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holystormfire · 4 days

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John 15:18-21

Solemnity of Saint George, Martyr

Saint George,

Sculpture by Donatello (1386-1466),

Sculpted between 1415-1417,

White marble

Gospel Reading

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘If the world hates you, remember that it hated me before you.

If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you do not belong to the world, because my choice withdrew you from the world, therefore the world hates you.

Remember the words I said to you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you too; if they kept my word, they will keep yours as well.

But it will be on my account that they will do all this, because they do not know the one who sent me.’

Reflection on the Sculpture

Saint George, widely venerated as a Christian martyr and the patron saint of various entities including England, soldiers, and scouts, was a historical figure who lived during the late 3rd century AD in the Roman province of Cappadocia, which is now modern-day Turkey. Little is known about his early life, but according to tradition, George was a Roman soldier who courageously professed his Christian faith and refused to renounce it, even in the face of persecution. The most famous legend about him recounts how he heroically defeated a fearsome dragon that was terrorizing the city of Silene, rescued a princess and converted the city's inhabitants to Christianity. Despite the mythical elements surrounding his story, Saint George's steadfast devotion to his faith and his unwavering courage in the face of adversity have made him a beloved and revered figure in Christian tradition, celebrated for his virtues of bravery, chivalry, and selflessness.

Our Saint George sculpture is by Donatello. It is one of fourteen commissioned by the guilds of Florence to decorate the external niches of the Orsanmichele church in Florence. St. George was commissioned by the guild of the armorers and sword makers (the Arte dei Corazzai e Spadai). Saint George is sculptured as a young, brave, determined and strong man in armour. He is not standing in contrapposto, although his right leg is turned to the same angle as his shield, visibly his weight is on both legs. Even though he is fully clothed, there is still the sense of a muscular body underneath, typically Renaissance sculpture. His right hand originally probably held some sort of a blade. Drill marks on his head indicate that he probably also wore some kind of (bronze) helmet or (gold) wreath. St George's eyes are looking up and his face indicates some kind of anxiety and emotionality before attacking the dragon.

Article by Father Patrick van der Vorst

#christian blog #jesus #bible reading #christian doctrine #bible scripture #biblical #glorytogod #bible #faith in jesus #bible study #biblical art #artwork #art history #art #religious art #bible reflection #scultpure #biblestudy

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#christian blog #bible reading #christian doctrine #bible scripture #biblical #glorytogod #jesus #bible #faith in jesus #bible study #bible verse #bible devotions #biblestudy #original biblical studies #studies #biblical symbolism #biblical studies #biblical scripture #bibleposting

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holystormfire · 24 days

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Why is giving and receiving honor important?

2 Peter 1:17

when he received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to him, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

And he received honor and glory from God the Father when God’s glorious, majestic voice called down from heaven, “This is my beloved Son; I am fully pleased with him.”

Hebrews 2:9

What we do see is Jesus, who for a little while was given a position “a little lower than the angels”; and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone. What we do see is Jesus, who “for a little while was made lower than the angels” and now is “crowned with glory and honor” because he suffered death for us.

John 8:49-50

“No,” Jesus said, “I have no demon in me. For I honor my Father—and you dishonor me. And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God wants to glorify me. Let him be the judge.”

God and Jesus set the example of the importance of giving and receiving honor. They declare it good and important.

1 Corinthians 6:20

for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

Romans 13:7

Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and import duties, and give respect and honor to all to whom it is due.

1 Peter 2:17

Show respect for everyone. Love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God. Show respect for the king.

Giving honor is acknowledging how we value and respect others.

Philippians 2:3

Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself.

Luke 14:11

For the proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored.

Proverbs 18:12

Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor.

Matthew 23:11-12

The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Giving and receiving honor is a part of Christian humility, because it seeks to lift someone else up, sometimes at our own expense.

Psalm 34:3

Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.

Psalm 107:32

Let them exalt him publicly before the congregation and before the leaders of the nation.

Romans 12:10

Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

1 Corinthians 8:1

Now let’s talk about food that has been sacrificed to idols. You think that everyone should agree with your perfect knowledge. While knowledge may make us feel important, it is love that really builds up the church.

Honoring God and one another unifies us. It transforms selfishness into selflessness.

