Jesus is world's light-John -1

For Christians, these lights have a deeper meaning.  The night is far spent, the day is at hand.  At the moment when darkness of human society is at its deepest, the Light of the World will come.

So it is a waste of our time to get educated and employed?  Should we just spend our days praying, reading the Bible, and trying to predict dates for the Return of the King?

St. Paul sharply rebuked some for taking this approach.  As focused as Paul was on the age to come, he was thoroughly engaged in this one.  Besides his profound life of prayer and preaching, he labored with his hands to the point of exhaustion so as not be a burden on anyone, and have something to give to the needy.  He said that those that refuse to work should not eat (2 Thes 3:6-13).  The Second Vatican Council said that living for the future world should make us more, not less, committed to improving this one (Gaudium et Spes 37).

So what do we do about His Coming?  Very simple.  By the power of his grace, let’s make sure that when the Light arrives that it won’t for us be a cruel light.  Are there things in your life that you’d rather not be seen by God and everyone else?  Then you’d best get busy rooting them out of your life.  Because the Light will reveal all.

Besides, the Lord clearly says that his Second and final coming will be at the time we least expect it (Mat 24:44).  If God is purposely designing it to be a surprise, I don’t think there is much hope of outsmarting Him.

Far, far away in the north, amid the endless wilderness of Finnish Lapland, is a mysterious mountain called Korvatunturi. Right at the foot, hidden from human eyes and ears, lives Santa Claus with his wife, his elves and his reindeer. He’s in fact been living there so long that he can’t quite remember when he first moved in. He doesn’t actually say much about his home, but he does let on that, as its name - Ear Mountain - suggests, it’s an excellent place for hearing and receiving the hopes and dreams of people of all ages.

Santa is anxious to keep his secrets; they are, after all, an important part of the Christmas story. But a traveller who happened to be passing about a hundred years ago brought news that soon spread of the mountain and its inhabitants. Santa wanted to make sure his hiding place was not invaded with visitors and hit upon a brilliant idea that would allow all his friends and anyone who loved Christmas to come and meet him. About half a century ago he began making regular visits to the Arctic Circle just outside the town of Rovaniemi.

Korvatunturi lies far, far away in the wilds of Lapland, but then if you live down south, the Arctic Circle may seem a long way away. And because Santa doesn’t want anyone to be disappointed, he has promised to be at his Office on the Arctic Circle every single day of the year, ready to receive friends from near and far.

Thanksgiving 2

11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.

12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,

16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole

thanksgiving

The Thanksgiving holiday means different things to people who celebrate it. As it usually provides a four day weekend, for a lot of people it is a holiday that is highly anticipated as a small vacation from work or school. This has thrilled children for years to know that they not only get a huge meal with all the family members but they also get four days of cartoons, sleeping late, and playing. So it is easy to see why the children enjoy this special holiday.



Excerpt #2

Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 16:18 I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 16:19 I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven." 16:20 Then he commanded the disciples that they should tell no one that he was Jesus the Christ. 16:21 From that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up

Posted: 11-13-2010

Excerpt #1

1. The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test Jesus* they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.
2. He answered them, 'When it is evening, you say, "It will be fair weather, for the sky is red."
3. And in the morning, "It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening." You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.*
4. An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.' Then he left them and went away.
5. When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread.
6. Jesus said to them, 'Watch out, and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.'
7. They said to one another, 'It is because we have brought no bread.'
8. And becoming aware of it, Jesus said, 'You of little faith, why are you talking about having no bread?
9. Do you still not perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered?
10. Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered?
11. How could you fail to perceive that I was not speaking about bread? Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!'
12. Then they understood that he had not told them to beware of the yeast of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
13.Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, 'Who do people say that the Son of Man is?'
14. And they said, 'Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.'
15. He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?'
16. Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Messiah,* the Son of the living God.'
17. And Jesus answered him, 'Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.
18. And I tell you, you are Peter,* and on this rock* I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
19. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.'
20. Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was* the Messiah.*
21. From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
22. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, 'God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.'
23. But he turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.'
24. Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
25. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.
26. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?
27. 'For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done.
28. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.

Posted: 11/13/2010