Life does not consist in possessions

A man in the crowd said to him, 'Master, tell my brother to give me a share of our inheritance.'

He said to him, 'My friend, who appointed me your judge, or the arbitrator of your claims?'

Then he said to them, 'Watch, and be on your guard against avarice of any kind, for life does not consist in possessions, even when someone has more than he needs.'

Then he told them a parable, 'There was once a rich man who, having had a good harvest from his land, thought to himself, "What am I to do? I have not enough room to store my crops."

Then he said, "This is what I will do: I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones, and store all my grain and my goods in them, and I will say to my soul: My soul, you have plenty of good things laid by for many years to come; take things easy, eat, drink, have a good time."

But God said to him, "Fool! This very night the demand will be made for your soul; and this hoard of yours, whose will it be then?"

So it is when someone stores up treasure for himself instead of becoming rich in the sight of God.'

Luke 12:13-21


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My Reading Notes:
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If life does not consist in possessions, then what is life?

Life is a spirit in action. A spirit cannot store up things, but a spirit can work up things. A spirit is a part of all. A spirit can work. A spirit is an joint effort of the universe. A spirit is love. And love is to join together.

Life is as simple as that. But the children do not know. Please tell them.

Dare to ask from the Lord

My Sunday Scripture 2010.7.25


(It is so much pleasure to read the scripture in advance. It seems a light in advance has shine into my heart.

Sorry I have to list the scripture here before time. since I will not be in HK for two weeks, and I am not sure whether I can upload anying in Sheunghai. Richard, 2010.7.14)



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Then Yahweh said, 'The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin is so grave, that I shall go down and see whether or not their actions are at all as the outcry reaching me would suggest. Then I shall know.'

While the men left there and went to Sodom, Yahweh remained in Abraham's presence.

Abraham stepped forward and said, 'Will you really destroy the upright with the guilty? Suppose there are fifty upright people in the city. Will you really destroy it? Will you not spare the place for the sake of the fifty upright in it?

Do not think of doing such a thing: to put the upright to death with the guilty, so that upright and guilty fare alike! Is the judge of the whole world not to act justly?'

Yahweh replied, 'If I find fifty upright people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place because of them.'

Abraham spoke up and said, 'It is presumptuous of me to speak to the Lord, I who am dust and ashes: Suppose the fifty upright were five short? Would you destroy the whole city because of five?' 'No,' he replied, 'I shall not destroy it if I find forty-five there.'

Abraham persisted and said, 'Suppose there are forty to be found there?' 'I shall not do it,' he replied, 'for the sake of the forty.'

Abraham said, 'I hope the Lord will not be angry if I go on: Suppose there are only thirty to be found there?' 'I shall not do it,' he replied, 'if I find thirty there.'

He said, 'It is presumptuous of me to speak to the Lord: Suppose there are only twenty there?' 'I shall not destroy it,' he replied, 'for the sake of the twenty.'

He said, 'I trust my Lord will not be angry if I speak once more: perhaps there will only be ten.' 'I shall not destroy it,' he replied, 'for the sake of the ten.'

Genesis 18:20-32


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Now it happened that he was in a certain place praying, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said, 'Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.'

He said to them, 'When you pray, this is what to say: Father, may your name be held holy, your kingdom come; give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive each one who is in debt to us. And do not put us to the test.'

He also said to them, 'Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him in the middle of the night to say, "My friend, lend me three loaves, because a friend of mine on his travels has just arrived at my house and I have nothing to offer him;"

and the man answers from inside the house, "Do not bother me. The door is bolted now, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up to give it to you."

I tell you, if the man does not get up and give it to him for friendship's sake, persistence will make him get up and give his friend all he wants.

'So I say to you: Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks receives; everyone who searches finds; everyone who knocks will have the door opened.

What father among you, if his son asked for a fish, would hand him a snake?

Or if he asked for an egg, hand him a scorpion?

If you then, evil as you are, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!'

Luke 11:1-13


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My Reading Notes:
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When I read about the story of Abraham a long long ago, I did find it admiring. Yes, his courage is admirable. Who can talk to God like that? Who can bargain with God is such a way????

And the question is: Where does his courage come from? Why is he so courageous?

