Unfortunately this is also the day that all the phony bull crap cult "believers" kiss the arses of each other, celebrating the "reincarnated" (there is NO reincarnation at all) baby bejesuses in their family, and of course all the "reincarnated" so called mumsymarys, etc. I tend not to have much dinner on Christmas because thinking of those blasphemers makes me puke. Think of all the times they have worked their mugs (American slang for faces) into holy card poses for distribution to not only their so called believers, but into the hands of honest Christians who don't know that these people have totally infiltrated the religious art world. (Advice: stick to devotional art and religious representations based on paintings and art from more than one hundred years ago. Many modern images, including those you get in the mail, wittingly and unwittingly have the sour faces of these cult crazies who make their supposedly holy pouts to the camera, paintbrush or airbrush).
Sorry for the commercial interruption but God expects me to repeat and repeat the truth as clearly stated in the Torah, Bible and the Qur'an, over and over until some people pick up the clue telephone from the real and only one true God. It makes me SICK that people who have never had a saintly thought in their entire lives continue to kiss each other's arses congratulating themselves on their wonderfulness, based on biology, false works and delusions (also assisted by lots of mind altering drugs, booze and brain damage).
In a way, this continued problem of blasphemers and false prophets underscores what I blogged about recently, that the actual one and only Holy Family had little time to celebrate the birth of the only, once for all Savior, as phony power brokers, such as King Herod, the Pharisees and the Scribes, could hardly wait to start their murderous hatred and blasphemy. In the days after Christmas we celebrate or, rather, commemorate the first martyrs, the little babies of Bethlehem that Herod slaughtered in order to try to kill the infant Jesus. We also commemorate the first disciple killed after Jesus' resurrection into heaven, St. Stephen, as recorded in the Book of Acts.
If you have been stuck in the darkness of cult families and associates, try to make this the Christmas where you start to understand the truth.
Showing posts with label Book of Acts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Book of Acts. Show all posts
Friday, December 25, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
Bible Reading: Acts 8:18-23
But when Simon [a man who had been practising sorcery but came to be impressed by Peter and was baptized] saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying, "Give me also this power, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."
But Peter said to him, "Thy money go to destruction with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money. Thou hast no part or lot in this matter; for thy heart is not right before God. Repent therefore this wickedness of thine and pray to God, that perhaps this thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee; for I see thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity" (Acts 8:18-23).
But Peter said to him, "Thy money go to destruction with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money. Thou hast no part or lot in this matter; for thy heart is not right before God. Repent therefore this wickedness of thine and pray to God, that perhaps this thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee; for I see thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity" (Acts 8:18-23).
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Larry King mangles the Bible
I have a lot to blog about today. Sometimes there is a confluence of both ordinary secular events and cultist “antireligious” events that are reason to repeat ONCE AGAIN what I have taught previously, and today is one of those days.
Now, I don’t mind someone asking even the “dumbest” question (and remember, the only dumb question is the one that is not asked) over and over. In fact, that is a good sign because it indicates a mind and heart that is trying to understand and to change. I am annoyed, since it is based on alarm, when I have to repeat over and over what is IN THE BIBLE and plain for anyone to understand and see. I’m alarmed because never have I seen so many human beings have a willful refusal to understand even the facts of which they supposedly speak AND their doing so in a public forum in order to mislead others into error, sin, and ultimately damnation.
TV personality Larry King works my last nerve but I do watch him on occasion because I want to see specific people or topics that his show covers. The specific thing that annoys me about Mr. King is that even though he is a secular Jew (not a believer of God or his own faith) he feels informed enough to throw a damper on anyone else’s faith, should he be in a mood to do so. He, like most modern media false prophets, present an argument that sounds logical and erodes faith in his listeners, but is totally simplistic, ignorant, fallacious, and, frankly, in service of the prince of darkness. So this is why I MUST finally address in my blog this simultaneously whining and hostile “argument” that he makes regarding what the Bible says about homosexuality. By the way, I am not going to attack what he says about homosexuality (he thinks it’s great) because my views of tolerance are well known and articulated, even if people choose to ignore what I really feel. I have cited what Jesus himself has said on the matter, which many miss because he uses the term “eunuch” rather than homosexual. It is what Mr. King says about the nature of the Bible that infuriates me.
In a nutshell, Mr. King characterizes the Bible as an outdated book of “dos and don’ts.” He, with his usual self satisfied smugness, cites other Biblical law, such as prohibition from eating shellfish, as an example of an “out of date” Biblical law that no one pays attention to anymore, and argues that God’s prohibition against active homosexuality is likewise a law that is just out of date. If you haven’t watched him at work, let me describe how he thinks he has such a “killer argument.” Whenever he has a guest who is Christian and against homosexuality for Biblical reasons, he sneers at them, “Well, don’t you eat shellfish?” He thinks he has then done a slam dunk regarding 1) the person’s hypocrisy in their own faith and 2) the “fact” that the Bible is just a list of laws that no longer “apply” to modern people. Thus he thinks if a person eats shellfish they have demonstrated that the old Law of the Bible-ALL of it-no longer applies.
