Aloha Friday Message – October 21, 2022 – The Crown and the Just Judge

October 21, 2022

2243AFC102122 – The Crown and the Just Judge

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     2 Timothy 4:8 – 8 From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Psalm 34:18-19 – 18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted,
and saves the crushed in spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord rescues them from them all.

Sirach 35:21-22 – 21 The prayer of the humble passes
through the clouds,
and it will never stop
until it draws near to God.
It will never withdraw
until the Most High takes notice,
22     gives justice for the righteous,
and executes judgment.
Indeed, the Lord will never delay,
nor will he be patient with them
until he crushes the power
of the unmerciful – Common English Bible (CEB)  Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible Used by permission.

Aloha nui loa, ʻŌmea! Grace and Peace to each of you from God our Father and our Lord, Jesus the Christ, in the Power of the Holy Spirit. O Dearly Belovéd, how deeply I long to reach out to each of you in an embrace of Peace and Love! These little (sometimes too big) messages are as close as I can come most times. Sometimes I try to remember one or another of you reading these words and seeing the expression on your face. I long for that day when we will truly see each other face-to-face and will have no need for written messages because we will know all that God intended for us to know. It is in this sort of reflection that I come closest to understanding loneliness. As an introvert, I find that that is a feeling that escapes my comprehension because I sense that I am never, ever alone. I always have my Best Friend, the Holy Spirit, and my favorite angel (I refer to him as Baruch) is always close by to help when I’m being inattentive (so he’s one busy Guardian Angel). This introspection presented here arises from the tone-of-longing in our Epistle for this Sunday.

The Apostle Paul is held in chains in Rome, and only Luke is with him. Some have abandoned him, some have opposed him, and some have greatly wronged him; nonetheless he is a peace with his situation because he knows he has done all the Lord asked of him. You may recall that we have often written of the word testify or testimony. To be a witness to Jesus’ Gospel, we must give up our life to him because it can no longer be our own. Our lives must be for, with, and about the Gospel. The Apostle Paul has done that, and he realizes that shortly his role will be over. Tradition has it that he was beheaded in Rome. He was a Roman citizen and would not have been subjected to the inhumane death by crucifixion or the violent death in the Coliseum against gladiators or animals. Most likely this occurred late in the reign of Nero after the burning of Rome and the severe persecutions of Christians. Nero may have adjudged The Apostle Paul guilty, but The Just Judge was waiting to award him with “The Crown of Righteousness” (↔ Music Link) This stands in sharp contrast to the Gospel from last week which centered on the parable of the unjust judge.

His reward was to be spared a good whack from the widow who wanted him to rule in her favor because she was pursuing a just cause. By contrast, the Just Judge seeks out the poor, the oppressed, the disenfranchised and rewards them for their persistent hold on the Hope they have in God as their redeemer. (See our Key Verses from Psalms and Sirach) The Apostle Paul speaks of being poured out like a libation. This often slips by us because we think of someone pouring a cocktail or other beverage. Actually the libation was an offering of wine or oil poured out over or with another offering. We first encounter “drink offering” in Genesis 35:14 – 14 Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he had spoken with him, a pillar of stone; and he poured out a drink offering on it, and poured oil on it.

Bethel is the place where Jacob met God and he named the placed Bethel – House of God – and it became in important city a bit north of Jerusalem. The Romans also used libation offerings so that at the beginning of a meal some of the wine was poured out onto the ground as an offering to a spirit, one of their many gods, or even in memory of one who was deceased. It is even included in some Wiccan ceremonies. The imagery would be well-understood by Timothy and other converts to Christianity. The Apostle Paul’s life was going to be an appeasing and appealing offering to God for his devotion and service to his ministry of evangelization. The ceremony would end with him receiving the Victor’s Crown.

Paul often used sports metaphors. Perhaps that is why so many sermons and homilies have examples based on sports. The Apostle Paul spoke of competing well, or fighting the good fight, or running the course well. In a race in those days, the victor was awarded a laurel crown. These were made from the fragrant branches of the Bay Laurel – what we cooks call bay leaf – and were a symbol of victory. Today we speak of laurates as someone who has received a dignified award or recognition. We think of achievement and superior accomplishment associated with that word “laurels.” When we say someone is “resting on their laurels,” we mean that said person is no longer trying to achieve, but merely coasting on the celebrity of their previous accomplishments. Some have said that if we are resting on our laurels, we’re wearing them on the wrong end. In The Apostle Paul’s example, the Crown is not one that will fade away or dry up and then be used in a stew. The Crown he is referring to is an eternal reward for all the Good he has done in his ministry.

The Apostle Paul will receive an Everlasting Crown of Righteousness. This is one of five characteristics of crowns (↔ Learning Link) mentioned tin the New Testament. His blood was to be poured out on the earth as a final libation sacrifice. At that moment, he at last stood face-to-face with the Just judge, the Living Word of God, the Rider of the White Horse.

The rider of the White Horse in the Four Horses of the Apocalypse is described as wearing Many Crowns – The Great Dragon has 7 diadems (See Revelation 12:3). The Beast rising out of the Sea with blasphemous names on its seven heads wore 10 diadems (See Revelation 13:1). The Rider on the White Horse is crowned “with many crowns”(See Revelation 19:11-21) which signifies his Divine Sovereignty – he is :”King of kings (↔ Music Link) and Lord of lords (See Revelation 19:12) – there is no power or creature greater than him. His many Crowns attest to his numerous victories, but the most notable is his Victory over Sin and Death. Thus the extent of his Realm, the Kingdom of Our God, is beyond our comprehension wherever we abide – in Heaven, or Earth, or Hell. There the Lord God – Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, and Omnibenevolent – will be reunited with all of his Creation in a New Heaven and New Earth. Like The Apostle Paul, we will then meet the Just Judge. Only he knows his True Name and only he will allow his Word to pass judgment. This passage is so important that I’m going to give it entirely:

John 12:44-54 – 44 Then Jesus cried aloud: “Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. 47 I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. * 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge, 49 for I have not spoken on my own, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I speak, therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me.” * See John 3:16-19. (↔ Learning Link) Are you sure you truly do remember how that passage ends? Does verse 19, apply only to the contemporaries of Jesus? As a guide for your thinking, recall the news coming from D.C., Ukraine, and any other place (↔ Learning Link) – including the USA – where evil, terrorism, and perversions occur with seeming impunity.

Who – or what – is the Just Judge? The Word that Jesus, the Christ of God, has spoken. The “Day of Judgment” is often portrayed as a scene with an angry old man dressed as a magistrate and sitting in a towering Bench of Judgement with a massive book containing the names of every soul and the charges against them. I envision that day as I described it in 2234AFC081922 – Next in line, please. (← Check it out!) We will be “sorted” into or out of the Light of The Word. The Word will judge, the Advocate will plead our case – intreat for us.  God the Father and the Creator will assent to the judgment of The Word and entreat us to the reward we have earned. It is vitally important here to remember the proper meanings of these two similar sounding words which have vastly different meanings. To intreat is to earnestly ask for something. That is what the Advocate will do for us. To entreat is how you treat someone. That is the distribution or apportionment of our Reward. If we have been faithful to The Word, our Eternal Reward will be to enjoy God forever and ever. If we have rejected The Word, our Eternal Reward will be separation from God forever and ever – YOLOF is in the APP.

This race is not an easy one. It lasts a lifetime and takes everything we have to get to the finish. Sometimes we stumble, lose our bearings (or marbles), or get run over, or just haven’t got the stamina for one part of the course. That’s why Sirach tells us we can ask for God’s help and nothing anywhere can stop that prayer from reaching God:

The one who serves God willingly is heard;
his petition reaches the heavens.
 The prayer of the humble passes
through the clouds,
and it will never stop
until it draws near to God.

It will never withdraw
until the Most High takes notice,
gives justice for the righteous,
and executes judgment.

The Most High gives justice – he is righteous and merciful – and executes judgment – he and The Living Word in unity with the Holy Spirit reward each petitioner according to the willingness of service and the humility in the request. That is the Just Judge who offers and provides our Crown. He is the One crowned King of Glory, Lord of Hosts, The Just Judge, and God of our Salvation. Now that’s a goal worth running for!

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture passages are from the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Aloha Friday Messages by Charles O. Todd, III is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License

Because the Just Judge is Son of the Father, he exchanged this

for this and reserves it for us.

 

Aloha Friday Message – October 14, 2022 – Where’s Your Evidence?

October 14, 2022

2242AFC101422 – Where’s your evidence?

Read it online here, please. And please – when you visit there – use one of the social media links at the bottom of the page to share this post. Thank you! And remember, we now have a READER VIEW available, so share this link or this email often. Do you know someone who enjoys Bible study, or who might like to read this? Ask them to email us or to subscribe on our blog-site. You can find this Sunday’s readings HERE. (← Check it out!)

    Luke 18:7-8 – 7 “And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? 8 I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

¡Que la bendición esté siempre con ustedes y que Dios los bendiga, Amado! (May blessing always be with you and may God bless you, Beloved!)

The passage I cited today is at the end of the story of The Unjust Judge. He’s being pestered by a very persistent widow to rule in her favor. It’s important to recall here, that as a widow, she had practically zero rights, no standing, not a prayer of being heard. But because of her persistence, the judge finally said, “If I don’t take care of her, she’s going to talk me to death, so I might as well give her what she wants.” (In our family we have a saying, “It’s a terrible death to be talked to death!) This is reminiscent of another “what-if” story about a man who wakes his neighbor in the middle of the might to get something to feed a visitor that has just arrived. The man has nothing to feed to his unexpected guest, but he trusts his friend will help him out, and keeps entreating for his help despite the fact that the neighbor doesn’t want to get out of bed. In that parable, Jesus asks in Luke 11:11-13 – 11 “Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” And of course we all remember this one found just up the page at Luke 11:9 – 9 So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. What should we be asking for in our prayers?

When we look at our lives – especially our prayer lives – do we see evidence of faith? “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” Are we truly trying to live a righteous life where we “… do justice, and love kindness, and walk humbly with your God?” (See Micah 6:8 – again) Could it be that the biggest of all the tests of faith is whether or not we believe God is listening, that we’re not just talking to the inside of our heads when we pray? Do we have the faith, the determination, the discernment, the patience and perseverance, and especially the humility to ask again? Can we, should we, will we keep that faith until the very day when we meet the Lord? And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” How do you know, how do I know, how do we know we have faith? We must check our hearts for evidence of sin, and take out the M.A.P.

I’m going to go “off-script” here and suggest asking for something that is always readily available, always ours to claim, and always a Perfect Gift. Let’s start with the Source of Gifts: James 1:17a – 17 Every good gift, every perfect gift, comes from above. Common English Bible (CEB)  Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible. Used by permission. Naturally we’re going to ask God for a Good Gift, a Just Gift, a Life-giving Gift. Here are some Scripture passages to give us a hint about that Good and Perfect Gift promised to us.