Yes, it is because of LOVE. He did love his people, so he can dare to ask.

And now Jesus had ENCOURAGED us to ask. Do I have the courage to ask God anything?

It is so much pleasure to read this two scriptures together. It explains many thing.

It is one thing I can assure for the whole world, that if we did ask anything, we are sure to receive it. All those in h
istory, all those who had fought hard, did have a result. Any one who did ask, did receive.

We worry so many things that is not needed

My Sunday Scripture 2010.7.18.

(Sorry I have to list the scripture here before time. since I will not be in HK for two weeks, and I am not sure whether I can upload anying in Sheunghai, Richard, 2010.7.14)



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In the course of their journey he came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.

She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord's feet and listened to him speaking.

Now Martha, who was distracted with all the serving, came to him and said, 'Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.'

But the Lord answered, 'Martha, Martha,' he said, 'you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part, and it is not to be taken from her.'

Luke 10:38-42

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My Reading Notes:
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Why we worry so many things that is not important? And now She wanted to take away the part Mary is doing.

What we do need worrying is the soul, not only my own soul, but a whole generation's soul need more care. If we could see into the reality, we shall know what to do.

It is not an excuse to escape from work, but to allow more burden on our shoulders.

Who is my neighbour?

My Sunday Scripture 2010.7.11


And now a lawyer stood up and, to test him, asked, 'Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?'

He said to him, 'What is written in the Law? What is your reading of it?'

He replied, 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.'

Jesus said to him, 'You have answered right, do this and life is yours.'

But the man was anxious to justify himself and said to Jesus, 'And who is my neighbour?'

In answer Jesus said, 'A man was once on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of bandits; they stripped him, beat him and then made off, leaving him half dead.

Now a priest happened to be travelling down the same road, but when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.

In the same way a Levite who came to the place saw him, and passed by on the other side.

But a Samaritan traveller who came on him was moved with compassion when he saw him.

He went up to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. He then lifted him onto his own mount and took him to an inn and looked after him.

Next day, he took out two denarii and handed them to the innkeeper and said, "Look after him, and on my way back I will make good any extra expense you have."

Which of these three, do you think, proved himself a neighbour to the man who fell into the bandits' hands?'

He replied, 'The one who showed pity towards him.' Jesus said to him, 'Go, and do the same yourself.'

Luke 10:25-37

Any one in need is my neighbour. Any one within the reach of my help, is my neighbour.

And to love is to extend a loving hand, to help.

To love is the action itself. To love is not a word. To love is a deed.

And this is the most important teaching from Jesus. We must love each other, and
we must help each other.

Yes I can do that

My Sunday Scripture, 2010.7.4.

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself would be visiting.

And he said to them, 'The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to do his harvesting.

Start off now, but look, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.

Take no purse with you, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road.

Whatever house you enter, let your first words be, "Peace to this house!"

And if a man of peace lives there, your peace will go and rest on him; if not, it will come back to you.

Stay in the same house, taking what food and drink they have to offer, for the labourer deserves his wages; do not move from house to house.

Whenever you go into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is put before you.

Cure those in it who are sick, and say, "The kingdom of God is very near to you."

Luke 10:1-9

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My Reading Notes:
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The mose difficult part of this scripture is that, how can you travell without money, and no food, and no shoes. And how can you cure people.

It must be a metaphor. And the meaning is hidden. If you wanted to do something, but there is no resources, What can you do? You have no money, no food, no shoes, no nothing. How can you do that? With what power inside your mind, that you know you will fulfill that task? And you can cure people, too.

The question is, how can I do anything without resources????

Yes, I can do that.

we are free

My Sunday Scripture 2010.6.27

Gospel
59 Another to whom he said, 'Follow me,' replied, 'Let me go and bury my father first.'

60 But he answered, 'Leave the dead to bury their dead; your duty is to go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.'
(Luke 9:51-62)

Reading 2,
1 Christ set us free, so that we should remain free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be fastened again to the yoke of slavery.

13 After all, brothers, you were called to be free; do not use your freedom as an opening for self-indulgence, but be servants to one another in love,
(Galatians 5:1, 13-18)

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My Reading Notes:
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The idea of freedom by Paul is very much the same as Zhuang-zi.
Once you are free, you will not be slave again. You will be free to do what you wanted to do, without any resistancy of the earthy world. Let the dead bury the dead, said Jesus. Once we could turn away from the earthy world, we are free.