This is so arrogant and pig ignorant that I find myself clenching my teeth as I key this blogging.
Let me start with the first obvious point. The Bible is not “only” a list of dos and don’ts that are given at one point in time. The Bible was written by different authors over a period of many years and EACH author records what encounters Israel, and later both Jews and Gentiles, have had with God. In other words, the Bible records the ongoing conversation that God has with humans over hundreds, indeed thousands, of years. So it’s not like some old smelly guy wrote down the Bible in one sitting at one point in time and then as years go on the Bible “no longer applies.” Here’s a newsflash for people who mouth off about the Bible but don’t actually read it. Um, God actually NOTICES how people change and what they are doing and UPDATES what he tells them accordingly. Some law is absolute and fixed as being obligatory FOREVER and God confirms that periodically through his prophets. Other laws God RELEASES people from and CHANGES and that is recorded in the scripture.
Liberal secular unbelieving Jews are particularly frustrating to debate because they not only do not believe in God, or the divinity of the Bible’s word, as given by God through the Holy Spirit, but they “doubly” do not believe in Jesus and thus do not read and absolutely discard all that is in the Gospel, the New Testament. So here is how I’d like to wipe the smile off of Mr. King’s smug face.
Acts 11
Now the apostles and the brethren all over Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. But when Peter went up to Jerusalem, they of the circumcision found fault with him, saying “Why didst thou visit men uncircumcised and eat with them?”
[For readers who don’t understand what was going on, here is a quick summary. Jesus preached only to the Jews, and stated that he himself was sent only to preach to the Jews. However, many Gentiles listened to him in the crowds that followed him, so by his role modeling we know that while his personal ministry was to the Jews that God intended that all should hear. Now, understand that the way Jews had self identification as Jews was that males were circumcised and all observed the food law as given by God to Moses. Thus “they of the circumcision” means “Jews,” while uncircumcised means “not Jews” hence “Gentiles.” Also “eating with them” means that Gentiles, not being Jews, do not follow God’s dietary laws. This is the snickering Mr. King’s question, about why Gentiles eat shellfish yet follow the rest of the Bible. I bet you can see where the scripture is going more clearly now, huh? “The Gentiles also had received the word of God.” So it’s not like only Jews converted to Christianity and then decided to stop following the dietary law (and thus eat shellfish). God allowed the word to be heard and believed by those who were not circumcised or following dietary laws and indeed, those who never even HEARD of the one true God of the Israelites, to hear and believe. ]
Then Peter began to explain the matter to them in order, saying, “I was praying in the city of Joppa and while in ecstasy I had a vision, a certain vessel coming down something like a great sheet, let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came right down to me. And gazing upon it, I began to observe, and I saw the four-footed creatures of the earth, and the wild beasts and the creeping things, and the birds of the air. And I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Arise, Peter, kill and eat.’ And I said, ‘By no means, Lord, for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’
[See, even as the Apostle of Jesus Peter hears God himself ordering Peter to eat food that is forbidden to them under dietary law and hence “unclean,” Peter replies to the Lord that he has never eaten anything unclean, and refuses to obey God to eat the unclean in his vision! Peter was sticking to the dietary law of the Jews, even as he had become the head Apostle, what Catholics call the Pope today, of Jesus Christ. Peter was sticking to the dietary law and even when God first tells him to eat the unclean in a vision, Peter refused, no doubt suspecting it was a temptation or a test by God of his fidelity to the Law.]
But the voice answered a second time, ‘What God has cleansed, do not thou call common.’ This happened three times, and then it was all drawn up back into heaven. And behold, immediately three men came to the house where I was, having been sent from Caesarea to me; and the Spirit bade me not to hesitate to go with them. And these six brethren also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. And he told us how he had seen the angel in his house stand and say to him, ‘Send to Joppa and fetch Simon, surnamed Peter; he will speak to thee words by which thou shalt be saved, thou and all thy household.’
[See, Peter is traveling among the Gentiles, where people are hearing the word, both from Peter and other disciples, but also directly from God, and believing. So these are adult non-Jews who thus are not circumcised nor follow dietary law, nor who have even heard of, necessarily, the one God. Peter is thus relating to these Jewish Christians how Gentiles are flocking to him in belief.]
But when I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as it did upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ Therefore, if God gave to them the same grace as he gave to us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I should be able to interfere with God?” On hearing this they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, “Therefore to the Gentiles also God has given repentance unto life.”
OK, now do you see how ridiculous Mr. King is when he uses his favorite gay argument? If anyone actually reads the Bible before expounding on it, much worse, stating how inapplicable it is “today,” that would be a good thing. Mr. King would be able to read that God explicitly releases Christians from the dietary law so that they can belong and believe. Jews are FREE TO CONTINUE TO OBSERVE THE DIETARY LAW, SHOULD THEY CHOOSE. Thus many early Christians who were Jews, such as the original Apostles and disciples, continued to observe dietary law. However, they understood that they did not need to because God had explicitly opened the tent to allow in the Gentiles who never knew about God or his Law as given to the Israelites. So yes, duh, Mr. King, Christians eat shellfish, but they do so because God said it was OK to do so in the scriptures, not because they “felt like it” because they are “modern” and don’t need that old moth eaten “out of date” word of God (but oh wait, Mr. King does not believe the Bible is the word of God anyway).