John 14:15-16 – 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.

Luke 11:13 – 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Romans 5:3-5 – 3 And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

Acts 2:38 – 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 – 7 For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever rejects this rejects not human authority but God, who also gives his Holy Spirit to you. ((↔ Click Link) to see this in context))

Can there be anything simpler than asking for the Holy Spirit to be with us? It’s definitely in the APP! If we give our lives to Jesus, he gives us the Holy Spirit. When we remember the Holy Spirit, we often think of Pentecost with fire and wind and speaking in tongues. We might also think of the Holy Spirit at the moment of creation, moving over the deep waters. There is another way we experience the Holy Spirit that we easily overlook. Here’s another hint: Exodus 16:4 – 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not. And later on we read: Exodus 16:13c-14 – … in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14 When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. Then Jesus told us: John 6:51 – 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.

The Bread from Heaven comes upon us quietly, evenly; it refreshes us and renews us in the same way that the dewfall renews and refreshes the land. In the first Epiclesis in the Canon (Eucharistic Prayer 1) and the remaining three Eucharistic prayers we hear the Priest pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit on the gifts we offer – the bread and wine. He says, “Make holy, therefore, these gifts, we pray, by sending down your Spirit upon them like the dewfall.” This recalls for us the manna[1] in the desert – quiet, mysterious, not overbearing, not weighty, always just enough, never leading to a surplus, but always refreshing, invigorating, and nourishing. Do you know “The Jesus Prayer?” One form goes like this: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” I mentioned previously (↔ Click Link) that I always call of the Holy Spirit when I start one of these posts. Imagine with me for a moment how a simple prayer might put us in touch with the Holy Spirit: “Spirit of the Living God, come upon me like the morning dew, and make my day with you sanctified by your Presence in my heart and mind.”  (↔ Music Link at the beginning). The Apostle Paul tells us that if we live in the Holy Spirit, we break the bondage to sin and live in the Light of Life – Jesus. Please read the entire passage. Galatians 5:16 (This link is to an important passage 10 verses long. USE it.) – 16 Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. Our lives are filled with the Fruit of the Holy Spirit (read the entire passage), and that Fruit is rooted in Faith in Christ Jesus. That sustaining, refreshing invigorating dewfall in our lives makes Faith possible and enduring. Look back then at our Key Verse: And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Yes, he will, because in the Fruit of the Spirit we have everything we need to “wait in joyful hope for the coming of the Lord.” By living in the Holy Spirit we are open to hearing the Word of God, we are available to God as we present [y]our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is [y]our spiritual worship. (See Romans 12:1)

There are thousands of things we can ask for from God through Jesus in the Holy Spirit. Instead of a laundry list – or shopping list, or list of demands – we can just ask for the Holy Spirit. He is everything we long for, everything we need, and he is right there next to you right this moment!. Here is a little list of the key components of prayer.

Adoration, Blessing, and Praise
Thanksgiving and Gratitude
Contrition and repentance
Supplication and Submission
Intercession and reverent closing

PLEASE REMEMBER THIS: God HEARS EVERY PRAYER. Here are a few he’d rather hear: LORD God, you are awesome! Jesus Christ, I love you! O God, come to my aid for I am in trouble. Oh, My God, how astounding is your love for us! Bless the LORD O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name. Gesundheit! God bless you! (If prayed with the intent of blessing, yah?) Spirit of God, fill me with Love like unto your Love. Here are some of the prayers he does not want from us. O, my God, really? Oh God! Now what! Jesus Christ, that was close! God ____ it, I already said no! God! Did you see that idiot? (Trust me, God saw the idiot, and heard your contempt.)

All our short prayers, all our long prayers, all our hollow prayers (when we recite rather than pray), all our desperate prayers, all our blasphemous prayers, all our righteous prayers – God hears and answers every single one of them. If we are walking in the spirit, the Holy Spirit prays for, with, and within us: Romans 8:26 – 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. If we think of the Holy Spirit as the bond of love between God the Father and God the Son, and if we are praying and walking IN THE SPIRIT, we are praying and walking in Love. Time to remember this:

GOD ≡ LIGHT ≡ LOVE ≡ TRUTH ≡ WAY ≡ LIFE ≡ ETERNAL ≡ MERCY ≡ GOD

(↨ Music Link)

Well, Belovéd, it’s time for us to think of this: “And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? 8 I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. We must remember that Justice is a characteristic based in God’s Perfect Integrity, Endless Mercy, Everlasting Love, and Eternal Salvation through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

We must check our hearts for evidence of sin. Is there any? Of course there is! Do we know what to do about that? Of course we do! What do we want? Salvation! When do we want it? Now and forever!  From whence does it come? From Above, as we read in John 3:3 – 3 Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” What? Born again? How do I know when that happens?

You will know it happens when you take to heart what the Apostle Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2 – 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, 15 and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. 4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: 2 proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. Belovéd, let the Bread from Heaven come upon us like the dewfall every moment of every day. We could try this little prayer to be ready for a new dew.

“Come Holy Spirit (↔ Music Link). Walk with me on this long road to Home. With you at my side and Jesus in my heart, we’ll all get to Heaven as soon as we should.”

[1]  מָ֑ן Hebrew: mana See Psalm 78:24 and Exodus 16:15 – man`ə in the manner of “What is this?” Israel ate of the manna for 40 years until they ate the first fruits of the Promised Land.

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture passages are from the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Biblical languages inserts from Bible Hub (Bible Hub: Search, Read, Study the Bible in Many Languages) Visit at http://biblehub.com

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Aloha Friday Message – October 7, 2022 – Trust the Process

October 7, 2022

2241AFC100722 – Trust the Process

Read it online here, please. And please – when you visit there – use one of the social media links at the bottom of the page to share this post. Thank you! And remember, we now have a READER VIEW available, so share this link or this email often. Do you know someone who enjoys Bible study, or who might like to read this? Ask them to email us or to subscribe on our blog-site.

    2 Kings 5:14 – 14 So he [Naaman] went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy, and he was clean.

2 Timothy 2:11-13 – 11 The saying is sure:

If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he will also deny us;
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
for he cannot deny himself.

Luke 17:15-19 – 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16 He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? 18 Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”

May Peace always be with you and may God bless you, Belovéd! What a wonderful set of readings we have this weekend, and how timely they are for what’s going on in the world today! Let’s take a look at each of them and as we go through that, we can talk about what God did for us that some folks find surprising.

     This is an artist’s idea of what Naaman (naamahn’) looked like. He was the commanding general for the King of Aram (present day Syria), and allegedly drew his bow on a dare and the arrow he launched mortally wounded Ahab, King of Israel. Naaman was very popular in his nation, and had won many important victories for his King. He was also a character who was arrogant, vain, and pushy. He was famous and liked it enough to dislike anyone who didn’t seem to recognize what a fine specimen of humanity he was. His life was filled with fame, and glory, and honors, and probably wealth as well. He did have one little problem with his health – a skin disease of some sort called at the time leprosy.

In Aram, people with leprosy were not socially ostracized as they were in Israel, but still it was considered an unpleasant disease in Aram. In a raid on Israelite forces, a young girl was captured and given to Naaman’s wife as a servant. The child told her mistress that if Naaman would go to the Israelite Prophet Elisha, he could be cured. Naaman spoke to his King about it, and the King wrote a letter of introduction and sent many fine gifts along with Naaman and his retinue. When they pulled up to Elisha’s abode, Naaman expected a grandiose welcome and flash-bang miracles – something befitting his fame and reputation. Instead Elisha sent out a servant who told the General, in effect, “Elisha says all you have to do is go down to the river Jordan and submerge yourself seven times and you will be cleansed.” Naaman was furious! He got snubbed by the greatest Prophet in Israel and was told he needed a bath in the Jordan. There were rivers in Aram that were just as wet and just as useful as the Jordan! His retinue eventually calmed him down and convinced him to at least try it. After the seventh dunk, Naaman’s skin was “like a little child’s.”

He pounded back to Elisha’s place and offered a tremendous reward. Elisha declined it and said, “It was God’s doing, not mine.” Naaman requested about 12 bushels (2 kor) of soil from Israel so he could set up an altar to Elisha’s God in Aram. At that time, most people believed that the gods of a particular region or nation could only be worshiped on that region’s soil. OK, nice story, but what does that have to do with the title of this post?

Naaman was insulted. “Is that all there is to it? Baloney!” Elisha had told him, “Here’s the process. Do this and you’ll be fine.” Naaman wasn’t fine until he tried the process. That inclined him to trust the process. That’s the connection here. Most of us won’t trust the Process until we try the Process. What’s the process? I’m glad you asked, although you might not be. The Process – in the Beginning – is REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL, BE BAPTIZED AND RECEIVE THE SPIRIT. The second part of that is dependent on the first part, and generally happens only once. The first part can – and probably should – happen every day.

That’s how God works – consistently. He told us, “I have an everlasting Love for you.” In that passage (See Jeremiah 31:3), the word for everlasting is olam as in El Shaddai-Olam, Almighty Everliving God. Did you know God also has a YOLO-F? The difference between his and ours is that his has no beginning but ours does. Because of that everlasting Love, he is always faithful to his promises. Here, where we say “faithful,” the Hebrew word reads as goodness, kindness, lovingkindness; he is always right where we left him, waiting for us to come back so he can once again embrace and bless us. We need only repent and believe the Gospel. It’s just that simple, and there’s no “house limit” on how often that happens. Why is that?

Take a look at what The Apostle Paul said to Timothy. Everything Jesus did was exactly what his Father told him to do, and Jesus us taught his Disciples to do everything he told them, and they told us everything we needed to know so we could also do what he says (yes, present tense). We can live with and in him, and if we die with, for, and in him, we will live with him eternally. That’s The Process – again. Look closer at verse 13 up there: 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful — for he cannot deny himself. Of course this is true and we know it. Can our fickle infidelity abolish God’s Everlasting Love – his faithfulness? (See Romans 3:3. Read in full to get the context) Thank God for allowing dying with him by dying to self and living to Life with Christ. The Greek word for dying in this passage – apothnḗskō carries the connotation of an endpoint that brings a separation from “now” to “then” in the future. Whatever we were, are, have, or did, all of that dies when it dies with him, and none of it is raised up when it is raised with him. He already was lifted up for us. That, Belovéd, is the quintessence of Love. The way The Apostle Paul expresses it is as beautiful as a Love song.

Somewhere in the music section of my Memory Vault there’s a song lyric that goes something like “All I need is a love song and someone to sing to.” I think The Apostle Paul would phrase it like, “All I need is the Gospel and someone to witness to.” (↔ Music Link) Belovéd, the Gospel is a Love Song – the most beautiful Love Song ever conceived! “Oh, who’s the one that I’m in Love with only? It’s You, it’s You, It’s You!” No wonder St. Francis sang the Praises of God! (↔ Music Link) And look at this: Hebrews 10:24-25 – 24 And let us consider how to provoke* one another to love and good deeds, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (*paroxusmos (par-ox-oos-mos’) – stimulate, incite, instigate so as to encourage, poke to elicit a reaction) Jesus certainly gave St Francis a poke!