#christian blog #jesus #bible reading #christian doctrine #bible scripture #biblical #glorytogod #bible #faith in jesus #bible study #finding jesus #love #christian faith #faith #protection #holy ghost

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holystormfire · 24 days

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Luke 24:13-35

Easter Wednesday - The Supper at Emmaus

Friend of the Humble (Supper at Emmaus),

Painted by Léon-Augustin L'Hermitte (1824-1925),

Painted in 1892,

Oil on canvas

Gospel Reading

Two of the disciples of Jesus were on their way to a village called Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking together about all that had happened. Now as they talked this over, Jesus himself came up and walked by their side; but something prevented them from recognising him. He said to them, ‘What matters are you discussing as you walk along?’ They stopped short, their faces downcast.

Then one of them, called Cleopas, answered him, ‘You must be the only person staying in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have been happening there these last few days.’ ‘What things?’ he asked. ‘All about Jesus of Nazareth’ they answered ‘who proved he was a great prophet by the things he said and did in the sight of God and of the whole people; and how our chief priests and our leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and had him crucified. Our own hope had been that he would be the one to set Israel free. And this is not all: two whole days have gone by since it all happened; and some women from our group have astounded us: they went to the tomb in the early morning, and when they did not find the body, they came back to tell us they had seen a vision of angels who declared he was alive. Some of our friends went to the tomb and found everything exactly as the women had reported, but of him they saw nothing.’

Then he said to them, ‘You foolish men! So slow to believe the full message of the prophets! Was it not ordained that the Christ should suffer and so enter into his glory?’ Then, starting with Moses and going through all the prophets, he explained to them the passages throughout the scriptures that were about himself.

When they drew near to the village to which they were going, he made as if to go on; but they pressed him to stay with them. ‘It is nearly evening’ they said ‘and the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them. Now while he was with them at table, he took the bread and said the blessing; then he broke it and handed it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognised him; but he had vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?’

They set out that instant and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven assembled together with their companions, who said to them, ‘Yes, it is true. The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.’ Then they told their story of what had happened on the road and how they had recognised him at the breaking of bread.

Reflection on the painting

Our painting combines today's Gospel story, where Jesus is breaking bread and the onlookers suddenly recognise him, with portraying Jesus as Friend of the Humble, the title of our painting. I do think this is a beautiful, gentle, gripping painting. Three generations of a family are depicted, sharing a meal. Before Léon-Augustin L'Hermitte painted this canvas it would be fair to say that artists always tried to represent Jesus as majestic, full of glory and maybe somewhat distant from normal day-to-day life. Our artist masterfully places Jesus in a contemporary setting of 1892, when this was painted. The painting emphasises that Jesus became human and that he did walk among us.

Vincent van Gogh was one of L'Hermitte's greatest admirers. In one of his letters he wrote: "If every month Le Monde Illustré published one of his compositions... it would be a great pleasure for me to be able to follow it. It is certain that for years I have not seen anything as beautiful as this scene by L'Hermitte... I am too preoccupied by L'Hermitte this evening to be able to talk of other things." Quite the accolade to have Van Gogh write about one's artistry this way.

As the risen Lord approached the two disciples, his first act was to draw them into conversation, asking them to share the nature of their discussion. He sought to hear their tale; a tale filled with sorrow and loss. He wanted to fully engage with them in their moment of grief. He accepted them as they were, demonstrating a profound respect for their current state on their spiritual journey. This is precisely how the Lord presents himself to us: he encounters us in our present circumstances, encouraging us to open our hearts to him, to express our deepest thoughts and feelings. It was only after attentively hearing the disciples' lament that the unrecognized visitor responded. His words cast their despairing narrative in an entirely new light. He made sense of their grief, by placing it in the greater narrative of God's plan - a narrative not concluded by death, but crowned with light and triumph.

by Father Patrick van der Vorst

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Sometimes it seems that I am at war with myself. There is a conflict within. What’s the outcome of that?

Matthew 12:25

“Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart.”

While we must recognize the battle over sin that constantly goes on within us, we must be committed to standing against it. Failing to stand against sin in your own life pits self against self, which is doomed to destroy you. If you allow Satan to command a strategic area of your life, he will defeat you.