I hope that this has helped those who are studying the Bible and hoping to better understand God to see this case study of how to actually cite the Bible and have a prayer of being accurate. God had continual dialogue throughout the time of the Bible’s historic events and he reaffirms Law and releases from Law according to his Will and what is the best for humans. God is mysterious but not in his interactions with humans. When it is his will that the Gospel be taken outside of the circle of observant Jews to now bring the Good Word to pagans and Gentiles, God released his people from required observance of law that would have excluded the Gentiles. Thus, blessed are Jews who continue to observe dietary law for love of God, but with the arrival of Jesus Christ, God released Jews from the dietary law in order to allow Gentiles, who had no God given Law, into the tent. However, through Jesus Christ God reaffirms the Commandments and other laws that continue to apply to all human beings, regardless of affiliation.
By the way, for brevity I just keyed in how Peter summarizes to the other Apostles and disciples what happened to him. His summary is Acts 11. You should read the whole events as they happened in Acts 10 for further understanding of what actually happened as they happened. It’s a chance to look over Saint Peter’s shoulder, all these years later, to see how God through the Holy Spirit guides him in reaching out to the Gentiles and discerning matters such as release from certain of the Law by God.
Now, I don’t mind someone asking even the “dumbest” question (and remember, the only dumb question is the one that is not asked) over and over. In fact, that is a good sign because it indicates a mind and heart that is trying to understand and to change. I am annoyed, since it is based on alarm, when I have to repeat over and over what is IN THE BIBLE and plain for anyone to understand and see. I’m alarmed because never have I seen so many human beings have a willful refusal to understand even the facts of which they supposedly speak AND their doing so in a public forum in order to mislead others into error, sin, and ultimately damnation.
TV personality Larry King works my last nerve but I do watch him on occasion because I want to see specific people or topics that his show covers. The specific thing that annoys me about Mr. King is that even though he is a secular Jew (not a believer of God or his own faith) he feels informed enough to throw a damper on anyone else’s faith, should he be in a mood to do so. He, like most modern media false prophets, present an argument that sounds logical and erodes faith in his listeners, but is totally simplistic, ignorant, fallacious, and, frankly, in service of the prince of darkness. So this is why I MUST finally address in my blog this simultaneously whining and hostile “argument” that he makes regarding what the Bible says about homosexuality. By the way, I am not going to attack what he says about homosexuality (he thinks it’s great) because my views of tolerance are well known and articulated, even if people choose to ignore what I really feel. I have cited what Jesus himself has said on the matter, which many miss because he uses the term “eunuch” rather than homosexual. It is what Mr. King says about the nature of the Bible that infuriates me.
In a nutshell, Mr. King characterizes the Bible as an outdated book of “dos and don’ts.” He, with his usual self satisfied smugness, cites other Biblical law, such as prohibition from eating shellfish, as an example of an “out of date” Biblical law that no one pays attention to anymore, and argues that God’s prohibition against active homosexuality is likewise a law that is just out of date. If you haven’t watched him at work, let me describe how he thinks he has such a “killer argument.” Whenever he has a guest who is Christian and against homosexuality for Biblical reasons, he sneers at them, “Well, don’t you eat shellfish?” He thinks he has then done a slam dunk regarding 1) the person’s hypocrisy in their own faith and 2) the “fact” that the Bible is just a list of laws that no longer “apply” to modern people. Thus he thinks if a person eats shellfish they have demonstrated that the old Law of the Bible-ALL of it-no longer applies.
This is so arrogant and pig ignorant that I find myself clenching my teeth as I key this blogging.
Let me start with the first obvious point. The Bible is not “only” a list of dos and don’ts that are given at one point in time. The Bible was written by different authors over a period of many years and EACH author records what encounters Israel, and later both Jews and Gentiles, have had with God. In other words, the Bible records the ongoing conversation that God has with humans over hundreds, indeed thousands, of years. So it’s not like some old smelly guy wrote down the Bible in one sitting at one point in time and then as years go on the Bible “no longer applies.” Here’s a newsflash for people who mouth off about the Bible but don’t actually read it. Um, God actually NOTICES how people change and what they are doing and UPDATES what he tells them accordingly. Some law is absolute and fixed as being obligatory FOREVER and God confirms that periodically through his prophets. Other laws God RELEASES people from and CHANGES and that is recorded in the scripture.
Liberal secular unbelieving Jews are particularly frustrating to debate because they not only do not believe in God, or the divinity of the Bible’s word, as given by God through the Holy Spirit, but they “doubly” do not believe in Jesus and thus do not read and absolutely discard all that is in the Gospel, the New Testament. So here is how I’d like to wipe the smile off of Mr. King’s smug face.
Acts 11
Now the apostles and the brethren all over Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. But when Peter went up to Jerusalem, they of the circumcision found fault with him, saying “Why didst thou visit men uncircumcised and eat with them?”