Is the Bible against common sense?

My Sunday Scripture 2010.6.20


Then, speaking to all, he said, 'If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me.

Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, will save it.

(Luke 9:18-24)

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My Reading Notes:
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This is a line few would dare to think deeply into it. It seems, it is against the common sense of us all. Who would like to have a bitter life like Jesus? Who would like to be nailed into the cross? Who would like to pick up the cross?

Who would not like to choose an easy life? to enjoy good food, good clothes, and every kind of material satisfaction?

What is the meaning of losing ones life? who would choose to lose it, but not to save it?

May be this is the most most important secret about life itself.

Those who choose to enjoy the material, will lose it. Those who choose to work out all his effort with blood and tear, will save it. Life is something for us to fight for, not to waste for.

The question is WHY. Where does the important motive come from? Why would I do thing this way? but not that way?

This is the biggest secret of life. Every one can choose, and every one can see into the secret in a split second, and understood, or leave it there, and go into the mess of the fussy world, like a fly fly into the dunghill.

Nothing is important now

My Sunday Scripture 2010.6.13.

A Pharisee invited him to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner." Jesus said to him in reply, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Tell me, teacher," he said. Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days' wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?" Simon said in reply, "The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven." He said to him, "You have judged rightly." Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." The others at table said to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" But he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Afterward he journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.
(Luke 7:36-50.8:1-3.)

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My Reading Notes:
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She must be in great agony before she came to Jesus. Where did her tears came from? Where did her pain came from? How she longed to release all this pain?

When she was kneeling before Jesus the one who could save her, how sad she was and how deeply in mood she was. When she found her tears has dropped onto Jesus foot, she wipe it and she cleaned Jesus's foot with her hair.

In such a moment, nothing is important. She just expressed herself. And She was saved.

How do the Creator feed us

My Sunday Scripture 2010.6.6.


But the crowds got to know and they went after him. He made them welcome and talked to them about the kingdom of God; and he cured those who were in need of healing.

It was late afternoon when the Twelve came up to him and said, 'Send the people away, and they can go to the villages and farms round about to find lodging and food; for we are in a lonely place here.'

He replied, 'Give them something to eat yourselves.' But they said, 'We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we are to go ourselves and buy food for all these people.'

For there were about five thousand men. But he said to his disciples, 'Get them to sit down in parties of about fifty.'

They did so and made them all sit down.

Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven, and said the blessing over them; then he broke them and handed them to his disciples to distribute among the crowd.

They all ate as much as they wanted, and when the scraps left over were collected they filled twelve baskets.

Luke 9:11b-17

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My Reading Notes:
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The question is how do the Creator of the Universe feed us.

Jesus had asked Peter at the last moment. He asked him does he love him.
He said he does. And he said, you feed my lamp. And he said, you tend my sheep. And he said, you feed my sheep. If Peter is to love God, he has now got a mission. That mission is to feed the people.

The question is how. How can he feed all other sheep on the planet earth?

Yes he can.

All the other creatures on earth are fed properly. Why not us people?

Its because God has leave us the "choice". Its that he had given us wisdom.

To feed all the people, Peter must deliver this wisdom to the people on earth.

And this wisdom, is the Gospel.

What else will Jesus tell us?

My Sunday Scripture 2010.5.30.

I still have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you to bear now.

However, when the Spirit of truth comes he will lead you to the complete truth, since he will not be speaking of his own accord, but will say only what he has been told; and he will reveal to you the things to come.

He will glorify me, since all he reveals to you will be taken from what is mine.

Everything the Father has is mine; that is why I said: all he reveals to you will be taken from what is mine.

John 16:12-15

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My Reading Notes:
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Sometimes, when we tried to think in terms of our own human race, we will have lots of questions and puzzles. What is the ultimate truth about us and the universe?

There had been a moment, that God had send us his own son, to tell us what to do.
However, His son had had only a limited time. When His son left us, he had said the above line. He wanted us to know more. He said, "I still have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you to bear now."