Even though he lived in crushing poverty, St Francis also lived in sparkling JOY. The Apostle Paul understood that JOY and expressed how it characterized every day despite the pain and hardship he endured constantly: Philippians 4:11-13 – 11 Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (↔ Music Link) That “all things” included thanks and praise because he knew the Works of God were Life and Light. The Apostle Paul and St Francis knew how and why to thank God. Some do not know that. Consider the story of the ten lepers. Unlike Naaman, most of them did not return to give thanks.

Those ten cried out to Jesus, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” Jesus simply said to them, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” He knew the Priests would examine the men and see their disease was gone – as prescribed by Mosaic Law. Because they Trusted the Process – they trusted and obeyed – they were cured. Only one turned back to find and thank Jesus. Jesus commented on the irony of a single foreigner returning to give thanks and then told that man (who was kneeling at his feet and loudly praising God,) “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” Wow! Think back to that moment when God had blessed us beyond all expectations and try to recall if we went back to the Throne, got on our knees, and sang praises to God. Now we need to ask if perhaps we should be doing that more often because, you see, that is part of the Process of Adoration, Thanksgiving, and Praise. (↔ Learning Link) The one who returned trusted the process from beginning to end. The Apostle Paul and St Francis returned God’s faithfulness by living Psalm 26:3 – 3 for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness. New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.  Can I, can you, can we say the same; do we always, always remember his Faithfulness and Love? Take a look at Psalm 138:1-3. (↔ Learning Link) Would we consent to meet death as Christ did for the Love of “Our Father, who art in Heaven?”

We can answer that with a YES if we Trust the Process. It’s not “one-and-done.” It’s “One-and-what’s next?” When we confront evil, should we try to appease it, or shall we ask, “Is that all you’ve got?” Remember that Elisha gave no deference to fame or might. He followed The Process and gained for God Adoration, Thanksgiving, and Praise from a pagan. Jesus calls us. Will we go and be changed by the going? (↔ Music Link) Will we turn around and go back in joy for forgiveness or healing or blessing? Shall we turn around and go back in sorrow and penitence when forgiven? Will we witness to the World what it means to live with him, die with him, rise with him, know God with him, and Trust the Process in, with, for and until HIM?

I have one last passage that I will ask you to go read. It’s only four verses, but they pack Power in every word. Please use this link: John 17:20-23 – ((↔ Click Link)) Jesus is asking God to share his Glory in us. Please stop now and read that passage. Jesus is praying to his Father just a few hours before his betrayal, asking his Father to bring all of us to Oneness with the Trinity. This is another and very beautiful way to express YOLO-F. In my heart at this very moment, I am giving Adoration, Thanksgiving, and Praise that my YOLO-F includes you. Our God is SO GOOD! Will you walk this long stretch of the Road Home with all of us? I AM is calling us. Shall we go then? (↔ Music Link) It’s part of Trusting The Process, too.
So is this:

 

It’s in the APP

It’s in the APP!

Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever —
at your service, Belovéd!

Please pray with us here at Share-a-Prayer.

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture passages are from the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Biblical languages inserts from Bible Hub (Bible Hub: Search, Read, Study the Bible in Many Languages) Visit at http://biblehub.com

Creative Commons License
Aloha Friday Messages by Charles O. Todd, III is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License

Aloha Friday Message – September 30, 2022 – Unfolding the M.A.P.

September 30, 2022

2240AFC093022 – Unfolding the M.A.P.

Read it online here, please. And please – when you visit there – use one of the social media links at the bottom of the page to share this post. Thank you! And remember, we now have a READER VIEW available, so share this link or this email often. Do you know someone who enjoys Bible study, or who might like to read this? Ask them to email us or to subscribe on our blog-site.

     Luke 17:5-6 – 5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

2 Timothy 1:7 – 7 for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.

Habakkuk 1:2-3 – 2 O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,
and you will not listen?
Or cry to you “Violence!”
and you will not save?
3 Why do you make me see wrongdoing
and look at trouble?
Destruction and violence are before me;
strife and contention arise.

E pili mau na pomaika‘i ia ‘oe a me ke akua ho’omaika‘i ‘oe, ʻŌmea! (May blessing always be with you and may God bless you, Beloved!) today we are going to use a few quotes from other authors. The first selection is from that famous artist, author, and playwright Author Unknown. Perhaps you’ve read this previously.

The Rosebud

A young, new preacher was walking with an older, more seasoned preacher in the garden one day and feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do. He asked the older preacher what was his purpose. The older preacher walked up to a rosebush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals. The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older preacher and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the WILL OF GOD for his life and for his ministry. Because of his high respect for the older preacher, he proceeded to TRY to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact.

It wasn’t long before he realized how impossible it was to do. Noticing the younger preacher’s inability to unfold the rosebud while keeping it intact, the older preacher began to recite the following poem.

UNFOLDING THE ROSEBUD

Unfolding the Rose

It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of GOD’s design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.
The secret of unfolding flowers,
Is not known to such as I;
GOD opens this flower so sweetly
When in my hands they fade and die.
If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of GOD’s design;
Then how can I think I have wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?
So I’ll trust in Him for His leading,
Each moment of every day;
I will look to Him for His guidance
Each step of this pilgrim way.
The pathway that lies before me,
Only my Heavenly Father knows;
I’ll trust Him to unfold the moments
Just as He unfolds the rose.

Here are a couple of passages that might show us a path to understanding the necessity of patience:

Romans 12:12 – 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.

Colossians 1: 11-12 – 11 May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.

In these two verses, Paul is using the Greek word ὑπομένω hupomeno {hoop-om-en’-o} for “patient” or “patience.” In Strong’s notes, this word is used to denote endure, to tarry behind, to abide, suffer, remain, abide, preserve, and persevere under misfortunes and trials to hold fast to one’s faith in Jesus. Some days we don’t really want to endure, to wait, to be suffering. We might find being patient with Jesus to be difficult! It’s time to look for a better way. Maybe I should pray as Habakkuk did?

There are nine prayer-points in Paul’s words to the Colossians.

  1. Seek to know Jesus’ will, (it’s in the M.A.P.)
  2. Grow in spiritual wisdom, (all the rest of these are in the APP)
  3. Honor and please Jesus by
  4. Continually do good, kind things for others, then
  5. Continue to expand our knowledge of Jesus as Jesus more and more so we can – (Read that sentence carefully.)
  6. Be strengthened with Jesus’ glorious power so that we will
  7. Have great patience and endurance, enabling us to
  8. Feel in our hearts and show to others we are full of Jesus’ joy, and of course,
  9. We all hope and pray we have the wisdom, courage, and strength to give thanks always.

You may also remember the story of the boy who tried to help the butterfly out of its chrysalis only to see it die because the struggle of freeing itself was what made the butterfly’s circulatory system functional. Sometimes what we think we must do is inconsistent with Jesus’ plan. When we realize that we’ve been working against him while all the while insisting we were working with him, we might at times feel embarrassed, or tricked, or even get belligerent with Jesus and say, “Well you could have told me sooner, you know, that I was wasting my time on that!” And then we think, “What’s wrong with me? Why am I talking to HIM like THAT?!” And often we realize we are talking to him like that because he’s been talking to us and we’re not listening.

What’s really needed here is to give our attention to God. He has a really beautiful way of helping us with that. We see it throughout Scripture. It’s called suffering. Sometimes it is to fall victim to a stronger foe. Sometimes it is illness, or pain, or both. Sometimes it is punishment. Many of us see punishment as a blow from God’s fist; but that’s not the nature of suffering.

We’ve stated several times that the Universe is not God, and that God created and controls the Universe. There are Rules, all of which are spelled out in the APP, and when we try to live outside the Rules, we suffer. God doesn’t have to hunt us down and whack us a good one. We get the whack we need when we go outside the Rules. There’s a film on Netflix called “Fr. Stu.”  It is the story of Father Stu Long, a former champion boxer. I found it difficult to watch because it is chockfull of gratuitous profanity. At one point he is in a very messy motorcycle accident which he felt somehow drew him closer to God. About 2/3 of the way through – around 1995, he is diagnosed with inclusion body myositis (IBM) – a debilitating muscle disease that eventually lead to his death at age 50. At that point, he had been a Catholic priest for seven years. Here’s what he said about his suffering:

FATHER STU LONG: It’s a profound experience, suffering. And the struggles of this disease helped me, and help others, to learn the way that we should have been living all along. It’s taught me a little humility. It’s taught me dignity, respect for others. And sometimes people like me – there’s an extreme example – we need things like this to be able to make those changes, and decisions in our life that are gonna help us become better people, become the people that Jesus has created us to be when he sent us to this planet.

C. S. Lewis made this comment about suffering:

“You don’t know in advance whether Jesus is going to set you to do something difficult or painful, or something that you will quite like; and some people of heroic mold are disappointed when the job doled out to them turns out to be something quite nice. But you must be prepared for the unpleasant things and the discomforts.” — C. S. Lewis from Jesus in the Dock  (↔ Learning Link) In this, I see three elements which bear repeating:

  1. God has a plan for me (and you, and them, and they, and everyone)
  2. The plan is for our good and based in HIS hope.
  3. God will not only direct our way but also help us find and follow it.

Unfolding and then trying to refold the M.A.P. is like trying to unfold then refold the rosebud. If we open up the M.A.P. and read, listen, follow, decipher – however our form of learning works best – the M.A.P. is showing us our actual progress in that region of our lives. “You can’t get to where you’re going if you don’t know where you are.” Stop messing with the M.A.P. and “you will hear a voice behind you saying, ‘this is the way. Walk in it.'” That’s an easy lesson to learn, and apparently one easily forgotten. Another learning link can be found here: 1935AFC083019 – (↔ Learning Link) … And me, your worthless servant (↔ Music Link).

Sometimes the suffering we endure is something that does not come from our own missteps. We need only recall the story of Job to know that at times the Enemy, the Accuser, gets the upper hand and makes life more difficult. We would be wise, then, to  follow the example of Job and praise God for the strength he gives us not only to endure these trials, but also to prevail. There’s a great song I’d like to share with you about how to get past those stages in our lives. Relying on F.A.I.T.H., we take up the tools we need to defeat that Old Rascal. I’m going to give you two versions – one by the composer and a cover by another gentleman – and as you listen to them, contemplate what tools you already own to deal with whatever Satan has cast over you: DIG ANOTHER WELL (↔ Music Link→ cover) Pick Up The Shovel (↔ Music Link→ composer). It is essential that we remember that God does not cause or bring evil into our lives; however, – as with Job – he may allow it. I am sometimes asked about “and lead us not into temptation.” Please look at Matthew 6:13 for this insight: 13 and do not subject us to the final test,[1] but deliver us from the evil one. Satan wants our attention, and will do heinous things to get it.