Galatians 5:17, 22

The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. . . . But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.

When you become a Christian, a new conflict will begin inside you that will be a life-long battle: what you want versus what God wants. Fortunately, you also have the Holy Spirit living in you, and when you allow him, he gives you the tools you need to fight your sinful nature. Over time, this conflict within yourself will lessen (though never go away) as peace, patience, gentleness, self-control and other characteristics of God start to overcome your sinful nature.

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holystormfire · 1 month

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John 8:51-59

"Before Abraham was, I am."

Scenes from the Story of Abraham,

An English linen needlework panel,

Worked with silk thread; tent and couching stitches,

Mid 17th century

Gospel Reading

Very truly, I tell you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.' The Jews said to him, 'Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets; yet you say, "Whoever keeps my word will never taste death." Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets also died. Who do you claim to be?' Jesus answered, 'If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, he of whom you say, "He is our God", though you do not know him. But I know him; if I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him and I keep his word.

Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad.' Then the Jews said to him, 'You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?' Jesus said to them, 'Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.' So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

Reflection on the Needlework Panel

The beautiful 17th-century English needlework panel depicts some scenes from the Story of Abraham, as recounted in the Book of Genesis. The central scene shows Abraham being informed by a host of angels that his wife Sarah will bear him a son, despite her (and his) advanced age. We can also see Abraham banishing his servant Hagar and her son by Abraham, Ishmael (lower left corner), and Abraham's attempted sacrifice of Sarah's son Isaac, the act he was ordered by God to perform as a test of his faith (upper right corner).

In today's Gospel reading Jesus makes an extraordinary claim that leads the Jewish leaders to want to stone him, ‘Before Abraham was, I am’. This claim of Jesus in the Gospel of John is in keeping with the opening line of that Gospel, ‘In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God’. Jesus existed with God in the beginning, before the creation of the world. He was before Abraham was, indeed, before anything had come into being. Yet, the Word who was with God in the beginning became flesh. He became like us in all things, except sin. While on earth, he remained with God. Having returned to God through his death and resurrection, he remains with us.

In the lead up to Holy Week, Jesus continues to reveal his true identity. Here he declares himself to be God, by stating that he existed before Abraham lived, thus revealing his divine nature. This is another one of the great "I am" sayings of Jesus in which he clearly states who he is.

We feel the tensions building up now towards the crucifixion. Because Jesus made claims such as this one, the Jewish rulers consider him a very real threat to their power and authority. They cannot let him continue to teach and attract more and more followers. Something has to be done about him. Jesus knows that the time is drawing near, and so his teachings become more and more intense, straight-to-the-point and urgent….

Article by Father Patrick van der Vorst

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But isn’t my body my own? Don’t I have the final say in what I do with my body? Let's take a look shall we...

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

You don’t own your body—God does. He designed it and entrusted it to you even as you were conceived into a sinful world that affected your body in many ways. The outlook for your body changed considerably when you responded to the message that Jesus died for you. God paid for you at a premium price with the death of his own Son, and now he fills your body with his Spirit. Honor his sacrifice with one of your own: Respect the awesomeness of your body by keeping it pure.

1 Corinthians 6:12-13

You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything. You say, “Food was made for the stomach, and the stomach for food.” (This is true, though someday God will do away with both of them.) But you can’t say that our bodies were made for sexual immorality. They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies.

False worldviews in biblical times included perspectives that devalued the body as evil and irredeemable. People who believed this often treated their bodies with disrespect and subjected them to debauchery, arguing that it didn’t matter what they did with their bodies. In today’s world of scientific materialism, which discounts God’s involvement in the world and places our bodies at our disposal, the same outcomes often follow. Once God enters the picture, however, we realize that we are accountable for how we treat everything in the created order, including our own bodies. We must take God’s standards and instructions to heart.

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holystormfire · 1 month

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John 8:31-42

"Everyone who commits sin is a slave."

Stratum, Nepal, Modern Day Slavery

Photograph by Lisa Kristine (b. 1965),

Photographed in 2016,

Giclee print,

Gospel Reading

To the Jews who believed in him Jesus said: ‘If you make my word your home you will indeed be my disciples, you will learn the truth and the truth will make you free.’