Yes, I can believe that by our present day understanding ( I would say, two thousand years ago till now, we had made little progress), if all truth were revealed, we can hardly bear it.

That is why we need the Holy Spirit. He will guide us to find our what we CAN understand.

We are not thinking alone

My Sunday Scripture 2010.5.23.


We are not thinking alone

In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, 'Peace be with you,'

and, after saying this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Lord,

and he said to them again, 'Peace be with you. 'As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.'

After saying this he breathed on them and said: Receive the Holy Spirit.

If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone's sins, they are retained.

John 20:19-23

My Reading Notes:

I think St Paul had put the question very straight:

"Live not by your natural inclinations, but by the Spirit, since the Spirit of God has made a home in you."(Romans 8:9)

by such proclamation, St.Paul had separated the flesh from the spirit.

The human spirit, aided by the Holy spirit, can have a better choice. Our natural inclination can always lead us astray, but the spirit could lead us to where we really wanted to go to.

And we can say, we are not thinking alone, but thinking together with the "whole".
With such a thought, we could be always in peace, and find our way.

What is the meaning of "One"

My Sunday Scripture 2010.5.16.

I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them."

John 17:20-26



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My Reading Notes:
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We are all in one. Me, you, The Creator, The Creator's son, and many many.

We are actually one. We share bodies. We eat others. And we are eaten. Our bodies are composed from other bodies. And Jesus had made us to eat his body too. Every Sunday, people around the world, once they know God, they will share God's body together.

But, what is the meaning of One?

First we must think like one. We ought to raise our thinking level into the same measuring unit: the one. All other units, like "self", "nation", "family" are secondary. We are free once we have achieved this view.

Then we would have a second question. What shall we do when we are one???

Jesus had taught us that, we must love each other. We can die for each other. That is the real meaning of being one.

Paraclete

My Sunday Scripture, 2010.5.9.

Jesus replied: Anyone who loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him and make a home in him.

Anyone who does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not my own: it is the word of the Father who sent me.

I have said these things to you while still with you;

but the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all I have said to you.

Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace which the world cannot give, this is my gift to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.

You heard me say: I am going away and shall return. If you loved me you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.

I have told you this now, before it happens, so that when it does happen you may believe.

John 14:23-29

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My Reading Notes:
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Jesus had send us the Paraclete before he went back to the Father. And it has been one of my own habit, whenever I have difficult problems, I will ask for the Paraclete
to come to stay with my mind. And He will sure come, and I will have peace in mind and be well prepared to meet the challenges ahead.

In some difficult situations, I found it hard to handle, I found it uneasy to meet people, and I am not happy, then, I will call upon him, ask him to come, and he will surely come, and I have peace in mind and will be happy again. Only in very few times, when I found I could not be happy, and I ask him to help. And it came the strange answer. He will tell me, you ought to be sad. Then I will be really sad by then.

Am I dare enough to ask?

My Sunday Scripture 2010.5.2.

7 If you know me, you will know my Father too. From this moment you know him and have seen him.

8 Philip said, 'Lord, show us the Father and then we shall be satisfied.' Jesus said to him,

9 'Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? 'Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father, so how can you say, "Show us the Father"?

10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? What I say to you I do not speak of my own accord: it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his works.

11 You must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe it on the evidence of these works.

12 In all truth I tell you, whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself, and will perform even greater works, because I am going to the Father.

13 Whatever you ask in my name I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

John 14:7-14


My Reading Notes,

The line was addressed to Philip in the Bible, but, it seems that it could be addressed to us all.

In Luke 11:9, Jesus had expressed similar meaning: "Ask, and it will be given to you."

And this is one of the very important part in our faith. Am I dare enough to ask anything from Him? As he had said also: "whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself". That means, if I am brave enough to carry the cross, I am also brave enough to ask.

And if I am brave enough to ask, the Holy Spirit will sure to come, helping me to fight for the things I had asked, and success itself is a sure outcome.

In the whole of our human history, all those who had fight with a pure motive were all successful. The world is moving onward with the help of the successful.

The meaning of FOOD

My Sunday Scripture 2010.4.25.

Jesus said: «My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father's hand. The Father and I are one."
(John 10:27-30.)