Another scrap of poetry comes from Poetry for Going Home, probably written around 1982:

sojourner

I am changing the way I change myself.
Someone keeps refolding the map.
Where I am is always
on the other side.
Where is my destination
if my location is someplace else?
And how do you pack, I wonder?

Did you spot the problem there? It is in “refolding the map,” or in this essay the M.A.P. How can the M.A.P. be refolded if it wasn’t first folded? Who folded it and why? I’ll bet it was some impatient joker trying to override God’s plan with her/his own plan. My, oh my! That does sound familiar! The first Catholic Priest I got to know personally was Fr. John McMahon, and Air Force Chaplain on Lackland AFB. He oversaw my conversion catechesis, found me a sponsor for my Baptism (and we are still good buddies to this day), baptized me, and then latter presided over the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony for Crucita and me. One of his favorite catchphrases was “Mother of God, why does there have to be suffering?” Back in those days I did not know the answer. Now, after a bit over five decades later, I know: suffering is God’s antidote for arrogance, disobedience, and/or selfishness – in a word – PRIDE.

When we learn to suffer for others, we have learned to disdain pride and embraced charity (once again, please refer to 1607AFC021216 – 2016 Lenten Series, #1) Why must here be suffering? Because it is one of God’s most precious gifts. “A Gift! You’ve got to be kidding us!” No, it is true. God’s disciplining us is part of the way the APP works. It’s called THEODICY (thee-OH-duh-see). We are aware of and participate with God’s “perfect Integrity, endless Mercy, everlasting Love, and eternal Salvation through Christ, our Lord.” Nonetheless we still recognize that there is also evil in this world, and that God has commanded that we not participate in that in any way. Evil is not part of the APP; in fact, it is contrary to the APP and works vigorously to keep us from consulting the M.A.P.

If that’s the case, then why are so many earthlings so enamored with evil and so many others indifferent to God and his plans for every earthling’s life? Let’s turn again to The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:14 – 14 Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of Jesus’ Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. If we know the APP and have the M.A.P., we are using spiritual discernment. Included in that bundle of gifts from God’s Holy Spirit is the boldness that overcomes the cowardice of sin and strengthens in us power and love and self-control. I confess, from where I sit this looks difficult. Do you, do I, do we have strength of faith enough that we can toss a mulberry tree out of the way or send a mountain to sit at the bottom of the sea? That’s what he told the Apostles.

The Apostles – who walked in the flesh with The Creator – asked him to increase their faith. Well, Belovéd, what will it take to increase our faith? How much can we trust God? We are reminded of the story of the possessed child brought to Jesus by his father after the disciples could not heal him. Jesus asked the crowd, “You faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you?” The boy’s father said to Jesus, “… if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.” Jesus ‘ response was that believing was needed. The man’s reply is a great prayer to use when consulting the M.A.P. “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.” Lord, I love; help my lack of love. Lord I obey; help my disobedience. (See Mark 9:17-29)

Ignoring or trying to override the APP will indeed result in discipline, Read Psalm 95 to get a glimpse of that. The message is clear: Carry the M.A.P., follow the M.A.P. use the M.A.P., but DON’T MESS IT UP BY FOLDING IT TO OUR SPECIFICATIONS. Once again, what is the M.A.P.? It is an examination of our conscience. When we compare what we see there with what we do here, any differences noted must be reconciled. Jesus took care of that for each and all of us. We simply need enough humility to accept that Truth as proof of his Everlasting Love.

Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever —
at your service, Belovéd!
Please pray with us here at Share-a-Prayer.

For further edification, please check out Deuteronomy 8:3-6, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, and Luke 9:22.

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture passages are from the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Biblical languages inserts from Bible Hub (Bible Hub: Search, Read, Study the Bible in Many Languages) Visit at http://biblehub.com

Creative Commons License
Aloha Friday Messages by Charles O. Todd, III is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License

[1] See this note for more information

Aloha Friday Message – September 23, 2022 – Following the M.A.P.

September 23, 2022

2039AFC092322 – Following the M.A.P.

Read it online here, please. And please – when you visit there – use one of the social media links at the bottom of the page to share this post. Thank you! And remember, we now have a READER VIEW available, so share this link or this email often. Do you know someone who enjoys Bible study, or who might like to read this? Ask them to email us or to subscribe on our blog-site.

Blessed is He who keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.

1 Timothy 6:9-11 – 9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. 11 But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness.

Aloha nui loa, ʻŌmea! May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Not long ago I mentioned the M.A.P. I’m hoping you wondered – at least for a quick moment – what that meant. Today we will explore that term. I invite you to visit the newest page on the Moon Beam Network called Your M.A.P. – your Measure of Actual Progress. ↓FIND IT HERE. ↓

First I’ll ask you, “How do we measure our progress in faith and our service to God and neighbor? We could simplify that by asking, “How do we know we’ve done something wrong? How do we recognize our own sins?” Recognizing our own sinfulness is fairly easy. We know we do things that are not righteous, or not even right at all. Is there something inside us that alerts us to these events in our lives? Everyone has a Gift from God called Free Will. When Eve and Adam learned the difference between good and evil, they also became more aware of their consciences. Every earthling coming into the World after that had a conscience[1] to guide their use of Free Will. For many generations of earthlings, that guide became largely ineffective – so ineffective in fact that God chose to wipe out all earthlings but eight who escaped that punishment by riding out the Flood in the Ark.

God chose a specific group of people, the descendants of Abraham, to show the World his Justice, Power, and Love. They didn’t do very well with that, so God gave them a Law to follow. Contrary to what many people think it is not 10 Laws; it is One Law, and breaking any part of it is breaking the One Law. That One Law is the legend to the M.A.P. for each and every conscience in every living soul. When we diligently consult that M.A.P., we can get a better idea of where we are in relation to that One Law. The M.A.P. gives us mileposts.

     “Oh, but I don’t need to know the Ten Commandments to live a good life” I agree, but if we do know them, or better still how to use them, then understanding the twinges (or thunderbolts) of our consciences is not only easier, but also more revitalizing. If you’ve looked at the new page in the blog – see where it says (← Check it out!)? – then you’ll see that it holds links to three forms of “An Examination of Conscience.” Some among us might state, “I don’t need that! I’m not a Catholic. I don’t need to go to confession. I confess directly to God.” NEWSFLASH: THE ONE LAW IS NOT JUST FOR CATHOLICS, THEREFORE NEITHER IS AN EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE JUST FOR CATHOLICS. The One Law is for all of humanity – I prefer the term “every living soul” because the One Law applies of all who have the Breath of Life. Insisting that the One Law is only “a Catholic thing” is as bad as saying the Novus Ordo Missae is “too Protestant.” Another NEWSFLASH: The reformation is over. ANYONE CAN BENEFIT FROM AN EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE – Christian and Jew, atheist and agnostic, sinner and saint – because it’s the One Law for every living soul. Why is that? Because that is the One Law by which we can navigate through life in a way that honors God and neighbor. Let’s look at some Scripture that helps inform us.

Let’s begin with our Key Verses. The first four lines are from the Responsorial Psalm for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time. God is always faithful, always just, always generous, always liberating, always trustworthy. We have to think about, get engaged in, commit to, and rely on the trust we have in God. If I only-sort-of-kinda-nearly think I might trust Him – I don’t trust him. I put God in a box if I say, “I trust him for this, but I’m not sure about that.” This is a reliable truth: God is trustworthy in everything all the time. This is why we say

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME.
ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD.

God is trustworthy because God is good, because God is Love, because God is perfectly integral to all of creation in which you and I and every living soul are included. If I do not fully trust Him, it is really only because I do not fully trust myself and measure God’s trustworthiness by my inadequate capacity. BACKWARDS! WORLDLY! IT’S A LIE! Using the World’s measuring devices is always a trick from Old Scratch himself, the father of lies. God is trustworthy because God is God and that is that. When I fail to keep that in mind, when I fail be Fully Aware I Trust Him, then I don’t trust Him. Period. If I can’t trust Love, of what use is Love to me? I choose to love his Love. I choose Christ. I know I trust him with my life because my life is his. I gave it to him at a campfire circle when I was 10. Although I have failed to honor my side of the agreement many, many times, he has remained faithful to his side; therefore I trust him to wait until I am fully aware of trusting him to be there trusting me. I explained that in an early post about Welcome Home (← Check it out!).

There is only One God: Ephesians 4:6 – 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. There is only One Law and it is fulfilled completely in Christ Jesus. We’re a long way from Home and slowly trekking our way to that Home. That straight and narrow way is really, really hard to find and follow. That is why having a M.A.P. is such a beautiful Gift from God. God is the author and operator of the Absolutely Perfect Plan: Jeremiah 29:11 – 11 For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. God wants to guide us to that Home to live with him. If we listen carefully enough – patiently, quietly, reverently – we will hear him speak in the Voice of our Conscience: Isaiah 30:21 – 21 And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Here’s another thing to think about: the M.A.P. is 100% Bible Based! That is important to many of us, but not important to way many more. Something that is a little concerning to me is that there are many who claim the moniker “Christian,” but do not give much heed to the One Law. For all of us who claim to follow Christ, we can certainly agree that the two most important parts of the One Law are 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (See Mark 12:30-31) A good examination of conscience makes living in that fashion easier and rewarding. “Why is that?” we ask. Because if we know God as Our Father, Jesus as our Brother, and the Holy Spirit as our Companion, then we know we can trust God and be fully aware of that trust – Fully Aware I Trust Him. God our Father gave us that M.A.P. It is the ONLY proper map for the Road Home. Don’t believe me? Now, suppose I told you I was going to Chicago but was worried about how to get around once I got there without a map of the city. What if someone said, “I have a map you can use.” I tuck the map into my flight bag and head off for the mainland. About 16 hours later, I pull out my map, and discover it is a map of Portland Maine. That’s not going to help me get around Chicago one little bit. The iterations of the M.A.P. that are posted at Your M.A.P. are true and accurate, detailed, and – yes indeed – thoroughly Catholic. It was my decision not to edit them so as to take out the Catholic parts. They stand as they are because – no matter how they are approached – they can give anyone a useful M.A.P. to Home. It is not my intent to offend anyone with these documents. Just to know something like this exists is better than having a M.A.P. to the wrong destination. I hear the weather there is horribly hot!

We have said that God is the author and operator of the M.A.P. If Home is where we want to go, then we must trust the maker of the M.A.P. to guide us:

Psalm 121:5-8 – 5 The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time on and forevermore.