[For readers who don’t understand what was going on, here is a quick summary. Jesus preached only to the Jews, and stated that he himself was sent only to preach to the Jews. However, many Gentiles listened to him in the crowds that followed him, so by his role modeling we know that while his personal ministry was to the Jews that God intended that all should hear. Now, understand that the way Jews had self identification as Jews was that males were circumcised and all observed the food law as given by God to Moses. Thus “they of the circumcision” means “Jews,” while uncircumcised means “not Jews” hence “Gentiles.” Also “eating with them” means that Gentiles, not being Jews, do not follow God’s dietary laws. This is the snickering Mr. King’s question, about why Gentiles eat shellfish yet follow the rest of the Bible. I bet you can see where the scripture is going more clearly now, huh? “The Gentiles also had received the word of God.” So it’s not like only Jews converted to Christianity and then decided to stop following the dietary law (and thus eat shellfish). God allowed the word to be heard and believed by those who were not circumcised or following dietary laws and indeed, those who never even HEARD of the one true God of the Israelites, to hear and believe. ]
Then Peter began to explain the matter to them in order, saying, “I was praying in the city of Joppa and while in ecstasy I had a vision, a certain vessel coming down something like a great sheet, let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came right down to me. And gazing upon it, I began to observe, and I saw the four-footed creatures of the earth, and the wild beasts and the creeping things, and the birds of the air. And I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Arise, Peter, kill and eat.’ And I said, ‘By no means, Lord, for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’
[See, even as the Apostle of Jesus Peter hears God himself ordering Peter to eat food that is forbidden to them under dietary law and hence “unclean,” Peter replies to the Lord that he has never eaten anything unclean, and refuses to obey God to eat the unclean in his vision! Peter was sticking to the dietary law of the Jews, even as he had become the head Apostle, what Catholics call the Pope today, of Jesus Christ. Peter was sticking to the dietary law and even when God first tells him to eat the unclean in a vision, Peter refused, no doubt suspecting it was a temptation or a test by God of his fidelity to the Law.]
But the voice answered a second time, ‘What God has cleansed, do not thou call common.’ This happened three times, and then it was all drawn up back into heaven. And behold, immediately three men came to the house where I was, having been sent from Caesarea to me; and the Spirit bade me not to hesitate to go with them. And these six brethren also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. And he told us how he had seen the angel in his house stand and say to him, ‘Send to Joppa and fetch Simon, surnamed Peter; he will speak to thee words by which thou shalt be saved, thou and all thy household.’
[See, Peter is traveling among the Gentiles, where people are hearing the word, both from Peter and other disciples, but also directly from God, and believing. So these are adult non-Jews who thus are not circumcised nor follow dietary law, nor who have even heard of, necessarily, the one God. Peter is thus relating to these Jewish Christians how Gentiles are flocking to him in belief.]
But when I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as it did upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ Therefore, if God gave to them the same grace as he gave to us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I should be able to interfere with God?” On hearing this they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, “Therefore to the Gentiles also God has given repentance unto life.”
OK, now do you see how ridiculous Mr. King is when he uses his favorite gay argument? If anyone actually reads the Bible before expounding on it, much worse, stating how inapplicable it is “today,” that would be a good thing. Mr. King would be able to read that God explicitly releases Christians from the dietary law so that they can belong and believe. Jews are FREE TO CONTINUE TO OBSERVE THE DIETARY LAW, SHOULD THEY CHOOSE. Thus many early Christians who were Jews, such as the original Apostles and disciples, continued to observe dietary law. However, they understood that they did not need to because God had explicitly opened the tent to allow in the Gentiles who never knew about God or his Law as given to the Israelites. So yes, duh, Mr. King, Christians eat shellfish, but they do so because God said it was OK to do so in the scriptures, not because they “felt like it” because they are “modern” and don’t need that old moth eaten “out of date” word of God (but oh wait, Mr. King does not believe the Bible is the word of God anyway).
I hope that this has helped those who are studying the Bible and hoping to better understand God to see this case study of how to actually cite the Bible and have a prayer of being accurate. God had continual dialogue throughout the time of the Bible’s historic events and he reaffirms Law and releases from Law according to his Will and what is the best for humans. God is mysterious but not in his interactions with humans. When it is his will that the Gospel be taken outside of the circle of observant Jews to now bring the Good Word to pagans and Gentiles, God released his people from required observance of law that would have excluded the Gentiles. Thus, blessed are Jews who continue to observe dietary law for love of God, but with the arrival of Jesus Christ, God released Jews from the dietary law in order to allow Gentiles, who had no God given Law, into the tent. However, through Jesus Christ God reaffirms the Commandments and other laws that continue to apply to all human beings, regardless of affiliation.
By the way, for brevity I just keyed in how Peter summarizes to the other Apostles and disciples what happened to him. His summary is Acts 11. You should read the whole events as they happened in Acts 10 for further understanding of what actually happened as they happened. It’s a chance to look over Saint Peter’s shoulder, all these years later, to see how God through the Holy Spirit guides him in reaching out to the Gentiles and discerning matters such as release from certain of the Law by God.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Bible Reading: Acts 14:19-23
I selected this reading just as a reminder of how incredibly tough St. Paul was, as we particularly honor St. Paul in this, his year.