They answered, ‘We are descended from Abraham and we have never been the slaves of anyone; what do you mean, “You will be made free”?’ Jesus replied: ‘I tell you most solemnly, everyone who commits sin is a slave. Now the slave’s place in the house is not assured, but the son’s place is assured. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are descended from Abraham; but in spite of that you want to kill me because nothing I say has penetrated into you. What I, for my part, speak of is what I have seen with my Father; but you, you put into action the lessons learnt from your father.’

They repeated, ‘Our father is Abraham.’ Jesus said to them: ‘If you were Abraham’s children, you would do as Abraham did. As it is, you want to kill me when I tell you the truth as I have learnt it from God; that is not what Abraham did. What you are doing is what your father does.’

‘We were not born of prostitution,’ they went on ‘we have one father: God.’ Jesus answered: ‘If God were your father, you would love me, since I have come here from God; yes, I have come from him; not that I came because I chose, no, I was sent, and by him.’

Reflection on the photograph

We all want to be free, in the fullest sense of the word. If the opposite of freedom is bondage and slavery, no one wants that. To a certain extent, we are all enslaved to some bad habits or to sin. If some of these bad habits bring us temporary pleasure or make us feel good, we can even love our slavery, not wanting to give it up. Faith however sheds clarity and shows what slavery is. Sin is bondage, making us unfree. We are chained to the things of earth, and so cannot fly towards the things of heaven.

Our photograph is by Lisa Kristine, an international humanitarian photographer. In many of her photographs she highlights the issues of modern-day slavery. There are currently 27 million people enslaved or in forced labour. That's more than double the number of people trafficked during the entire Transatlantic Slave Trade. In our photograph we see people, probably entire families, working in bonded labour. These people don't have a choice. Often they become enslaved through loans they take on. Slaveholders, the only people in these poorer countries who have money to lend, trick the borrowers into slavery through illegal, exorbitant interest rates that are impossible to repay. Children inherit the massive debt from their parents, and thus start working from a very young age too. A vicious cycle, vicious indeed.

Whilst the slavery to sin and the slavery in our artwork are different, underlying them both is the same human desire: that everyone, including us, be liberated from any slavery and so be free. Through grace, we hold it in our own hands to break away from the bondage of sin, but it is otherwise for the people depicted in our photograph, who are powerless to break free from their enforced modern slavery….

We pray today for those who are being trafficked and forcibly put to work. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Article by Father Patrick van der Vorst

#christian blog #jesus #bible reading #christian doctrine #bible scripture #biblical #glorytogod #bible #faith in jesus #bible study #photography #modern art #artists #artwork #art history

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What are some ways to stop and decimate lukewarmness in your walk with God? Check this.

⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

How do I stay interested while reading the Bible?

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In addition to my studies on the "Lost and Excluded Books from the Bible." series.

INTRODUCTION TO THE LOST BOOKS OF THE BIBLE

The Lost Books of the Bible by Rutherford H. Platt, Jr., 1926 and By DR. FRANK CRANE

The great things in this world are growth. This applies to books as well as to institutions.

The Bible is a growth. Many people do not understand that it is not a book written by a single person, but it is a library of several books which were composed by various people in various countries. It is interesting to know how this library grew and upon what principle some books were accepted and some rejected. Of course we may take people's word for the reasons why certain books were chosen, but it is always satisfactory to come to our own conclusions by examining our own evidence.

This is what this Lost Books of the Bible enables us to do. We can examine the books of the Scriptures which we have in the authorized version, and then in this book we can read those scriptures which have been eliminated by various councils in order to make up our standard Bible. It is safe to say that a comparison of the accepted books with those rejected may be relied upon, for those books which were accepted are far superior in value to the others.

These others which are included in the Lost Books of the Bible comprise all kinds of stories, tales and myths. No great figure appears in history without myths growing up about him. Every great personage becomes a nucleus or center about which folk tales cluster. There are apocryphal tales about Napoleon, about Charlemagne, about Julius Cæsar and other outstanding characters.

It is impossible that a man representing so great a force as Jesus of Nazareth should appear in the world without finding many echoes of His personality in contemporary literature—many stories which grew up about Him as time elapsed. What these tales and stories are, just how He appears to the fictional minds of His day and afterwards, it is interesting to note.