You can trust the M.A.P. because you can trust the Lord. You can trust the Lord because you trust the M.A.P. That’s the way the APP works: But as for you, [child] of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. (See the Key Verse above) There are many who cannot or will not do so for the Love of God, but rather because God inspires them to act. Such people are described by The Apostle Paul here: Romans 2:14-17 – 14 When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves. 15 They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears witness; and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them 16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the secret thoughts of all. (emphasis added) Better is this approach found in Romans 13:8-9 – 8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet”; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” The M.A.P. and the APP can help you immensely in that endeavor. Start with the easiest one called “A Simpler Examination of Conscience.” Dare we measure our actual progress? God willing (and he does), we shall.

Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever —
at your service, Belovéd!

Please pray with us here at Share-a-Prayer.

The Lord sets captives free. Blesséd be the Name of the Lord.

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture passages are from the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Biblical languages inserts from Bible Hub (Bible Hub: Search, Read, Study the Bible in Many Languages) Visit at http://biblehub.com

Creative Commons License
Aloha Friday Messages by Charles O. Todd, III is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License

[1] The word in Greek is Suneidésis – to know two things together, i.e., a moral and spiritual consciousness innate in all earthlings as a God-given faculty to distinguish right from wrong and good from evil because each earthling possesses her/his own natural Free Will having been created in the image of God. An examination of conscience helps us perceive those inclinations and acts which are truly right and just and to avoid all that is contrary to the Gospel.

 

Aloha Friday Message – September 16, 2022 – Hand over your mammon!

September 16, 2022

2238AFC091622 – Hand over your mammon!

Read it online here, please. And please – when you visit there – use one of the social media links at the bottom of the page to share this post. Thank you! And remember, we now have a READER VIEW available, so share this link or this email often. Do you know someone who enjoys Bible study, or who might like to read this? Ask them to email us or to subscribe on our blog-site.

    1 Timothy 2:8 – 8 I desire, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument

Amos 8:4, 7 – 4 Hear this, you that trample on the needy,
and bring to ruin the poor of the land,
7 The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob:
Surely I will never forget any of their deeds.

Luke 16:9-12 – 9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth [A] so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes. 10 “Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own?

Aloha nui loa, ʻŌmea! Grace and Peace to each of you from God our Father and our Lord, Jesus the Christ, in the Power of the Holy Spirit. Today we want to explore another of those verses with words we just slide over without much thought to their meaning. Old Testament reading for this Sunday (← Check it out!) focuses on treatment of the poor, especially the folks who cheat the poor to make themselves richer. I have given you only the first and last strophes in the link for the passage from Amos. The verses in between are descriptions of despicable acts merchants would use to take advantage of people buying their goods.

     Imagine, if you will, a merchant’s scale like this one. A standardized weight would be placed in one pan and the product in the other. If a dishonest merchant used a weight that looked like a 16-ounce weight, but was actually hollowed out so that it weighed only 12 ounces, it would appear that the buyer was getting a pound of product but was only getting a fraction of that amount. That would give the merchant a 25% advantage. It would also give him dishonest wealth, and that’s going to be a problem in the long run. The Hebrew or Aramaic work mammon isn’t limited to just money. It implies all the worldly goods that we use to sustain our life.

Now, does that mean that all worldly things are bad, even the things we need to feed our families, do our work, or even support our congregation? No, not really. What’s bad is the misuse of those worldly goods to cause harm to others as well as valuing worldly cares over and above worshiping and obeying God. We are often reminded of the frequently misquoted passage in 1 Timothy 6:10 about money and evil. The Apostle Paul uses the Greek word philarguros (↔ Click Link) which means “love of silver,” a word to describe avarice, greediness, covetousness, and cupidity (← Check it out!). To coin a phrase, The Apostle Paul is talking about cupidity stupidity – giving one’s self over to exorbitant desires for anything which gives us satisfaction – money, prestige, or whatever we treasure and acquire by any means – even dishonest ones. It is not the things themselves that cause the problem; it is the excessive love of those things. Check out that verse in 1 Timothy to see what The Apostle Paul really said.

The connection between the reading in Amos and the one in 1 Timothy is hands. In the first reading, the hands of the merchant are used to cheat the poor by “rigging the scales.” In The Apostle Paul’s admonition to Timothy, he is saying that hands should be used for prayer – we lift them up to God in praise, petition, and penance. He directs Timothy to teach that holy hands raised prayer must lead to praying without anger or argument. Why does he say “holy hands?” This shows that even our prayers must not be dishonest. We recall the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in Luke 18:9-14 (← Check it out!). The pharisee’s reputation was that he was a righteous man; but his prayer was hollow and self-promoting. The tax collector was hated and ostracized for his complicity with Rome. Recall Jesus’ words, “for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.” The lesson here is that what makes good sense in the World is not good sense in the Kingdom.  We must take time to be holy (↔ Music Link)  here so that our Heavenly home (↔ Music Link) will be our next stop.

Now we come to one of those “HUH?” moments in reading scripture. Jesus says, “make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.”

Do you recall Jesus’ charge to The Twelve before he sent them on their first Mission? It is in Matthew 10:16 – 16 “See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” The followers of The Way had to be smart in their dealings with the World. We could rephrase it this way: Don’t be stupid, but don’t be pushy either. If our hearts are holy, then our hands will also be holy and our hands will be used to lift up rather than beat down. When we lift holy hands to God instead of our idols, we are blessed (See Psalm 24:1-6). The Psalmist tells us that everything (and everyone) on the Earth is the Lord’s. (↔ Music Link) Therefore, whenever we acknowledge that we receive a blessing, The B.I.B.L.E. instructs that we acknowledge that blessing always and everywhere because (sorry, here it comes again) it is the Absolutely Perfect Plan. How do we sully those holy hearts and hands? Yes, you have guessed correctly: It is through sin, the kind of sin that comes from indifference to what is right.

Indifference is a horrid condition. It is way worse than hatred. When we hate someone or something, we at least acknowledge their existence. Then we are blinded by indifference, existence doesn’t matter because we don’t care. “It won’t make any difference if I keep a couple of these pens the boss provided. He’s got tons of them.” “That guy over there by the water-cooler is such a jerk. He’s handsome and muscular, but he’s also really stuck up. He never talks to anyone.” Alright sinner, who paid for the pens? And did you know that the handsome man is terribly shy about his speech impediment? If we don’t care about little things like that, if we won’t do something to make it better or to save expenses, how can we truly care about Ukraine, or abortion, or politics, or any other worldly thing without being as hollow as the Pharisee?

That Absolutely Perfect Plan requires that we care, and when we do not, we bring disharmony to our lives and the lives around us. Take it from a lifelong sinner, that’s not how it’s supposed to be. So, what am I, what are you, what are we supposed to do about it? Give up and go ahead and trample the poor because “the poor will always be with us?” (See Matthew 26:6-13) Shall we proclaim our own righteousness and disparage the penance of our neighbor? Shall we insist that God loves us more than that drug addict across the street? I hope not! God Loves you and me because of who God is, not because of anything we did or didn’t do. The Love is always there, even when we are indifferent to it. Ouch! That hurts! How can we be indifferent to the Lord’s Love? God has a Plan for us, and it is based on his Everlasting Love. Let’s take a quick pause to look at our hands to see if they show what is in our hearts. Do our hands show that the Lord is our God and we are his servants? If so, then what is in our hearts is his Love. If not, then whatever is in our hands that is not God’s is mammon. “Ya gonna have to serve somebody. It may be the Devil, or it may be the Lord, but ya gonna have to serve somebody.”

If we are sticking with the APP and choosing to serve the Lord, then we have to hand over to his tender care all that mammon we’ve accumulated . Does that mean we follow the example of St. Francis and walk off into God’s service naked of all worldly possessions? Not necessarily (although God did truly bless that sacrifice). “The Earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it.” We can use our material goods to do what needs to be done – including charitable alms. You might remember a verse from about four weeks ago in Sirach 3:30 – 30 As water extinguishes a blazing fire,
so almsgiving atones for sin. We might say to ourselves (and even to others, truth be told), “I’m not like that. I don’t cheat anyone, I don’t lie, I don’t steal. I do my best to be kind and fair to everyone.” The next time those thoughts come up, let’s look at our hands to see if they show the markings of a holy heart. If so, we have succeeded in handing over the mammon – this time. Nonetheless, be wise about your worldly dealings, making friends by means of any unrighteous gain BUT be trustworthy in its use.

Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever —
at your service, Belovéd!

Please pray with us here at Share-a-Prayer.

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture passages are from the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Biblical languages inserts from Bible Hub (Bible Hub: Search, Read, Study the Bible in Many Languages) Visit at http://biblehub.com

Creative Commons License
Aloha Friday Messages by Charles O. Todd, III is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License

[i] Greek ἐλεημοσύνη eleémosuné – mercy, pity, compassion; the benefaction itself; charitable giving, especially to less fortunate. See Matthew 6:2-4

[A]  This is literally mamōna tēs adikias the mammon (what one most trusts in – mammon) which is the product of unrighteousness and iniquity.

Aloha Friday Message – September 9, 2022 – Reflecting on Glowing

September 9, 2022

2247AFC090922 – Reflecting on Glowing

Read it online here, please. And please – when you visit there – use one of the social media links at the bottom of the page to share this post. Thank you! And remember, we now have a READER VIEW available, so share this link or this email often.

Do you know someone who enjoys Bible study, or who might like to read this? Ask them to email us or to subscribe on our blog-site.

    Exodus 32:9-10 – 9 The Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, how stiff-necked they are. 10 Now let me alone, so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them; and of you I will make a great nation.”

1 Timothy 1:15 – 15 The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost.

Luke 15:7 – 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you. This weekend is going to make for some exciting teaching and reaching. There is so much good material in the readings for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time – 9/11/22. Please take a moment right now to pause and say “NEVER AGAIN!” in remembrance of the attacks on the World Trade Center and all of the other terrorist attacks since then – including Ukraine. We ask God to strengthen us so that our resolve to stand up for what is right never falters. Now, let’s move on to the Key Verses for today. I want to tell you a little about one of the most precious gifts our Creator built into me with my parents’ help.

God gave me the desire and the ability to look for and recognize exceptional people, and then to glow on them a little (sometimes a lot!). Exceptional people often feel a little left out of everything because – well, because they are exceptional. They don’t fit the “common mould” – they are shaped differently from the rest of us. That’s why I am using the archaic spelling of “mold” – mould – to distinguish from that icky green stuff that grows on your cheddar or grapefruit. I like to glow on people who have been moulded differently than the rest of us so that they can feel that perhaps they aren’t so totally excluded from their surrounding community. I suppose that desire and ability to glow is a bit odd – not everyone seeks that – but I also believe all of us have the desire to see what is good in people and acknowledge that goodness. We all want other folks to do that for us – see the good that we do and let us know we’re special too. When I glow on someone, they usually light up, too; the light up from within, with their own light, and not as a reflection of my glow. Please remember that special thing because it will make better sense later.