However, some Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived and won over the crowds.
They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.
But when the disciples gathered around him, he got up and entered the city.
On the following day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.
After they had proclaimed the good news to that city and made a considerable number of disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch.
They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, "It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God."
They appointed presbyters for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom they had put their faith.
However, some Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived and won over the crowds.
They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.
But when the disciples gathered around him, he got up and entered the city.
On the following day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.
After they had proclaimed the good news to that city and made a considerable number of disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch.
They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, "It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God."
They appointed presbyters for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom they had put their faith.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Sample of how to read Bible with footnotes
By the way, I'm only used to Bibles with Catholic scholar footnotes. I was astonished the first time I saw a Protestant bible that does not contain any of that information. (In addition to being astonished at the books that are dropped by the misguided children of the Reformation, but that is another topic for another day and time!)
So those of you who might be reading my suggestion and not have a Catholic footnoted Bible at your finger tips, here is a sample of how it looks and reads, from my NAB Personal Study Edition.
Acts 1:1-6
Chapter 1
The Promise of the Spirit. 1. (a) In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught 2. (b) until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3. (c) He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4. (d) While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for "the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; 5. (e) for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the holy Spirit."
So you see there are five footnotes, one for each sentence, actually, (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e). So for each line you look at the bottom of the page (I need eyeglasses and my magnifying glass, since footnotes are printed frustratingly small!) Here is what you would find for each footnote.
(a) Lk 1, 1-4
(b) Mt 28, 19-20; Lk 24:44-49; Jn 20, 22; 1 Tim 3,16
(c) 1 Tim 10, 41; 13, 31
(d) Jn 14, 16.17.26
(e) Jn 11, 16; Mt 3, 11; Mk 1,8; Lk 3,16; Jn 1,26; Eph 1,13.
Thus you would read Acts 1:1 and then look up and read Luke 1:1-4.
Then you read Acts 1:2 and look up and read Matthew 28:19-20, Luke 24:44-49, John 20:22 and 1 Timothy 3:16.
Then you read Acts 1:3 and look up and read 1 Timothy 10:41 and 1 Timothy 13:31, and so on.
Trust me, it is worth looking up each and every one. It brings depth, multi-dimension witness to the faith, and even when repetitive it is a reminder that multiple people said and experienced the same things and drew the same conclusions. It really gets marvelous when the footnotes reference both Old Testament sources and derivations and the New, and that is when you really get a sense of working through the Bible in kind of a knitting way. Try it and you'll see. There's nothing like it and like I said, I'm amazed when people don't have these centuries of Catholic biblical scholarship available to them via footnotes in their Bibles!
I hope you find this helpful.
So those of you who might be reading my suggestion and not have a Catholic footnoted Bible at your finger tips, here is a sample of how it looks and reads, from my NAB Personal Study Edition.
Acts 1:1-6
Chapter 1
The Promise of the Spirit. 1. (a) In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught 2. (b) until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3. (c) He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4. (d) While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for "the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; 5. (e) for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the holy Spirit."
So you see there are five footnotes, one for each sentence, actually, (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e). So for each line you look at the bottom of the page (I need eyeglasses and my magnifying glass, since footnotes are printed frustratingly small!) Here is what you would find for each footnote.
(a) Lk 1, 1-4
(b) Mt 28, 19-20; Lk 24:44-49; Jn 20, 22; 1 Tim 3,16
(c) 1 Tim 10, 41; 13, 31
(d) Jn 14, 16.17.26
(e) Jn 11, 16; Mt 3, 11; Mk 1,8; Lk 3,16; Jn 1,26; Eph 1,13.
Thus you would read Acts 1:1 and then look up and read Luke 1:1-4.
Then you read Acts 1:2 and look up and read Matthew 28:19-20, Luke 24:44-49, John 20:22 and 1 Timothy 3:16.
Then you read Acts 1:3 and look up and read 1 Timothy 10:41 and 1 Timothy 13:31, and so on.
Trust me, it is worth looking up each and every one. It brings depth, multi-dimension witness to the faith, and even when repetitive it is a reminder that multiple people said and experienced the same things and drew the same conclusions. It really gets marvelous when the footnotes reference both Old Testament sources and derivations and the New, and that is when you really get a sense of working through the Bible in kind of a knitting way. Try it and you'll see. There's nothing like it and like I said, I'm amazed when people don't have these centuries of Catholic biblical scholarship available to them via footnotes in their Bibles!
I hope you find this helpful.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Bible Reading: Acts 24: 1-10
I won't type this one out, but do read it. I love this passage because it describes Paul so well, without meaning to.
He's visiting Malta and collecting wood to stoke the fire that the natives have built. While doing so a viper leaps out and bites Paul in the hand. As the shocked natives expect Paul to become sick and die (and also figure that he must have done "something wrong" to get bitten), Paul calmly shakes the snake off his hand, into the fire where the snake is consumed. Paul then without a word continues to tend to the fire. The natives are astonished and figure he is a god. But interestingly, there is no preaching or correction of their perceptions. Paul is simply carrying on with the practicalities of things, and does so for the next several days, traveling and meeting people who offer him hospitality.
