2 Peter 3:9).

In Jesus, He has become the Savior of His children, coming himself to save the lost (see Isaiah 63:8-9; Ezekiel 34:16).

In the figure of Zacchaeus in today’s Gospel, we have a portrait of a lost soul. He is a tax collector, by profession a “sinner” excluded from Israel’s religious life. Not only that, he is a “chief tax collector.” Worse still, he is a rich man who has apparently gained his living by fraud.

But Zacchaeus’ faith brings salvation to his house. He expresses his faith in his fervent desire to “see” Jesus, even humbling himself to climb a tree just to watch Him pass by. While those of loftier religious stature react to Jesus with grumbling, Zacchaeus receives Him with joy.

Zacchaeus is not like the other rich men Jesus meets or tells stories about (see Luke 12:16-21; 16:19-31; 18:18-25). He repents, vowing to pay restitution to those he has cheated and to give half of his money to the poor.

By his humility he is exalted, made worthy to welcome the Lord into his house. By his faith, he is justified, made a descendant of Abraham (see Romans 4:16-17).

As He did last week, Jesus is again using a tax collector to show us the faith and humility we need to obtain salvation.

We are also called to seek Jesus daily with repentant hearts. And we should make our own Paul’s prayer in today’s Epistle: that God might make us worthy of His calling, that by our lives we might give glory to the name of Jesus.




Yours in Christ,



Scott Hahn, Ph.D.

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November 3, 2013

Today is St. Martin de Porres feast day. Learn more.

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 153
Reading 1 WIS 11:22-12:2

Before the LORD the whole universe is as a grain from a balance
or a drop of morning dew come down upon the earth.

God is greater than the entire universe.  God is greater than all creation.  

But you have mercy on all, because you can do all things;

God is good and merciful because He is so great.  Scripture says:

Psalm 130:3 If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

and you overlook people's sins that they may repent.

And God is patient in order to give us the opportunity to turn to Him.

2 Peter 39 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

For you love all things that are
and loathe nothing that you have made;

For God loves all of creation.

for what you hated, you would not have fashioned.

And He would not have created anything which He despised.

And how could a thing remain, unless you willed it;

Nothing could continue to exist unless He gives it existence.

or be preserved, had it not been called forth by you?

Nor could it continue unless He sustained it.

But you spare all things, because they are yours,

But God saves all things because all things are His.

O LORD and lover of souls,
for your imperishable spirit is in all things!

Oh God, all things exist in you.

Therefore you rebuke offenders little by little,
warn them and remind them of the sins they are committing,
that they may abandon their wickedness and believe in you, O LORD!

Therefore, you coax sinners to turn to you and give many warnings before punishing.  Because you want sinners to turn to you and abandon their evil ways.

Responsorial Psalm PS 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13, 14

R. (cf. 1) I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
I will extol you, O my God and King,
and I will bless your name forever and ever.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.

R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.

R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might.

R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
The LORD is faithful in all his words
and holy in all his works.
The LORD lifts up all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.

Let us turn to God and praise Him always.  Let us abandon our sins and turn to Him.  Because God is good and worthy of all our praise.

Reading 2 2 THES 1:11-2:2

Brothers and sisters:
We always pray for you,
that our God may make you worthy of his calling
and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose
and every effort of faith,
that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you,
and you in him,
in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.

Pray for each other and all whom you love that God may give them the grace to bring their faith to fulfillment.  That they may pass the test of their faith and be purified.

We ask you, brothers and sisters,
with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
and our assembling with him,
not to be shaken out of your minds suddenly, or to be alarmed
either by a "spirit," or by an oral statement,
or by a letter allegedly from us
to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand.

And don't be overly concerned about the coming of the day of our Lord. 

Gospel LK 19:1-10

At that time, Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town.
Now a man there named Zacchaeus,
who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man,
was seeking to see who Jesus was;
but he could not see him because of the crowd,
for he was short in stature.

In Jericho, a tax collector named Zacchaeus, wanted to see Jesus.  But he was very short and could not see over the crowd.

So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus,
who was about to pass that way.

So, he ran ahead and climbed a tree.

When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said,
"Zacchaeus, come down quickly,
for today I must stay at your house."

When Jesus saw him, he said, "Come on down, Zacchaeus, for today I will stay at your house."

And he came down quickly and received him with joy.
When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying,
"He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner."

But the Jews weren't too happy.  They said, "He is staying with a sinner!"

But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord,
"Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor,
and if I have extorted anything from anyone
I shall repay it four times over."

But Zacchaeus repented of all his sins and promised to pay many times over what evil he had committed.

And Jesus said to him,
"Today salvation has come to this house
because this man too is a descendant of Abraham.
For the Son of Man has come to seek
and to save what was lost."

And Jesus said, "this man also is a son of Abraham.  I came to call sinners to repentance and save those who had been lost."

Proof of the Assumption

Calvin,

No proof huh?..Sounds like a made up story concocted by the church to promote the idea of mary and her powers in heaven. Makes a good fairy tale.

Its exactly the same proof as we have for Jesus ascension. We have the Scripture, the witness of Tradition and an empty tomb.