This Sunday Jesus talks about the lost-and-found events in life. A lost sheep, a lost coin, and the joy finding those objects bring to us and to our friends. We also have the story of a lost son. Many homilies will be centered on that story, I’m sure. Some will focus on the errant lad, some on the begrudging brother, and some on the everlasting love of a father. (↔ Music Link) When we contemplate on Love like that, we recall how God chose Israel to be his unique people, a chosen race to be a light to the nations. One of the passages we hear about that is in Isaiah 42:6 – 6 I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness,
I have taken you by the hand and kept you;
I have given you as a covenant to the people,
a light to the nations. All the Hebrew pronouns here – you, your – are first-person singular. This prophecy is part of a description of the Messiah. It is often used to illustrate that we carry that light in us. One reason that association is made is because of Matthew 5:14-16 – 14 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. We rejoice in that we are called to be The Light of The World. (↔ Music Link)

Again, it is the Messiah who is indicated in Isaiah 49:6 – 6 he says,
“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant
to raise up the tribes of Jacob
and to restore the survivors of Israel;
I will give you as a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Here, “too light a thing” means something that is a “mere trifle.” Being the Servant of God, the Messiah, and to restore God’s people to their rightful presence in his Kingdom is a small thing compared to being a Light to the gentiles as well thereby allowing for their salvation. There’s that APP again, assuring us that God wants everyone to be saved, not “just his chosen ones, the people of Israel.” THE APP IS WAY BIGGER THAN THAT. Isaiah 52:10 – 10 The Lord has bared his holy arm
before the eyes of all the nations;
and all the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our God. And so we sing All the Ends of the Earth (↔ Music Link) because God wants us back! Why? Why does God want us back?

I’m going to just do this in a sort of outline form:

  1. God created us in Love and for Love. He Loves us and wants our Love.
  2. When our First Parents learned sin, they also learned death, and darkness, and separation from God. God, on his part, immediately set up a Plan of Correction for that – an Absolutely Perfect Plan – and we are part of that plan!
  3. Israel was chosen by God to demonstrate his Goodness, his Power, and his Love. He did that so “Not-Israel” – the gentile nations – would be as in Isaiah 60:3 – 3 Nations shall come to your light,
    and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
  4. By adoption, we are All One Body (↔ Music Link). As such, we are heirs of The Promise in the APP, coheirs with Christ.
  5. Through Christ, who is the Light of the World, we have Christ’s Light in us. This is a special thing I want us to understand:
    1. We can reflect the Light of Christ to others and shed his light on them, OR
    2. We can radiate the Light of Christ to others and share his light in
       them.
    3. WHICHEVER WE CHOOSE, God’s Light goes out from us and God is glorified in that ministry of our giving to others what he has given to us. The easiest way to say that is “It’s all good, adelphos*, because it’s all God.” * brethren
  6. We have the Light! We, though sinners, have the Light of Christ. (OK, Please go ahead and sing [Music Link ↔] This Little Light of Mine). Here’s how we got it: John 12:36 – 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.”
  7. What are we supposed to do with the Light? Belovéd, we share it!. Matthew 5:14-16 – 14 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. (In this passage, unlike the previous passage in Isaiah 42:6, all the personal pronouns are second-person plural! That means it includes US!!)
  8. The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:8 – 8 For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light — We are Children of light not of darkness, so we can say (and sing) I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light (↔ Music Link)
  9. Now, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE WALK IN THE LIGHT? We ….. (say it …) Repent and Believe the Gospel! And when we do that, our sins are washed away. Do you remember this? I Know a Fount (↔ Music Link)
  10. When our sins are washed away, when our little light shines (radiates); when we find what is lost (our closeness to God) we also find that God is standing patiently in the narrow road with arms outstretched to greet us saying “Welcome home, my dear child! I have been longing for your presence.”

Now, all of this takes some “presence of mind;” we have to pay attention. When we do, we see how working with God is the same as God working with us. Look back at that passage in Exodus. God says to Moses, “ of you I will make a great nation.” Moses says, in effect, “Let’s not forget the Promises you made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We wouldn’t want the Egyptians to say you brought our people out here to slay us.” (See Exodus 32:11-14) Moses did not usurp the authority or Promise of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Because of his commitment to Truth, God relented in his just wrath.

      Because of that, Jesus was able to fulfill God’s promise by coming to save sinners like The Apostle Paul – and like us. In Christ Jesus we have the fulfillment of the covenant promised first to Eve and Adam, then to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the nation of Israel, the prophets and judges, the gentiles, and finally, to us. In God’s absolutely perfect plan Jesus notifies us saying in John 8:12 – 12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” This is later confirmed in the Acts of the Apostles: Acts 26:22-23 – [The Apostle Paul said,] 22 To this day I have had help from God, and so I stand here, testifying to both small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would take place: 23 that the Messiah must suffer, and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”

God’s Absolutely Perfect Plan is that everyone would see HIS Light and radiate his light because HIS Light will be IN us. (Check out Ephesians 5:8 again) If we believe God keeps his promises, then we should be shouting for joy from the rooftops. God is real, God is present, God is Love, and that means he’s not some secret to be hidden from view of the World. Shine, Belovéd! Shine at the top of the hill! When we do that, it’s called evangelization which means we are living out Jesus’ command to the Apostles and to all of us. You can find that in Matthew 28:19. THERE IS A PLAN, and Jesus is counting on us to remember we are part of it. Evangelization is the service we give when Jesus asks for our help to find and to convert just one more sinner so there will be great joy in Heaven. It’s the best job on the planet! Get out there and Glow!

You might also enjoy 1937AFC091319 – Relentless Relenting

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture passages are from the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Biblical languages inserts from Bible Hub (Bible Hub: Search, Read, Study the Bible in Many Languages) Visit at http://biblehub.com

Creative Commons License
Aloha Friday Messages by Charles O. Todd, III is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License

Aloha Friday Message – September 2, 2022 – First of Place – Again

September 2, 2022

2236AFC090222 – First of Place – Again

Read it online here, please. And please – when you visit there – use one of the social media links at the bottom of the page to share this post. Thank you! And remember, we now have a READER VIEW available, so share this link or this email often. Do you know someone who enjoys Bible study, or who might like to read this? Ask them to email us or to subscribe on our blog-site.

    Luke 14:26 – 26 Whoever comes to me and does not hate1 father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple.

1 μισεῖ (misei) from μισέω (miseó) {mis-eh’-o} miséō – properly, to detest (on a comparative basis); hence, denounce; to love someone or something less than someone (something) else; that is, to renounce one choice in favor of another. To choose one person, thing, place, or idea above all others.

Last week we talked about humility as the antidote to pride. We recalled that Jesus’ humility was so extraordinary that he died to give us Life. We said, “How did Jesus do what he did etiam pro nobis – even for us? It’s that four-letter Word that is the key to Faith, to Humility, to Joy, Grace, Eternity, and Heaven: LOVE.” Jesus was all about LOVE. He even told us to love our enemies in Matthew 5:44 – 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV) KJV reproduced by permission of Cambridge University Press, the Crown’s patentee in the UK. Used with permission. If you look around the World today, you’ll see people who would ask you, “WHY would anyone ever do THAT?!?!” There is a delightfully simple answer to that question. The answer was also in last week’s post: “The B.I.B.L.E. tells me so,” and “Jesus said to do it.” This kind of humility based in Love and nurtured by gratitude is part of God’s Absolutely Perfect Plan (that’s the APP in case that has escaped your recollection). “Why did God create me?” He is our Creator and we are his creation, and all Creation rightly gives him joyful thanks and praise. We are here because he Loves us, and we love him because he first Loved us. In, through, for, and because of that Love, we are asked only to show that same Love to everyone so that they too will know God created them to give him joyful thanks and praise. Knowing that, some will then ask, “Why in the world did Jesus tell us we cannot be his disciples unless we ‘… hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself’ as in our Key Verse for today?” To answer that we need to talk about Hebrew and/or Jewish hyperbole, a traditional form of embellishment.

Do you ever believe it when someone says, “It was raining cats and dogs?” How about

  • “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse!”
  • “He’s as skinny as a fence post.”
  • “He’s hasn’t got the brains God gave a soda cracker.”
  • “They were so angry they were staring daggers at each other.”
  • “I’ve told you a million times! DON’T BE ALWAYS EXAGGERATING!”
  • “You’re late! I’ve been waiting here forever.”
  • “It’s a jungle out there.”
  • “It’s all fake news.”
  • “The world is going to hell in a handbasket, so we might as well buckle up for the ride.”
  • “You have to come! Everybody’s gonna be there!”

Now, how about these? How many of these might be hyperbole – exaggerations for the purpose of making a point?

  • Proverbs 13:24 – 24 Those who spare the rod hate their children, but those who love them are diligent to discipline them.
  • Luke 16:13 – ` 13 No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other
  • Matthew 5:29a – 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away
  • Matthew 23:24 – 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!
  • Matthew 7:3 – 3 Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?
  • Matthew 6:6 – 6 But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
  • It would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. (↔ Music Link)
  • If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could toss that mountain into the sea.
  • This man is a Prophet for he has told me all I’ve ever done. (↔ Music Link)

In all of these, Jesus is showing us that God must have primacy in all things. God – The Trinity – must be preeminent in all of our thoughts, words, and deeds – every moment of every day (↔ Music Link). Now, Belovéd, doesn’t that sound like hyperbole, too? Jesus says that is what we should want. (↔ Music Link) If Jesus says it, we should believe it, and then do it. Now. Always. First. This little image sort of sums up how we do that “most of the time” – WHEN I GET A ROUND TO IT. This “round ToIt” has been part of my office décor since the mid-70s. I keep it to remind me how easily I procrastinate – mostly because of how easily I get distracted. Do you know just who loves to see me distracted? Yeah, that demonic Old Scratch  (← Check it out, page 16!). Now, does Jesus, the Son of the Living God, really, really want me to hate my wife, my children, and even my life? That’s just too extravagant to be reasonable; however, does that exaggeration help me to understand that The Trinity should be my priority in all my relationships, endeavors, meditations, and prayers? I assure you. ʻŌmea, it definitely does. Can I sustain that all day every day? Nope. Sometimes my resolve to reform my life evaporates faster than a water-drop on the street in Needles California at High Noon in the Summer. (← Do you like that one?) But you know what? That’s OK because I can “repent and believe the Gospel” just as quickly. Do you know why? Of course you do! It’s part of God’s Absolutely Perfect Plan – The APP. You can download that at the B.I.B.L.E. storeroom. You’ll find it in the Love Department.

