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24 November 2012
Extracted from the Book of Revelation 3:1-6, 14-22:
I, John, heard the Lord saying to me: ‘Write to the angel of the church in Sardis and say, “Here is the message of the one who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: I know all about you: how you are reputed to be alive and yet are dead.
Wake up; revive what little you have left: it is dying fast. So far I have failed to notice anything in the way you live that my God could possibly call perfect, and yet do you remember how eager you were. when you first heard the message?
Hold on to that. Repent. If you do not wake up, I shall come to you like a thief, without telling you at what hour to expect me.
There are a few in Sardis, it is true, who have kept their robes from being dirtied, and they are fit to come with me, dressed in white.
Those who prove victorious will be dressed, like these, in white robes; I shall not blot their names out of the book of life, but acknowledge their names in the presence of my Father and his angels.
If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”
‘Write to the angel of the church in Laodicea and say, “Here is the message of the Amen, the faithful, the true witness, the ultimate source of God’s creation: I know all about you: how you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were one or the other, but since you are neither, but only lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth.
You say to yourself, ‘I am rich, I have made a fortune, and have everything I want’, never realising that you are wretchedly and pitiably poor, and blind and naked too.
I warn you, buy from me the gold that has been tested in the fire to make you really rich, and white robes to clothe you and cover your shameful nakedness, and eye ointment to put on your eyes so that you are able to see.
I am the one who reproves and disciplines all those he loves: so repent in real earnest.
Look, I am standing at the door, knocking. If one of you hears me calling and opens the door, I will come in to share his meal, side by side with him.
Those who prove victorious I will allow to share my throne, just as I was victorious myself and took my place with my Father on his throne.
If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”’
Sharing:
Holy Mass Readings on 20 November 2012:
1st Reading: Revelation 3:1-6, 14-22 (see above);
Responsorial: Psalm 15: 2-5 (see Encouragements-138);
Gospel Reading: Luke 19:1-10 (see Encouragements-53),
After the aforesaid Readings, a wise and elderly Priest gave a short sermon and we have summarized to share with you:
The Book of Revelation was written by John the Evangelist (the Apostle) around 95 AD when he was an old man. In this Book, John was addressing to the 7 Churches of Asia Minor (around Ephesus: near present-day Selçuk, Izmir Province, Turkey); to encourage them as there were great persecutions of the Christians by the then Roman Empire.
Jesus told us: “Look, I am standing at the door, knocking. If one of you hears me calling and opens the door, I will come in to share his meal, side by side with him.” (Revelation 3: 20)
Jesus is knocking at the doors of our hearts, when we open our hearts to Him and invite Him in; He would come in to share our meals and sit side by side with us: a sign of closeness, love and friendship. Then we would be spending our earthly lives with Him like in paradise, enjoying His love and comfort; even in the midst possible hardship … 8-)
However, if we shut the doors of our hearts and refuse Him in, He would not force His way in but only pass us by, He might not come back. And if He does not come back, then it would be real disaster … Don’t you think so? 8-(
In the aforesaid Gospel, Zacchaeus the short and rich senior tax collector repented immediately and “turned over a new leaf” after Jesus told him that He would be staying at his house. Zacchaeus could have been a great sinner, but he was prepared to change his wrongful ways of life for the better: He was prepared to be generous for Jesus (“give half of my property to the poor”) and to make reparation if he had cheated (“pay him back 4 times the amount”). Thus, in the eyes of Jesus, no one is an impossible case; we would only need to open our hearts to Him and invite Him in. 8-) 24 November 2012 |
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Extracted from the Book of Daniel 7:13-14
I gazed into the visions of the night.
And I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven, one like a son of man.
He (hereinafter referred to “Jesus Christ”) came to the one of great age and was led into his presence.
On him was conferred sovereignty, glory and kingship, and men of all peoples, nations and languages became his servants.
His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty which shall never pass away, nor will his empire ever be destroyed.
Extracted from Psalm 93:1-2,5
The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed.
The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed; the Lord has robed himself with might, he has girded himself with power.
The world you made firm, not to be moved; your throne has stood firm from of old. From all eternity, O Lord, you are.
Truly your decrees are to be trusted. Holiness is fitting to your house, O Lord, until the end of time. |
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Extracted from the Book of Revelation1:5-8
Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the First-born from the dead, the Ruler of the kings of the earth.
He loves us and has washed away our sins with his blood, and made us a line of kings, priests to serve his God and Father; to him, then, be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.
It is he who is coming on the clouds; everyone will see him, even those who pierced him, and all the races of the earth will mourn over him.
This is the truth. Amen. ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega’ says the Lord God, who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.
1 December 2012 |