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My Reading Notes:
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I had discussed with my students sometimes ago, that what is the meaning of FOOD.
We had found that all food are composed of life, the bodies of other life. We eat plants, and animals. They are all food. And in due course, we will render our body as food for others. We are one in such a meaning, though it is somewhat external.

And once Jesus asked his disciples to eat his flesh and blood.

Now I can understand, this is a highly symbolic meaning that we are one, with the Lord above, and with every other on the planet. Thus we had achieved eternal life.

To Love is To Serve

My Sunday Scripture 2010.4.18

Later on, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples. It was by the Sea of Tiberias, and it happened like this:

Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee and two more of his disciples were together.

Simon Peter said, 'I'm going fishing.' They replied, 'We'll come with you.' They went out and got into the boat but caught nothing that night.

When it was already light, there stood Jesus on the shore, though the disciples did not realise that it was Jesus.

Jesus called out, 'Haven't you caught anything, friends?' And when they answered, 'No,'

he said, 'Throw the net out to starboard and you'll find something.' So they threw the net out and could not haul it in because of the quantity of fish.

The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, 'It is the Lord.' At these words, 'It is the Lord,' Simon Peter tied his outer garment round him (for he had nothing on) and jumped into the water.

The other disciples came on in the boat, towing the net with the fish; they were only about a hundred yards from land.

As soon as they came ashore they saw that there was some bread there and a charcoal fire with fish cooking on it.

Jesus said, 'Bring some of the fish you have just caught.'

Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net ashore, full of big fish, one hundred and fifty-three of them; and in spite of there being so many the net was not broken.

Jesus said to them, 'Come and have breakfast.' None of the disciples was bold enough to ask, 'Who are you?'. They knew quite well it was the Lord.

Jesus then stepped forward, took the bread and gave it to them, and the same with the fish.

This was the third time that Jesus revealed himself to the disciples after rising from the dead.

When they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?' He answered, 'Yes, Lord, you know I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my lambs.'

A second time he said to him, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' He replied, 'Yes, Lord, you know I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Look after my sheep.'

Then he said to him a third time, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' Peter was hurt that he asked him a third time, 'Do you love me?' and said, 'Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my sheep.

In all truth I tell you, when you were young you put on your own belt and walked where you liked; but when you grow old you will stretch out your hands, and somebody else will put a belt round you and take you where you would rather not go.'

In these words he indicated the kind of death by which Peter would give glory to God. After this he said, 'Follow me.'

John 21:1-19

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My Reading Notes:
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What had Jesus told Peter three times? To feed my lambs, to look after my sheep, to feed my sheep.

This is the most important order from God Himself. If we are to love God, we must obey this order.

How could I "feed" and "Look after" my people?

In Luke 11:9-13, He had taught us a really important method, that is, to ask the help from God, to seek the answers from God. And God will send us the Holy Spirit, we will know how to do and what to do.

Yes, to love God is to serve the people. And to serve the people, is loving God. Lets get things done. Thus a true Christian must walk outside to do something.

We are evolving internally

My Sunday Scripture 2010.4.11.


Reading 1

The apostles worked many signs and miracles among the people. One in heart, they all used to meet in the Portico of Solomon.

No one else dared to join them, but the people were loud in their praise

and the numbers of men and women who came to believe in the Lord increased steadily. Many signs and wonders were worked among the people at the hands of the apostles

so that the sick were even taken out into the streets and laid on beds and sleeping-mats in the hope that at least the shadow of Peter might fall across some of them as he went past.

People even came crowding in from the towns round about Jerusalem, bringing with them their sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were cured.

(Acts 5:12-16)


Gospel

In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, 'Peace be with you,'

and, after saying this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Lord,

and he said to them again, 'Peace be with you. 'As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.'

After saying this he breathed on them and said: Receive the Holy Spirit.

If you forgive any one's sins, they are forgiven; if you retain any one's sins, they are retained.

Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.

So the other disciples said to him, 'We have seen the Lord,' but he answered, 'Unless I can see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.'

Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them. 'Peace be with you,' he said.

Then he spoke to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving any more but believe.'

Thomas replied, 'My Lord and my God!'

Jesus said to him: You believe because you can see me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.