Very often the fiction writer depicts life and the great truth of life better than the historian. He does not pretend to write down what is exactly true, but he tinges all things with his imagination. His feelings, however, may be just and reliable. The reading of this Lost Books of the Bible is interesting as a matter of course. All who in any way are attracted by the personage of Jesus are interested to know any stories that may have grown up about Him.

They are also valuable because they enable us to get many a point of view which otherwise would have been lost. History may be true, but in a sense tradition is even truer. It has been said that history records what has been, but tradition tells what ought to have been.

It must be remembered also that such a thing as historical accuracy is a comparatively novel product. The older writers never dreamed of it. They wrote in order to be interesting, not to tell the truth. And it is a remarkable fact that the events recorded in the Holy Scriptures, as far as we can find out, were most of them veritable, and the chroniclers were truthful. In this volume all these apocryphal volumes are presented without argument or commentation. The reader's own judgment and common sense are appealed to. It makes no difference whether he is Catholic or Protestant or Hebrew. The facts are plainly laid before him. These facts for a long time have been the peculiar esoteric property of the learned. They were available only in the original Greek and Latin and so forth. Now they have been translated and brought in plain English before the eye of every reader.

The ordinary man has therefore the privilege of seeing upon what grounds the commonly accepted Scriptures rest. He can examine the pile of evidence and do his own sifting. Thousands of people to-day look to the New Testament narrative as their leader and guide. It is important to know upon what authority this rests, and many a man will be delighted to find the evidence thus clearly presented before him.

The Lost Books of the Bible present all sorts of matter before the curious eye. There are stories about Mary and instances of her personal life. There are other stories about the boyhood of Jesus and instances about His crucifixion. All of these become important because of the central figure about whom they revolve. No man has ever appealed to the imagination of the world and so played upon its feelings as has Jesus of Nazareth. It is interesting to know what forms of stories and speculations about Him took place in the early period of the Christian era.

In other words, the ordinary man is invited to take his place in that council chamber which accepts and rejects the various writings of Scripture. It is safe to say that the conclusions desired can safely be left to his common sense. It can no longer be said that our Scriptures were accepted by learned men; you do not know that, but you must accept their conclusions. Now it is shown you upon what grounds these conclusions rest.

As a believer in the authenticity of our accepted Scriptures

I have no hesitancy in saying that I am perfectly satisfied to let the common sense of the world decide upon the superiority of the accepted text. The publication of this book will do good because it takes away the veil of secrecy that has hidden for many years the act of the church in accepting certain Scriptures and rejecting others. All of the grounds are rendered perfectly intelligible to the common man.

The Lost Books - http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=losts.books.bible.AOVVOECGBSPCKJOZJR

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What should have our attention?

Ecclesiastes 7:13

Accept the way God does things, for who can straighten what he has made crooked?

John 5:19

So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.”

We should pay attention to what God is doing and the way he is working in our lives and in the world around us.

Hebrews 2:3-4

So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak? And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.

Luke 8:18

So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.

1 Corinthians 2:2

For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified.

We should pay attention to the message Jesus has for us. What Jesus says is reinforced by who he is—God’s Son. If Jesus was not God’s Son, he would be incapable of raising us from the dead. He would have no power to save us and take us to heaven. Think of the most important person on earth. If that person wanted to talk with you, would you listen? Would you give him or her your full attention? How much more important is the Son of God!

Psalm 119:78

I will concentrate on your commandments.

2 Peter 1:19

Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts.

God’s Word deserves our attention. Through his Word, God speaks to us and brings us life that last forever.

Proverbs 16:20

Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be joyful.

Proverbs 19:27

If you stop listening to instruction, my child, you will turn your back on knowledge.

Proverbs 22:17

Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction.

Proverbs 5:13

Oh, why didn’t I listen to my teachers? Why didn’t I pay attention to my instructors?

Proverbs 5:1

My son, pay attention to my wisdom; listen carefully to my wise counsel.

It’s essential to pay attention to the instruction we receive from God’s Word and from wise counselors or teachers. If we don’t, we may be turning our backs on God himself.

Matthew 7:15

Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.

