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9 July 2011
Jesus the Word of God -Extracted from John, Chapter 1:
1 In the beginning was the Word: the Word was with God and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 Through him all things came into being, not one thing came into being except through him.
4 All that came to be had life in him and that life was the light of men,
5 a light that shines in the dark, a light that darkness could not overpower.
6 A man came, sent by God. His name was John.
7 He came as a witness, to bear witness to the light, so that everyone might believe through him.
8 He was not the light, he was to bear witness to the light.
9 The Word was the real light that gives light to everyone; he was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world that had come into being through him, and the world did not recognise him.
11 He came to his own and his own people did not accept him.
12 But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believed in his name
13 who were born not from human stock or human desire or human will but from God himself.
14 The Word became flesh, he lived among us, and we saw his glory, the glory that he has from the Father as only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 John witnesses to him. He proclaims: 'This is the one of whom I said: He who comes after me has passed ahead of me because he existed before me.'
16 Indeed, from his fullness we have, all of us, received - yes, grace in return for grace,
17 since, though the Law was given through Moses, grace and truth have come through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has ever seen God; it is the only Son, who is nearest to the Father's heart, who has made him known.
Jesus raised the dead and healed the woman suffered from haemorrhage - Extracted from Matthew, Chapter 9:
18 While he was speaking to them, suddenly one of the officials came up, who bowed low in front of him and said, 'My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and her life will be saved.'
19 Jesus rose and, with his disciples, followed him.
20 Then suddenly from behind him came a woman, who had been suffering from a haemorrhage for twelve years, and she touched the fringe of his cloak,
21 for she was thinking, 'If only I can touch his cloak I shall be saved.'
22 Jesus turned round and saw her; and he said to her, 'Courage, my daughter, your faith has saved you.' And from that moment the woman was saved.
23 When Jesus reached the official's house and saw the flute-players, with the crowd making a commotion, he said,
24 'Get out of here; the little girl is not dead; she is asleep.' And they ridiculed him.
25 But when the people had been turned out he went inside and took her by the hand; and she stood up.
26 And the news of this spread all round the countryside. 9 July 2011 |
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16 July 2011
Wisdom – Extracted from the Book of Wisdom, Chapter 1:
1 Love uprightness you who are rulers on earth, be properly disposed towards the Lord and seek him in simplicity of heart;
2 for he will be found by those who do not put him to the test, revealing himself to those who do not mistrust him.
3 Perverse thoughts, however, separate people from God, and power, when put to the test, confounds the stupid.
4 Wisdom will never enter the soul of a wrong-doer, nor dwell in a body enslaved to sin;
5 for the holy spirit of instruction flees deceitfulness, recoils from unintelligent thoughts, is thwarted by the onset of vice.
6 Wisdom is a spirit friendly to humanity, though she will not let a blasphemer's words go unpunished; since God observes the very soul and accurately surveys the heart, listening to every word.
7 For the spirit of the Lord fills the world, and that which holds everything together knows every word said.
8 No one who speaks what is wrong will go undetected, nor will avenging Justice pass by such a one.
9 For the schemes of the godless will be examined, and a report of his words will reach the Lord to convict him of his crimes.
10 There is a jealous ear that overhears everything, not even a murmur of complaint escapes it.
11 So beware of uttering frivolous complaints, restrain your tongue from finding fault; even what is said in secret has repercussions, and a lying mouth deals death to the soul.
12 Do not court death by the errors of your ways, nor invite destruction through the work of your hands.
13 For God did not make Death, he takes no pleasure in destroying the living.
14 To exist - for this he created all things; the creatures of the world have health in them, in them is no fatal poison, and Hades has no power over the world:
15 for uprightness is immortal.
16 But the godless call for Death with deed and word, counting him friend, they wear themselves out for him; with him they make a pact, worthy as they are to belong to him.
Fatherly Advice- Extracted from Ecclesiasticus / Sirach:
Chapter 4:
Charity to the Poor
1 My child, do not refuse the poor a livelihood, do not tantalize the needy.
2 Do not add to the sufferings of the hungry, do not bait anyone in distress.
3 Do not aggravate a heart already angry, nor keep the destitute waiting for your alms.
4 Do not repulse a hard-pressed beggar, nor turn your face from the poor.
5 Do not avert your eyes from the needy, give no one occasion to curse you;
6 for if someone curses you in distress, his Maker will give ear to the imprecation.
7 Gain the love of the community, in the presence of the great bow your head.
8 To the poor lend an ear, and courteously return the greeting.
9 Save the oppressed from the hand of the oppressor, and do not be mean-spirited in your judgments.
10 Be like a father to the fatherless and as good as a husband to their mothers. And you will be like a child to the Most High, who will love you more than your own mother does.
Wisdom as Educator
11 Wisdom brings up her own children and cares for those who seek her.
12 Whoever loves her loves life, those who seek her early will be filled with joy.
13 Whoever possesses her will inherit honour, and wherever he walks the Lord will bless him.
14 Those who serve her minister to the Holy One, and the Lord loves those who love her.
15 Whoever obeys her rules the nations, whoever pays attention to her dwells secure.
16 If he trusts himself to her he will inherit her, and his descendants will remain in possession of her;
17 for though she takes him at first through winding ways, bringing fear and faintness on him, trying him out with her discipline till she can trust him, and testing him with her ordeals,
18 she then comes back to him on the straight road, makes him happy and reveals her secrets to him.
19 If he goes astray, however, she abandons him and leaves him to his own destruction.
Shame and human respect
20 Take circumstances into account and beware of evil, and have no cause to be ashamed of yourself;
21 for there is a shame that leads to sin and a shame that is honorable and gracious.
22 Do not be too severe on yourself, do not let shame lead you to ruin.
23 Do not refrain from speaking when it will do good, and do not hide your wisdom;
24 for your wisdom is made known by what you say, your erudition by the words you utter.
25 Do not contradict the truth, rather blush for your own ignorance.
26 Do not be ashamed to confess your sins, do not struggle against the current of the river.
27 Do not grovel to the foolish, do not show partiality to the influential.
28 Fight to the death for truth, and the Lord God will war on your side.
29 Do not be bold of tongue, yet idle and slack in deed;
30 do not be like a lion at home, or cowardly towards your servants.
31 Do not let your hands be outstretched to receive, yet tight-fisted when the time comes to give back.
16 July 2011
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