One he cures and soon after that, people from all over the island came to him to be cured.
I love this because people are used to the words of Paul, and many Christians rely on his instructions and guidance in his letters. But here is an equally important example of Paul simply being Paul, and letting events develop naturally. Paul is great with his words, but he also had a huge impact on people during that time by his example in events such as these described here. Paul did not bat an eye with dismay at the viper's bite (thus demonstrating his natural and genuine confidence in God's power to protect him), he simply flicks the viper back into the fire and continues his tending of the fire.
Paul does not manipulate the mixed and changing feelings of the natives who observe this amazing event with the viper. Paul just carries on with ordinary, non-spiritual, business (the fire is being built because it is raining and it is cold). This is the type of man who one says he is "wrapped in confidence" or "walks in confidence." It's not like he is being arrogant. Far from it, because you see he is modest and not pushy at all here. But he's not so insecure that he has to leap on every chance to preach to the natives before they get a chance to know him as a regular man first, who is a newcomer and guest to their island. (A regular guy, though obviously they now see he is one who walks in God's protection).
Paul does not run around offering to do miracles or pushing his agenda. He accepts hospitality and waits for things to unfold and sure enough, the father of the man who gives him hospitality became seriously sick. Paul then cures the man. After this cure, word traveled through the island and then "the rest of the sick on the island came to Paul and were cured." See, Paul respected people and let his actions speak for him on behalf of God.
I hope you find this helpful. People miss so much of the substance of what is in the scripture because they tend to read it very 'bottom line' oriented. "Paul went there, he said this and that, and he had some miracles." But instead, people need to observe, just as Paul's companions and the natives did, how he comported himself, and what a positive role model he was and of course remains even more so these days of phoniness and poseurs! Paul showed how people can be the "real deal," yet not walk around all puffed up with self importance. He didn't say, "Oh look, that snake bit me but my God's stronger than your gods and so he protected me." That would not even occur to Paul. How cool he was! And so just by being himself he set a powerful example.
He's visiting Malta and collecting wood to stoke the fire that the natives have built. While doing so a viper leaps out and bites Paul in the hand. As the shocked natives expect Paul to become sick and die (and also figure that he must have done "something wrong" to get bitten), Paul calmly shakes the snake off his hand, into the fire where the snake is consumed. Paul then without a word continues to tend to the fire. The natives are astonished and figure he is a god. But interestingly, there is no preaching or correction of their perceptions. Paul is simply carrying on with the practicalities of things, and does so for the next several days, traveling and meeting people who offer him hospitality.
One he cures and soon after that, people from all over the island came to him to be cured.
I love this because people are used to the words of Paul, and many Christians rely on his instructions and guidance in his letters. But here is an equally important example of Paul simply being Paul, and letting events develop naturally. Paul is great with his words, but he also had a huge impact on people during that time by his example in events such as these described here. Paul did not bat an eye with dismay at the viper's bite (thus demonstrating his natural and genuine confidence in God's power to protect him), he simply flicks the viper back into the fire and continues his tending of the fire.
Paul does not manipulate the mixed and changing feelings of the natives who observe this amazing event with the viper. Paul just carries on with ordinary, non-spiritual, business (the fire is being built because it is raining and it is cold). This is the type of man who one says he is "wrapped in confidence" or "walks in confidence." It's not like he is being arrogant. Far from it, because you see he is modest and not pushy at all here. But he's not so insecure that he has to leap on every chance to preach to the natives before they get a chance to know him as a regular man first, who is a newcomer and guest to their island. (A regular guy, though obviously they now see he is one who walks in God's protection).
Paul does not run around offering to do miracles or pushing his agenda. He accepts hospitality and waits for things to unfold and sure enough, the father of the man who gives him hospitality became seriously sick. Paul then cures the man. After this cure, word traveled through the island and then "the rest of the sick on the island came to Paul and were cured." See, Paul respected people and let his actions speak for him on behalf of God.
I hope you find this helpful. People miss so much of the substance of what is in the scripture because they tend to read it very 'bottom line' oriented. "Paul went there, he said this and that, and he had some miracles." But instead, people need to observe, just as Paul's companions and the natives did, how he comported himself, and what a positive role model he was and of course remains even more so these days of phoniness and poseurs! Paul showed how people can be the "real deal," yet not walk around all puffed up with self importance. He didn't say, "Oh look, that snake bit me but my God's stronger than your gods and so he protected me." That would not even occur to Paul. How cool he was! And so just by being himself he set a powerful example.
Bible Reading: Acts 23: 9-11
A great uproar occurred, and some scribes belonging to the Pharisee party stood up and sharply argued, "We find nothing wrong with this man. Suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?" The dispute was so serious that the commander, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, ordered his troops to go down and rescue him from their midst and take him into the compound.
The following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Take courage. For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome."