That Love we have for and in God is mysterious. I will share with you what I consider to the be the seed-faith Truth about God’s Love. It is a Love that always occurs in community (because God is community), and since that is true, it is also true that everything – and I do mean every existing Good in all persons, places, things, and ideas – has a basis in Community. In this Community, we ALL need these four things: Attention. Affection. Affiliation. Approval. (← Check it out! This is the first description of the APP in the Aloha Friday Messages) The Apostle Paul gave us some good glimpses into the APP in his letters to the Church. There’s a good one in the letter to the Colossians – part of which we’ve studied recently: Colossians 1:24-27 – 24 I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. 25 I became its servant according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (My added emphasis.) In his letter to the Ephesians he says: Ephesians 3:8-11 – 8 Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make everyone see what is the plan * of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; 10 so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord
* This is the APP!

ʻŌmea, how can we Love as richly, deeply, and fully as he deserves to be Loved? Like everything God creates to be a Mystery, the answer is simple: Repent and believe the Gospel, then tell God you believe him because you Love him. Please use that link about the four aspects of community. These are the things we use to offer and receive Love among each other in our community, and when we extend them to God, he is also part of our community! This is from the link above:

Community, though, is not, or at least should not, be just a human experience. We know that God is also Community expressed as the Holy Trinity. For this community all of the requirements for membership, for participation, for conduct are absolute because the Community is Absolute – Unconditional, Totally Integral, Unlimited, Supreme, Pure, Perfect: God. Not “The Force.” Not “Intelligent Design.” Purely and simply, wonderfully and awesomely GOD in Three Persons. And that Community and our community can also share with one another attention, affection, affiliation, and approval.

What is the key to humility, the antidote of pride? It is Love. How do we set God as First of Place in our day-to-day lives? It is by Loving him and each other. What source of Love is “good enough” or “worthy of” God? It is God’s Love for us. “Honor the giver by accepting the gift.” Do you believe God Loves you? If you do, would you like to Love him in return? “We Love him because he first Loved us.” From the echoing hallways of my youth, I remember the opening of the Westminster Catechism: Q:”What is the chief end of Man? A: “To glorify God and to enjoy him forever.” Now, for those among us who have not yet gotten over The Reformation, there really isn’t anything you can argue about in that statement. Another way to say exactly the same thing is that we give God primacy in all things. Thomas Aquinas said our chief end is to obtain Virtue which allows us to glorify God and enjoy him forever. Once we grasp the magnitude of what God has done for us, the sensible decision about what to do about that is found in Romans 12:1 – 1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters**, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. ** ἀδελφός – adelphos – affiliates in the Church – “brethren.” Our appropriate spiritual service is to Love and serve God and neighbor; when we fail at that, we sin and need redemption. We must be willing do what Christ did; we sacrifice our self-attention and give Jesus (who is God) First of Place in everything because we Love him as (in the same manner and intensity) he Loves us. “Easy to say, but hard to do.” Not really, Belovéd, and I’ll show you why.

Do you have a spouse, a friend, a niece or nephew, even a pet who melts your heart every time you see, hear, or even think about that one? Couldn’t we Love Jesus like that … at least sometimes … maybe even two moments in a row? Do we believe what the Gospel says? If we forget and stop Loving him, can we repent and start over? DOES HE EVER REMEMBER WE FORGOT if we sincerely repent and ask for forgiveness? Jesus is our example. He died to open the veil of Death and let us be community with his Father. Can we die, even a little, for him? First of Place – again? Or First of Place – always? Can we be second fiddle to Christ just by harmonizing with him and giving him our attention, affectation, affiliation, and approval before we share ourselves, or even as we share ourselves, with others? He’s given that to us. What more could we want?

Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever —
at your service, Belovéd!

Please pray with us here at Share-a-Prayer.

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture passages are from the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Biblical languages inserts from Bible Hub (Bible Hub: Search, Read, Study the Bible in Many Languages) Visit at http://biblehub.com

Creative Commons License
Aloha Friday Messages by Charles O. Todd, III is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License

 

Aloha Friday Message – August 26, 2022 – Serve well, live better

August 26, 2022

2235AFC082622 – Serve well, live better 

Read it online here, please. And please – when you visit there – use one of the social media links at the bottom of the page to share this post. Thank you! And remember, we now have a READER VIEW available, so share this link or this email often. Do you know someone who enjoys Bible study, or who might like to read this? Ask them to email us or to subscribe on our blog-site.

    Sirach 3:29-31 – 29 The mind of the intelligent appreciates proverbs,
and an attentive ear is the desire of the wise.

30 As water extinguishes a blazing fire,
so almsgiving atones for sin.
31 Those who repay favors give thought to the future;
when they fall, they will find support.

Read full chapter (it’s terrific reading!)

Isaiah 42:1 – 1 Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.

1 Peter 4:11 – 11 Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

Matthew 20:26 – 26 It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Back in 1974 a fella by the name of Mac Davis released a song called “It’s Hard To Be Humble.” It was a novelty song, and really kind of fun because we all find it hard to be humble when it comes right down too it. (You can check that out here.)(↔ Music Link)Most of us would agree that it is better to be humble than to be humiliated. Humility and humbleness are not highly valued in our competitive, phony-baloney society. As kids we learned it is important to “Stand up for yourself,” and to “be proud of who you are and where you come from.” “Don’t let anyone put you down. Hold your head up high and take pride in your work.” I found a few interesting old sayings about servants (↔ Click Link) . One of them came from Baseball Coach John Scolinos – although he didn’t directly address humility – and why it’s important to keep home plate at 17 inches. (← Check it out!) Being humble doesn’t mean being wimpy; in fact, it takes a lot of grit to be humble. “Listen widely, speak little” is one I recall from some distant past. It sounds like good advice, but like a lot of good advice, it is not something we take up easily. Here are a few more you may recognize:

  • Fire and water are good servants, but bad masters.
  • The salary of a good servant is never too high.
  • If money is not your servant, it will become your master.
  • A lousy servant will never be a good master.
  • He who makes himself a servant is expected to remain a servant.
  • It is bad to have a dishonest servant, but worse to have a dishonest master.
  • Better a wise man’s servant than an idiot’s master

Now, we have enjoyed silently nodding as we read these statements because – as our Key Verse says – The mind of the intelligent appreciates proverbs, and an attentive ear is the desire of the wise. We have affirmed that we are intelligent and wise by agreeing with these witticisms. (It is hard to be humble, right?)

In the Bible we have “The Wisdom Books,” Job, Proverbs, Psalms, Wisdom, Sirach, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. The Book of Proverbs has some sharp tidbits for people who are too big for their britches. One I heard recently was applied to households – including the household of Congress: Proverbs 11:29 – 29 Those who trouble their households will inherit wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise. I’m still watching for the second half of that one. Why is it, we wonder, so difficult to be humble? Humility is the source of love and service. Humility is the first of the Great Virtues. Why is it the first? It is first because its antithesis is the first of the Great Sins – Pride. “Pride of place” is something many people treasure. They want their work, their family, their heritage, their ideas to be the most important and highly valued above all others. When an adult manifests rebellious actions, her/his pride morphs into arrogance. Such people sully their own dignity by proudly denying – even justifying – their errors. They usually prove out to be liars in just about everything. Do you remember who is “a liar and the father of lies?” (See John 8:44) Pride is what got Satan tossed out of Heaven, and it can do the same for us.

Jesus warns us to seek the lower esteem, not the highest. Last week we heard him disparaging the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. In this Sunday’s readings, he is commenting on their pride – the tricky little ways they behave to get the admiration of others. We all wince a little about that because we know that we all do that – well, maybe just a little (It’s So Hard To Be Humble). In our Key Verse from Matthew we read, “but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant.” There are similar role-reversal passages throughout the Gospels – the last shall be first and the first shall be last, the greatest must be a servant and the leader must be a slave, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” (See Mark 9:35) We’ve cited Bob Dylan’s Gotta serve somebody (↔ Music Link) at times. Isn’t it true that we hope to one day hear Jesus say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”? (See Matthew 25:21-23 and Luke 19:17) Well then, who will we serve, and how do we become that “good and faithful servant?” Would it be the most important person in our lives? And if we do serve well, what outcome do we expect?

Who do we serve? Is there always a servant and a “served?” Of course there is! We all know we are to serve God above all others. He is God, we are not. How do we know that being HIS servant is what he expects? “I AM the Lord your God … you shall love the Lord your God with all you heart, all your soul, and all your strength.” When we choose to love, we choose to serve. When we choose not to love, we choose to rebel. “He who makes himself a servant is expected to remain a servant.” This is why The Apostle Peter says, “… whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ.” So, who has “first of place” in that relationship? I should rephrase that as “Who should have first of place in that relationship?” We all know the answer to that one, too. God is first in all, first for all, first with all, and first through all. As we’ve said before (← Check it out!), sometimes we forget and make ourselves first of place. It takes humility to be a servant . (↔ Music Link)

I remember hearing or reading about a high-ranking cleric who decided he would learn to master the 7 Great Virtues beginning with Humility. After a week he realized he had not come anywhere near that mastery, nor so after a year, a decade, or a lifetime (It’s So Hard To Be Humble). Where do we start – and how can we continue – with humility? We start “In the beginning” and continue with “and shall be evermore.” As in all the Good Gifts of God, it starts with honoring the Giver by accepting the Gift. We do not become a servant by being humble. We become humble by being a servant. How do I know? The B.I.B.L.E. tells me so! Jesus was meek and humble of heart because he was and is in God’s APP “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights.” Jesus came to us to serve. Who? US? No, to serve his Father. We are to emulate Christ in all things so we must also be servants, we must also lay down our lives for another, we must also be meek and humble of heart so that we think of and do all that is Good (See Philippians 4:8). But, Belovéd, how can we do that if we so easily sin? We can (and should) ask, “How did Jesus do it?”

Did the answer spring to mind immediately? How did Jesus do what he did etiam pro nobis – even for us? It’s that four-letter Word that is the key to Faith, to humility, to Joy, Grace, Eternity, and Heaven: LOVE. The Apostle Paul put it into this simple formula: 1 Corinthians 10:31 – 31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. (↔ Music Link) He also wrote to the Colossians saying in Colossians 3:23-24 – 23 Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters, 24 since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you serve the Lord Christ. Why is that? It is because Jesus said so: Matthew 20:26 – 26 It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant. (↔ Music Link)

Still, we know we will again forget, but we also know there is a remedy for that forgetfulness. Going back to the idea of fire and water as good servants and bad masters, we turn the page to the Wisdom of Sirach: As water extinguishes a blazing fire, so almsgiving atones for sin. Generosity is a product of humility and therefore a means of atonement. Sirach also wrote Those who repay favors give thought to the future; when they fall, they will find support. We serve one another through love – “Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law” – and that law is The Law of Love in the APP. Humble but unshakable Love is the way of Peace. Jesus gave us a terrific example in his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, as foretold by the Prophet Zechariah:

Zechariah 9:9 – 9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem!
Lo, your king comes to you;
triumphant and victorious is he,
humble and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Being humbly loving or lovingly humble isn’t sissy-stuff. It’s hard work, but Good Work. My Dad told me “Everything in life takes a little hard work, or a lot of easy work, but it’s all work.” If it’s all work, it might as well be Good Work because of what Jesus said in Luke 6:38 – 38 … give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back. Servants who give better live better. It’s in the APP.