Matthew 16:11-12

Why can’t you understand that I’m not talking about bread? So again I say, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’” Then at last they understood that he wasn’t speaking about the yeast in bread, but about the deceptive teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

We must be alert to the deception of false prophets and false teachers, those who twist God’s Word to make it say whatever they want. Pay attention to their wiles, but not their words. If a person is not speaking for God, we should not accept that person’s teaching as from God.

Mark 13:32-33

However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert!

Luke 21:31, 34-36

In the same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can know that the Kingdom of God is near . . . Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.

1 Thessalonians 5:4-6

But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.

Be prepared for the day when Jesus promised he would return again by paying attention to the way you live. Live as if he is coming back today.

Ephesians 6:18

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Colossians 4:2

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

Matthew 26:41

Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!

Your prayer life deserves your focused attention. That’s how you best connect to God himself.

1 Corinthians 16:13

Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.

1 Timothy 4:16

Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.

1 Timothy 4:8

Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.

The growth and strengthening of our spiritual lives deserves our attention. If it pays to exercise our bodies so we keep them healthy, how much more it pays to build our souls so they are healthy.

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John 12:20-33

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

Saint Patrick,

Saint Patrick Catholic Church, Junction City, Ohio,

Stained glass window

Gospel Reading

Among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. These approached Philip, who came from Bethsaida in Galilee, and put this request to him, ‘Sir, we should like to see Jesus.’ Philip went to tell Andrew, and Andrew and Philip together went to tell Jesus. Jesus replied to them:

‘Now the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you, most solemnly, unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest. Anyone who loves his life loses it; anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for the eternal life. If a man serves me, he must follow me, wherever I am, my servant will be there too.

If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him. Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say: Father, save me from this hour? But it was for this very reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name!’

A voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.’ People standing by, who heard this, said it was a clap of thunder; others said, ‘It was an angel speaking to him.’ Jesus answered, ‘It was not for my sake that this voice came, but for yours. ‘Now sentence is being passed on this world; now the prince of this world is to be overthrown. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I shall draw all men to myself.’

By these words he indicated the kind of death he would die.

Reflection on the stained glass window

Saint Patrick's Confessio was written in the latter part of Saint Patrick's life, around the 5th century AD, likely between 450 and 460 AD. Primarily, it served as a justification of Patrick's mission in Ireland, particularly in the face of criticism and skepticism from his Christian contemporaries in Britain. Patrick recounts his call to mission in Ireland, his successes and challenges in converting the Irish, and his deep spiritual convictions. The Confessio details Patrick's background, including his capture by Irish pirates at the age of sixteen, his six years of enslavement in Ireland, and his eventual escape. Importantly, it describes his call to return to Ireland as a missionary after his return to Britain, highlighting his deep sense of religious duty.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day everyone.

Article by Father Patrick van der Vorst

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Why is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit called the “unforgivable sin?”

Matthew 12:31

Every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven.

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is often called the “unforgivable sin.” It is unforgivable because it reflects a settled, hard-hearted attitude of defiant hostility toward God. A person who has this attitude will never come to God for forgiveness, and therefore he or she is out of reach of his forgiveness. If you’re worried about whether you have committed the unforgivable sin, you haven’t. All you have to do is ask God to forgive you, and he will.

Mark 3:28-30

“I tell you the truth, all sin and blasphemy can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. This is a sin with eternal consequences.” Jesus metold them this because they were saying, “He’s possessed by an evil spirit.”

Attributing Jesus’ Spirit-wrought works to an evil spirit blasphemously identifies the Holy Spirit with a demon. Those who persistently mistake the Holy Spirit for God’s adversaries have so hardened themselves to the work of the Holy Spirit that they will never be reconciled with God.

Romans 8:38

I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

One of the tools the enemy uses to detour and defeat believers is the fear that we have, through actual sins in our lives, blasphemed the Holy Spirit and are thereby irredeemable. Here Paul reminds us that the bond between us and God established in Jesus cannot be broken by anything.

Psalm 103:3

He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.

No sin is so big or so terrible that God can’t or won’t forgive it if you ask him. God has seen it all, and he still offers everyone his complete and unconditional love. However, an attitude of defiant hostility toward God’s Holy Spirit prevents people from accepting his forgiveness and pushes away their only hope of forgiveness. Only those who don’t want God’s forgiveness are out of its reach.

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