***
This event took place when Paul took on his accusers by giving his great discourse in front of the Jerusalem Jews. But I mention this reading tonight because people tend to forget one thing. They tend to think of Paul as seeing Jesus only when he was Saul and fell from his horse when Jesus blinded him, asking why he persecuted him, and thus he converted to Christianity. But here in a simple sentence, you read how Jesus appeared to him in person, not vision or dream, for he "stood by him." Paul was great not only for his intelligence, courage and zeal, but also because he literally worked with Jesus at his side. Paul was not improvising or making it up as he went along. Jesus taught him, spoke to him, and appeared to him as necessary. This is made very plain in this simple yet powerful example.
It's a Pauline year coming up this Sunday. The real Paul would be very embarrassed! He constantly pointed all glory back to God. But he would be pragmatic and glad if his year marked a greater return to understanding his own personal journey, teachings and admonishments on behalf of the Lord God and Jesus Christ.
The following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Take courage. For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome."
***
This event took place when Paul took on his accusers by giving his great discourse in front of the Jerusalem Jews. But I mention this reading tonight because people tend to forget one thing. They tend to think of Paul as seeing Jesus only when he was Saul and fell from his horse when Jesus blinded him, asking why he persecuted him, and thus he converted to Christianity. But here in a simple sentence, you read how Jesus appeared to him in person, not vision or dream, for he "stood by him." Paul was great not only for his intelligence, courage and zeal, but also because he literally worked with Jesus at his side. Paul was not improvising or making it up as he went along. Jesus taught him, spoke to him, and appeared to him as necessary. This is made very plain in this simple yet powerful example.
It's a Pauline year coming up this Sunday. The real Paul would be very embarrassed! He constantly pointed all glory back to God. But he would be pragmatic and glad if his year marked a greater return to understanding his own personal journey, teachings and admonishments on behalf of the Lord God and Jesus Christ.
Bible Reading: Acts 12: 6-7, 9, 10, 11, 16, 18, 19
On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter, secured by double chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison.
Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shone in the cell. he tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying, "Get up quickly." The chains fell from his wrists.... so he followed him out...They emerged and made their way down an alley, and suddenly the angel left him....Peter.....said "Now I know for certain that [the] Lord sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people had been expecting"...
...But Peter continued to knock, and when they opened it, they saw him and were astounded... and [Peter] said, "Report this to James and the brothers." Then he left and went to another place. At daybreak there was no small commotion among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. Herod...ordered the guards tried and executed.
***
I include this reading because I never tire of reading it or recalling it, just like it was yesterday, hmm?
In my house in Connecticut I had one of my favorite art works depicting the angel appearing to Peter to free him from prison. Raphael or Rembrandt?
Notice also that as Peter realizes that he's not dreaming and that the angel had actually freed him, he glorifies God not only on his behalf but for all the people. Peter fully realized that his escape is essential for not only himself but for the future of the entire Church. This is why he immediately glorified God not only for his escape but for God rescuing "from all that the Jewish people had been expecting." Again this is an example of the clarity with which Peter comprehended his unique role and significance in accordance with the instructions of Jesus.
Peter then goes to the house of one group of followers, where many are in prayer, and sends someone to report to "James and the brothers," while he goes to yet another place. Peter is the head of the Christians, of the Church, and is directing them accordingly. Further, think about what would have happened if Peter had been killed by Herod. Christianity may well have withered and perished. But we need not worry because God preserved Peter at all times until his martyrdom in old age, after the Church was well established. This is crucial to your understanding Peter and the Church, this escape from prison. It is God's continuing commitment per what Jesus told Peter that upon him the Church will be built. Thus the angel of the Lord brings Peter out of danger amongst the tightest of guarding (and the guards were totally baffled by his escape, and Herod took their lives in punishment). Peter was not just some Apostle running around; he was the focal point of the foundation of the continuing Church of Jesus Christ from the very beginning.
Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shone in the cell. he tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying, "Get up quickly." The chains fell from his wrists.... so he followed him out...They emerged and made their way down an alley, and suddenly the angel left him....Peter.....said "Now I know for certain that [the] Lord sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people had been expecting"...
...But Peter continued to knock, and when they opened it, they saw him and were astounded... and [Peter] said, "Report this to James and the brothers." Then he left and went to another place. At daybreak there was no small commotion among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. Herod...ordered the guards tried and executed.
***
I include this reading because I never tire of reading it or recalling it, just like it was yesterday, hmm?
In my house in Connecticut I had one of my favorite art works depicting the angel appearing to Peter to free him from prison. Raphael or Rembrandt?
Notice also that as Peter realizes that he's not dreaming and that the angel had actually freed him, he glorifies God not only on his behalf but for all the people. Peter fully realized that his escape is essential for not only himself but for the future of the entire Church. This is why he immediately glorified God not only for his escape but for God rescuing "from all that the Jewish people had been expecting." Again this is an example of the clarity with which Peter comprehended his unique role and significance in accordance with the instructions of Jesus.