Revelation 12:1

King James Version (KJV)
12 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:

Sincerely,

De Maria

November 2, 2013

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)
Lectionary: 668
The following are a selection of the readings that may be chosen for this day.

Reading 1 WIS 3:1-9

The souls of the just are in the hand of God,

The just are they who keep the Commandments.

and no torment shall touch them.

That doesn't mean they won't suffer.  It just means that they will overcome and come closer to God by suffering.

They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;
and their passing away was thought an affliction
and their going forth from us, utter destruction.

The wicked see the good die and gloat in their pride.

But they are in peace.

Never realizing that the good which die in the hand of God are now at peace.

For if before men, indeed, they be punished,
yet is their hope full of immortality;

Because, although they suffer in this world, their suffering assures their inheritance of the glory of God.

chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed,
because God tried them
and found them worthy of himself.

The suffering in this life, no matter how hard it may seem, is nothing compared to the reward which the just will receive in God's kingdom.

As gold in the furnace, he proved them,
and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.

As Christ suffered upon the cross for the forgiveness of man's sins, we are all called to suffer for our fellow man.

In the time of their visitation they shall shine,
and shall dart about as sparks through stubble;
they shall judge nations and rule over peoples,
and the LORD shall be their King forever.

In the world to come, the Just shall rule over God's creation.

Those who trust in him shall understand truth,
and the faithful shall abide with him in love:
because grace and mercy are with his holy ones,
and his care is with his elect.

God loves those who love Him and put their trust in Him.

Responsorial Psalm PS 23:1-3A, 3B-4, 5, 6

R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
that give me courage.

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.

God is everything to us.  He loves us and provides for us.  Let us all turn to Him and return His everlasting love that we may dwell in His house forever.

Reading 2 ROM 5:5-11

Brothers and sisters:
Hope does not disappoint,

Faith is trust.  Hope is expectation.  Hope is waiting for that which in which we believe with all our heart.  And Hope in God does not disappoint.  Because God is true to us and true to Himself.

because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

God has poured His grace and love into our hearts in Baptism. 

For Christ, while we were still helpless,
died at the appointed time for the ungodly.

"while we were still helpless" -  While we were still without the grace of God poured in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

"ungodly" -  mortal men.

Christ died for us in accordance to God's plan. 

Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person,
though perhaps for a good person
one might even find courage to die.
But God proves his love for us
in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

Christ died for all men, the just and the unjust, in order that those who live may turn to him and receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

How much more then, since we are now justified by his Blood,
will we be saved through him from the wrath.

Those who accept Jesus sacrifice and live henceforth unto themselves no longer, but live unto Him who died for them, they will be saved by Him from the upcoming wrath at the Judgment.

Indeed, if, while we were enemies,
we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son,
how much more, once reconciled,
will we be saved by his life.

"while we were enemies" - before Baptism was instituted.  By Baptism we are renewed and regenerated, born again, children of God.

"we were reconciled to God" - All mankind was redeemed when Christ died upon the Cross.  

"once reconciled" - But not all men accepted the redemption.  Some turned away from it.  Only those who accepted the reconciliation brought about by Baptism are in reference here. 

"will we be saved by His life" - This is a reference to the sanctifying grace we receive in the Sacraments and also a reference to our cooperation and obedience to this grace when we keep the Commandments and return love for love. 

Not only that,
but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have now received reconciliation.

And now we are not ashamed to call God, Father, because we are His Children, members of the Body of Christ.

Or ROM 6:3-9

Brothers and sisters:
Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus
were baptized into his death?

Be aware that when we were baptized, we died to ourselves.

We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death,

When we were baptized, we died with Christ.

so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead
by the glory of the Father,
we too might live in newness of life.

And after we were  baptized, we rose out of the water with a new life.  Just as Christ was raised from the dead, we were raised from sin and death.

For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his,
we shall also be united with him in the resurrection.

In Baptism, we were united to Christ in His death.  So that we might also be raised to life in the resurrection.

We know that our old self was crucified with him,
so that our sinful body might be done away with,
that we might no longer be in slavery to sin.

The sinful person we were was crucified and died so that we might be free of sin.

For a dead person has been absolved from sin.

A dead person can no longer sin.

If, then, we have died with Christ,
we believe that we shall also live with him.

We have died with Christ in order that we might live with Him.

We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more;
death no longer has power over him.

Death no longer has power over Christ.  Nor does death have power over us.  Because all who believe and live for Christ will receive eternal life.

Gospel JN 6:37-40

Jesus said to the crowds:
“Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,
and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,

Christ said, "I will accept all whom the Father sends to me and will not send them away.

because I came down from heaven not to do my own will
but the will of the one who sent me.

Because I have come to do the Father's will.

And this is the will of the one who sent me,
that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,
but that I should raise it on the last day.

And this is the will of the Father, that all whom He sends me should be saved.

For this is the will of my Father,
that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him
may have eternal life,
and I shall raise him on the last day.”

And this is the will of the Father, that all who see the Son may obey Him and be raised unto eternal life.