In closing, we once again review the Virtues and Sins. It can serve as a reminder that when we work diligently on the first pair, we do so as servants of the One God who made Heaven and Earth.

 

The 7 Deadly Sins and Their Corresponding Virtues
P Pride Humility
E Envy Kindness
G Gluttony Temperance
S Sloth 1 Diligence
L Lust 2 Chastity
A Avarice 3 Charity
W Wrath Patience
1 Acedia, Apathy
2 Covetousness, Concupiscence
3 Greed, Cupidity

Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever —
at your service, Belovéd!

Please pray with us here at Share-a-Prayer.

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture passages are from the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Biblical languages inserts from Bible Hub (Bible Hub: Search, Read, Study the Bible in Many Languages) Visit at http://biblehub.com

Creative Commons License
Aloha Friday Messages by Charles O. Todd, III is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License

Aloha Friday Message – August 19, 2022 – Next in line, please.

August 19, 2022

2234AFC081922 – Next in line, please.

Read it online here, please. And please – when you visit there – use one of the social media links at the bottom of the page to share this post. Thank you! And remember, we now have a READER VIEW available, so share this link or this email often. Do you know someone who enjoys Bible study, or who might like to read this? Ask them to email us or to subscribe on our blog-site.

      Luke 13:29-30 – “29 Then people will come from east and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God. 30 Indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

¡Que la bendición esté siempre con ustedes y que Dios los bendiga, Amados! (May blessing always be with you and may God bless you, Belovéd!) We have already arrived at the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time. This week we look at the next segment of Jesus’ resolute journey to Jerusalem. He knows what awaits him there and if he continues toward that goal, he will have to endure tremendous suffering in order to experience profound joy. In this part of the Gospel of Luke, we have several statements from Jesus that are difficult to understand; yet, understanding them is essential to being able to fully live an authentically Christian life. To do that, I want to show you a small portion of a very large painting created by Rico Fonseca in 1972 CALLED “The Miracle.” [i] He is “known as artist of Greenwich Village, N.Y. An artist since 1965, world-known from Lima, Peru; in America since 1961. Unique montage style of historical periods of time, also various other styles. Sell reproductions and originals.” Rico and I have discussed this image, and so I want to share with you this little story about the content:

It was like a dream. Perhaps that is the only way to explain it, but it does not explain the what or why or how of the dream.

I gradually became aware that I was standing on a long, irregularly-winding stairway that wandered through the universe. It seemed I was wearing a hooded white robe with very large sleeves. I was facing down the stairs, hands folded in front of me and inside my sleeves. I saw another person in front of me, but facing away, on the next stair down. I could not fathom our purpose for being there. I knew, somehow, we had been there for a very long time. I had no idea why we were standing like that, but as I looked farther down the stair, it seemed to me that perhaps some of the other figures were facing up the stairs. This made no sense whatsoever, so I just continued to stand there. If there was anyone behind me, I didn’t care. I figured they had pretty much the same view I had and pretty much the same understanding as well.

Then something astonishing happened. The figure standing in front of me suddenly turned around! For a moment or two our eyes locked. The expression on the person’s face was originally perplexed. Gradually it changed as if a new awareness had slowly but surely occurred. That was quickly replaced by an expression of great JOY. It was beautiful! I no longer cared why I was on the stair. All I wanted was to look upon that beautiful, joyful face. And in just another moment, the direction of this person’s joyful gaze shifted from my face to something or someone over my shoulder. The intensity of JOY in that face continued to grow – in fact, it seemed like there was light coming from or reflected by this dazzling countenance before me. I was totally fascinated. And completely mystified.

Why had s/he turned around? Why the beatific smile? What was it behind me that made this beautiful person so happy? I stared for … God only knows how long. It must have been a long time, because eventually I realized it was not only the face that glowed, but the whole figure. The robe was scintillating with layers and patterns of incredible light. The more I looked, the more I felt JOY welling up within me as well. At one point, I felt compelled to turn around and see what was behind my shoulder. I shifted my position a tiny bit to the right, and perceived the person two-steps-down was also facing up the stairs. I could not see the face, but I could see the same intense lights coming from that person’s step. I wanted to turn around and see! But I did not want to look away either!

     After another very long while, my JOY took on a different character. It was all interwoven with PEACE. Everything I saw, everything I felt, everything I knew was JOY and PEACE. My awareness grew more acute, and I began to understand that not only was there something absolutely extraordinary behind me, but also there was another figure behind me. I was thinking, “Why are we standing here like this?” The figures farther down the steps were getting brighter, and the stairway itself twisted, and turned, and bent as the universe was flexed by an unseen Power. I began to be more inclined to turn around. Then, quite suddenly, without really intending to do so, it happened.

I was flabbergasted by what – who – I saw. It was another figure dressed like me. My eyes must have widened as I saw the shocked look on this other person’s face. First surprise, then fear, then wonder, then awe swept back and forth between us. I just stood there staring, and met the stare of my newest companion. Then, slowly at first, but with gathering force and speed, I realized that I was supposed to turn around and see what had been seen by my earlier companion – another face. But, I recalled, that person looked past me to someone or something else. What was it? Who was it? Could I see it too? I flicked my eyes to the left for a millisecond and saw something; but what? More stairs, more figures, a cross, a throne, strange creatures, and …. Something or Someone was also there. I took one last good, hard look at the face before me and then looked beyond to a glorious sight. I cannot describe it. It filled me with such JOY that I felt as if I were glowing with JOY and PEACE. Now it made sense.

The person who was behind me and is now in front of me has someone behind them. If the person in front of me turns around, the JOY and PEACE will keep going up the stairs. When the last person on the top stair turns around and the only thing left to see is the Source of that JOY and PEACE, we will all march up the stairs and into that JOY and PEACE. Then, most truly, the last shall be first and the first shall be last but all shall be present in the Presence of The Lamb from Whom we receive All that is Good.

Rico told me that was how he understood it as well. If you look for those figures in the white, hooded gowns, you will see that the stairs on which they stand wind way back to the point of being just a thin line (look at that line at about the level of the outline of Jesus at his left ear). That’s “billions and billions” of souls. But can you guess what else?

There is more! Luke 12:1c-3 – “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is, their hypocrisy. 2 Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. 3 Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be be proclaimed from the housetops.” (↔ Music Link) In this passage Jesus calls out the Pharisees for their hypocrisy. They have remolded Truth and Law to enhance their status among the people. All their little dirty tricks they had used will be exposed, and very soon the Truths they have attempted to conceal will be shouted from the rooftops in broad daylight as the Gospel sets the World afire with the passion of the Holy Spirit. Those who deem themselves of the greater and topmost status will be counted among the lowest and bottommost status.

Have you ever wondered about the “Heavenly Banquet?” When we die will we be spirits in heaven waiting for the resurrection? “Signs point to yes.” But, after the Resurrection, will anyone ever be hungry in Heaven, and will there be food and drink to feed them? “Unknown at this time. Try again later.” (After the Resurrection is my guess.) All I have in my upstairs database is “Blesséd are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (See Matthew 5:6)

There is yet more, Belovéd! John 14:6 – 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Look again at the image and at the silhouette of Jesus. Do you see the children going through? Do you see the line of Saints going through? In that silhouette, is Jesus facing you or walking ahead of you? How many of those Saints on the stairs found JOY and PEACE while looking for Jesus and his Father in Brahman? “Unknown at this time. Try again later.” (After the Resurrection is my guess.) You see, that’s God’s decision, not ours, so however anyone finds Jesus means someone found him somehow, and that’s what it’s all about: Repent and believe the Gospel. (↔ Music Link) It’s in the APP. Belovéd, I LOVE that APP because I LOVE  the God who made it. If we don’t use it, we lose it – and everything else!

There are so many folks these days who believe they can save themselves, or even that there nothing to save because when you’re gone, you’re gone, and you’re not coming back. Alas and alack, we have no say in that. I’m going to stick in a fairly long passage from last week’s Gospel. It will demonstrate that when it comes to God’s commands, the rules are the rules. Look around the world, watch the evening news (if you can bear it), and see how many MILLIONS of people are determined to go to Hell because of their lack of chastity and love of immorality, or their penchant for the murdering of innocents, or ensnared in pride, envy, lust, and greed. We who stand on the stairs are divided from them because Jesus (who IS God) says so:

Matthew 10:34-40 – 34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword [of division].

35 For I have come to set a man against his father,
and a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
36 and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household. *

37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.

40 “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.
*See Micah 7:1-8 which Jesus references here and also in Luke 12:51:53

No one comes to the Father except through me. If we wear the insignia of Christian on our shoulders, we are in the King’s Army so “Onward Christian Shoulders,” the Church of God. When we are ready, we will hear from him: Luke 22:28-30 – 28 “You are those who have stood by me in my trials; 29 and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

“God would not cut us off like that. He is a God of Love and Mercy.” True; but only if you accept his Love and Mercy by following the rules. Our ancestral parents intentionally disobeyed ONE of those rules. The result was manifold:

  1. They learned the difference between Good and Evil
  2. They lost the privilege of direct communion with their Creator
  3. They were exiled from Eden
  4. They entered into a very prolonged war against Satan
  5. They gave up Eternity with God and earned for themselves and for us the wage of Sin which is Death.

So, my Belovéd Watchers on the Stairs, who among us is next in line? I keep listening for my number to come up, but it just might be that someone will turn around to see me behind them on that stair and give me the stair stare. I certainly thank you for your patience in getting this far and I will leave you with this:

A Prayer for Help Psalm 12:1-4, 8

1 Please help me, Lord! (↔ Music Link)
All who were faithful
and all who were loyal
have disappeared.
2 Everyone tells lies,
and no one is sincere.
3 Won’t you chop off
all flattering tongues
that brag so loudly?
4 They say to themselves,
“We are great speakers.
No one else has a chance.”

8 But all who are wicked
will keep on strutting,
while everyone praises
their shameless deeds.  Remind you of anyone we know?

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society For more information about CEV, visit www.bibles.com and www.cev.bible. Used with permission.

PS: The latest “Health Crisis in the World” is not the Monkey Pox. The crisis is in how many have come forward to be vaccinated because their “lifestyle” (more like “death-style”) makes them susceptible or even compromised by the disease. These likely will not be present in the Presence of The Lamb from Whom we receive All that is Good. They are standing in another line on another stairway.

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture passages are from the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Biblical languages inserts from Bible Hub (Bible Hub: Search, Read, Study the Bible in Many Languages) Visit at http://biblehub.com

Creative Commons License
Aloha Friday Messages by Charles O. Todd, III is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License

 

 

[i] “The Miracle” an original painting by Rico Fonseca, © 11/25/1972 Rico Fonseca. Contact https://www.universalartprints.com/

 

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