5. Mỗi Ngày Một Câu Kinh Thánh

MỖI NGÀY MỘT CÂU KT - DAILY BIBLE VERSE - EMMANUEL

  •  
    Emmanuel
     
    "When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.” (Luke 21: 1 - 4).

    Monday 22nd November 2021 of the 34th week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Cecilia  Italian. (+ 3rd century) Virgin and Martyr. St Cecilia is the patron saint of music and musicians. Her name is mentioned in the Roman Canon. Music plays a central role in the worship and liturgy of the Church. St Augustine says that to sing is to pray twice.

    The Gospel today from Luke 21: 1 - 4 is not a parable but actual event, what Jesus observed in the Temple. Jesus is a great Teacher. He teaches from life's experiences and from parables.

    Today I want to reflect on Tithes and Giving to God. Consider these three points:

    #1. Everything we have comes from God.
    #2. It is true that we can never out do God in generosity.
    #3. To give God with generosity is a clear sign of our faith. Examples: The Widow in today's Gospel, Abel, Abraham, David, etc.
    #4. We are not born generous givers. We learn to give.

    As a Catholic I knew nothing about tithing until I ran out of money when I was building a house. I could not finish the house in the planned time. "If you want to finish this house at all, bring your tithe to God," advised my protestant friend. Because I was desperate, I was disposed to believe. I paid my tithes to God and the house was completed at the stipulated time. God taught me a great lesson. This happened 30 years ago. Today I can not afford not to tithe. The rewards are huge. Just a few:
    #1. Locusts cannot devour my money. Any attempt at this, I cry out to God and remind Him of this promise in Malachi 3.
    #2. I have had minimal financial worries.
    #3. Like the Widow in today's Gospel, generosity does not mean giving big. Sometimes I give $1 or $2. But I always try to give something. God says "Do not appear before me empty-handed." (Cf Deuteronomy 16: 16). I take this injunction seriously.

    "And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." (Luke 11: 9 - 10).

    "I bless those whom you present to Me, lifting them into the light of My Face. I will give to each one according to his need, but also according to his readiness to receive My gifts. Those who are poor in spirit are those most ready to receive what I would give them." (IN SINU JESU, Tuesday, January 8, 2008).

    Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirstcommunity.com

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
    "Seek first the kingdom of God and
    his righteousness, all these things
    will be given you  besides."
    (Matthew 6:33)
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
     
     

MỖI NGÀY MỘT CÂU KT - DAILY BIBLE VERSE - EMMANUEL

  •  
    Emmanuel
     
     
    “My kingdom does not belong to this world..... “Then you are a king?” [Pilate asked Jesus]. Jesus answered, “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

    (John 18: 33.... 37).

    Sunday November 21st 2021 is the Solemnity of Jesus Christ King of the Universe.

    Our God and Father anointed our Lord Jesus Christ, with the oil of gladness as eternal Priest and King of all creation. (Preface of the Mass)

    Jesus said to Pilate: “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” 

    Pilate was puzzled about the meaning of truth. The Truth was standing before Pilate. Jesus Christ Himself. He is the Ruler of an eternal and universal kingdom,
    a kingdom of truth and life,
    a kingdom of holiness and grace,
    a kingdom of justice, love and peace.

    Jesus proclaimed that the truth shall make you free. Where there is truth, there is freedom. Freedom is opposed to slavery as falsehood is opposed to truth.

    How do we become truly free and enjoy this heritage of the children of God? Does Christ the King have absolute dominion over your life? Does Jesus reign over your family, health, money, job, etc? It may seem risky and even foolish to surrender everything to Jesus. Pope St John Paul II preaches again and again: "Do not be afraid. Open the door fully to Jesus."
    How do I know that this is safe and trustworthy? Simple. Look at the Communion of the Saints. The billions of people who have trusted Jesus with their lives. They are now in Heaven and they are all praying for us and urging us to trust Jesus as they did.

    Let us trust Jesus who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen. (Cf Revelation 1:5-8).

    "The riches of My kingdom are for all whom I have redeemed with My own Blood, but it pleases Me to bestow them through My Mother, the Queen and Mediatrix who stood at the foot of My Cross, offering Me and offering herself with Me. Today she reigns with Me in paradise. All that I won for souls from My Father on the altar of the Cross, with My Mother at My side, I will now pour out on souls through her Heart and through her hands. This, too, is the secret of a fruitful priesthood. In every priestly act and in all of life, place your hands in the hands of My Mother and your heart in her Heart." (IN SINU JESU, Tuesday, January 8, 2008).

    Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirstcommunity.com

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
    "Seek first the kingdom of God and
    his righteousness, all these things
    will be given you  besides."
    (Matthew 6:33)
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
     

MỖI NGÀY MỘT CÂU KT - QUÝ VÂN

  •  
    Quyvan Vu
     
     

    Hãy vui mừng mãi mãi, cầu nguyện không thôi, phàm làm việc gì cũng phải tạ ơn Chúa; vì ý muốn của Đức Chúa Trời trong Đức Chúa Jêsus Ki Tô đối với anh em là như vậy. (1 Tê-sa-lô-ni-ca 5: 16-18)

    Ta đang sống, trong thời kỳ cuối rốt, 
    Bao nan đề, bao khủng hoảng tiếp liên.
    Bao thiên tai, dịch lệ trải bao miền,
    Bao gãy đổ, đầy sầu đau, tang tóc.

    Giữa thế giới, nhiều đổi thay lao nhọc,
    Đầy hãi hùng, than vãn với sầu tư.
    Là con dân của Cứu Chúa nhân từ,
    Ta cần có, thái độ nào thích ứng?


    -----------------------------------------------
     

MỖI NGÀY MỘT CÂU KT - DAILY BIBLE VERSE - EMMAMNUEL

  •  
    Emmanuel
     
    "Jesus said to them, “The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage."

    Saturday 20th November 2021, in the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time. Let us keep the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Queen of All Saints this Saturday.

    The Sadducees asked Jesus a question about the Resurrection using marriage between one man and one woman as an example. They assumed that in the Resurrection the married couple will be automatically in Heaven.
    Given the disruption of the institution of marriage in our time, we may ask: How can the Church save Marriage today?

    Marriage may be saved through:
    #1. Re-evangelising the marriage candidates. This may take more than six months. RCIA/OCIA process takes between one year and three years.
    #2. Strong and effective catechesis.
    #3. Basic sacramentalization especially on the meaning of Baptism in the Christian dispensation.

    Jesus Christ provides the healing Sacrament of Reconciliation or Penance which if used with faith and integrity can save many marriages. Below is a typical Examination of Conscience to be used by those seeking healing through this unparalleled free gift of healing.

    Examination of Conscience for those who desire a healthy and joyous Marriage:

    You shall not commit adultery.
    Have I been faithful to my marriage vows in thought and action?  Have I engaged in any sexual activity outside of marriage?  Have I used any method of contraception or artificial birth control in marriage?  Has each sexual act in my marriage been open to the transmission of new life?  Have I been guilty of masturbation?  Have I sought to control my thoughts?  Have I respected all members of the opposite sex, or have I thought of other people as objects?  Have I been guilty of any homosexual activity?  Do I seek to be chaste in my thoughts, words and actions?  Am I careful to dress modestly?

    The list above is not exhaustive. Add your personal areas of struggle for example: Texting, Email, Phone, Social Media.

    How often do you use Reconciliation? Start with once every month. As you make progress, you can make it twice a month. The great thing about this Sacrament of Jesus is that it is absolutely free. Try to find out how much it will cost to get a marriage counselor or psychotherapist for an hour.

    "My priests should be the first to seek Me out in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. They should be the first to run to Me as soon as they experience the pangs of an uneasy conscience and the regret of their sinful weaknesses. The single greatest service My priests can offer one another is the readiness to hear each other’s confessions and to pronounce over each other the healing words of absolution. In this way, they carry out the example I gave you when, at the Last Supper, I washed the feet of My disciples. Frequent confession, weekly confession is, more than ever, necessary to My priests." (IN SINU JESU, Thursday, July 31, 2008).

    Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirstcommunity.com

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
    "Seek first the kingdom of God and
    his righteousness, all these things
    will be given you  besides."
    (Matthew 6:33)
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
     
     

MỖI NGÀY MỘT CÂU KT - DAILY BIBLE VERSE - EMMANUEL

  •  
    Emmanuel
     
    "Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” (Luke 19: 45..... 48).

    Friday 19th November 2021, in the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time.

    Jesus entered the Temple and was shocked by what He saw. He censored the traders defiling the holy place:  "My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.”

    The Temple/Church is a consecrated place for the worship of God. The civil society understands the idea of respect for certain places. The first time I went to a traffic court, I had my baseball cap on as I stepped into the court. The police man shouted at me to remove the cap. I obeyed.

    The Church should welcome everyone into its Sanctuary for Sunday worship. The Church teaches that it is Jesus who is the celebrant in the person of the priest whom we see. Have you noticed that on Sundays, the priest is dressed in the best robes. Some people attend Sunday Mass in baseball game outfit? If the mayor or the governor invites you for a lunch, how do you dress? Jesus Christ deserves no less respect.

    My house shall be a house of prayer. Please do not make it a marketplace.

    Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirstcommunity.com

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
    "Seek first the kingdom of God and
    his righteousness, all these things
    will be given you  besides."
    (Matthew 6:33)
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++