Peter then goes to the house of one group of followers, where many are in prayer, and sends someone to report to "James and the brothers," while he goes to yet another place. Peter is the head of the Christians, of the Church, and is directing them accordingly. Further, think about what would have happened if Peter had been killed by Herod. Christianity may well have withered and perished. But we need not worry because God preserved Peter at all times until his martyrdom in old age, after the Church was well established. This is crucial to your understanding Peter and the Church, this escape from prison. It is God's continuing commitment per what Jesus told Peter that upon him the Church will be built. Thus the angel of the Lord brings Peter out of danger amongst the tightest of guarding (and the guards were totally baffled by his escape, and Herod took their lives in punishment). Peter was not just some Apostle running around; he was the focal point of the foundation of the continuing Church of Jesus Christ from the very beginning.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Multi-lingual thoughts (2)
I heard some sniping about the multi-lingual petitions offered during the Prayer of the Faithful part of the Mass. Today petitions were offered in English, Tagalog, Korean, Vietnamese, Igbo, and Spanish. I not only have no problem with each petition to God being offered in a different language by a different person, I consider it one of the most intimate parts of the Liturgy. It is also, far from being revisionist, very close to how it was during the time of Jesus. Here is why.
Many people seem to think that America is the first "melting pot" of diversity. Well, goodness, what do you think Jerusalem and Rome were like during the days of Jesus and the Apostles and disciples? One of the Apostles, St. Philip, was Greek, and had to interpret the words of Greek visitors who wished to speak to Jesus! Many cultures and many languages were spoken throughout Biblical society, including within Jesus' own circle.
When the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost, one of the gifts was the ability to understand many different languages. Notice that they realized they could understand each other's languages immediately. How could they notice that if they were all speaking the same language?
Acts 2: 4, 8-11
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in foreign tongues, even as the Holy Spirit prompted them to speak. "And how have we heard each his own language in which he was born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and visitors from Rome. Jews also and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we have heard them speaking in our own languages of the wonderful works of God."
Pay attention! This is so awesome!! St. Luke is actually listing the native cultures and languages of the people who were present, both within the room and passers-by, at the Pentecost!
How can people carp and snipe, then, when petitions to God during the Mass are offered by different individuals in different languages? This is in fact an authentic vignette of how early services - the very earliest services - would have been conducted. The Apostles and disciples were always comprised of multi-lingual peoples, even before they went out in the world and evangelized. If you went back in time to these earliest services you would have heard participants each speak in their own language as necessary. This is why this temporary gift of the Holy Spirit, to understand each other instantly, was so amazing. If they all spoke the same language they would not have marveled in amazement. St. Luke says that it was so extraordinary that some accused them of being drunk!
So you have proof of the many languages that were spoken directly within the circle of Jesus and in the hugely "melting pot" society of Jerusalem, Israel, Syria, the lands around them, and of course throughout Rome and its Empire. Many, many languages were spoken, including during the early Church gatherings. Latin was adopted because of the See of Peter so that the Church can have the standard language to guarantee global precision of the word of God and consistency, with the continuity of tradition. But to roll one's eyes and snipe at "modern" parts of the liturgy, such as the petitions presented by individuals in their native languages, is to totally NOT understand the very origins of the Church. Acts lists the very depth of languages present in "one city block" within and around the Apostles and disciples as they received the Holy Spirit in Pentecost.
Many people seem to think that America is the first "melting pot" of diversity. Well, goodness, what do you think Jerusalem and Rome were like during the days of Jesus and the Apostles and disciples? One of the Apostles, St. Philip, was Greek, and had to interpret the words of Greek visitors who wished to speak to Jesus! Many cultures and many languages were spoken throughout Biblical society, including within Jesus' own circle.
When the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost, one of the gifts was the ability to understand many different languages. Notice that they realized they could understand each other's languages immediately. How could they notice that if they were all speaking the same language?
Acts 2: 4, 8-11
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in foreign tongues, even as the Holy Spirit prompted them to speak. "And how have we heard each his own language in which he was born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and visitors from Rome. Jews also and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we have heard them speaking in our own languages of the wonderful works of God."
Pay attention! This is so awesome!! St. Luke is actually listing the native cultures and languages of the people who were present, both within the room and passers-by, at the Pentecost!
How can people carp and snipe, then, when petitions to God during the Mass are offered by different individuals in different languages? This is in fact an authentic vignette of how early services - the very earliest services - would have been conducted. The Apostles and disciples were always comprised of multi-lingual peoples, even before they went out in the world and evangelized. If you went back in time to these earliest services you would have heard participants each speak in their own language as necessary. This is why this temporary gift of the Holy Spirit, to understand each other instantly, was so amazing. If they all spoke the same language they would not have marveled in amazement. St. Luke says that it was so extraordinary that some accused them of being drunk!
So you have proof of the many languages that were spoken directly within the circle of Jesus and in the hugely "melting pot" society of Jerusalem, Israel, Syria, the lands around them, and of course throughout Rome and its Empire. Many, many languages were spoken, including during the early Church gatherings. Latin was adopted because of the See of Peter so that the Church can have the standard language to guarantee global precision of the word of God and consistency, with the continuity of tradition. But to roll one's eyes and snipe at "modern" parts of the liturgy, such as the petitions presented by individuals in their native languages, is to totally NOT understand the very origins of the Church. Acts lists the very depth of languages present in "one city block" within and around the Apostles and disciples as they received the Holy Spirit in Pentecost.
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