There were many other signs that Jesus worked in the sight of the disciples, but they are not recorded in this book.

These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this you may have life through his name.

(John 20:19-31)


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My Reading Notes:
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I had always found it wonderful to see how the apostles acted in their time. People came from all the places, to hope for a healing from them. Even Peter's shadow, could have such healing power. They didn't even need hospitals.

And this is my question. Why is it that this miracles not seen today? And I must correct myself: Miracles are still here with us, but not in the form of the ancient world any more.

What is the meaning of the line? "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."

In the evolution of mankind, one very important aspect is that we are evolving internally. The mind is powerful. And we are making progress on it. We ought to use our mind more then physical feelings. I think it personally that is the reason of why the apostles today do not perform miracles like Saint Peter.

Now I would come to the point about "believing". One kind of believing never need thinking and acting. The other believing needs to think, and more importantly,
to act. Thus a true Christian tends always be also a saint. He can act according to what he thinks.

Is it true?

My Sunday Scripture 2010.4.4


It was very early on the first day of the week and still dark, when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved away from the tomb

and came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. 'They have taken the Lord out of the tomb,' she said, 'and we don't know where they have put him.'

So Peter set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb.

They ran together, but the other disciple, running faster than Peter, reached the tomb first;

he bent down and saw the linen cloths lying on the ground, but did not go in.

Simon Peter, following him, also came up, went into the tomb, saw the linen cloths lying on the ground

and also the cloth that had been over his head; this was not with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself.

Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in; he saw and he believed.

Till this moment they had still not understood the scripture, that he must rise from the dead


John 20:1-9



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My Reading Notes:
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Yes, this is the question one must ask, and must answer to one's honest self.
Even though the answer might be wrong someway, but, as Jesus had once told us:
"Seek, and ye shall find." Sooner or later, we would find it out.

And this question is related. It is related to the following:

1. Is there a creator?

2. Is the creator a mighty one?

3. Is it a need to send his son to do something for us on earth?

4. What had His son done to help us?

And all my answers to the above are positive. Especially the 4th question, it is so urgent we need his teaching on our planet. Every thing conceivable are so badly needed to change. We need love. And the love had been brought to us through Jesus Christ.

And so, yes, it is true. It is true that God had sent us his son to save us. And His son had raised from the dead, leaving us the Holy Spirit, whom we could plead for at any moment.

'Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing.'

My Sunday Scripture 2010.3.28.




The whole assembly then rose, and they brought him before Pilate.

They began their accusation by saying, 'We found this man inciting our people to revolt, opposing payment of the tribute to Caesar, and claiming to be Christ, a king.'

Pilate put to him this question, 'Are you the king of the Jews?' He replied, 'It is you who say it.'

Pilate then said to the chief priests and the crowd, 'I find no case against this man.'

But they persisted, 'He is inflaming the people with his teaching all over Judaea and all the way from Galilee, where he started, down to here.'

When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man were a Galilean;

and finding that he came under Herod's jurisdiction, he passed him over to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

Herod was delighted to see Jesus; he had heard about him and had been wanting for a long time to set eyes on him; moreover, he was hoping to see some miracle worked by him.

So he questioned him at some length, but without getting any reply.

Meanwhile the chief priests and the scribes were there, vigorously pressing their accusations.

Then Herod, together with his guards, treated him with contempt and made fun of him; he put a rich cloak on him and sent him back to Pilate.

And though Herod and Pilate had been enemies before, they were reconciled that same day.

Pilate then summoned the chief priests and the leading men and the people.

He said to them, 'You brought this man before me as a popular agitator. Now I have gone into the matter myself in your presence and found no grounds in the man for any of the charges you bring against him.

Nor has Herod either, since he has sent him back to us. As you can see, the man has done nothing that deserves death,

so I shall have him flogged and then let him go.'



But as one man they howled, 'Away with him! Give us Barabbas!'

(This man had been thrown into prison because of a riot in the city and murder.)

In his desire to set Jesus free, Pilate addressed them again,

but they shouted back, 'Crucify him! Crucify him!'

And for the third time he spoke to them, 'But what harm has this man done? I have found no case against him that deserves death, so I shall have him flogged and then let him go.'

But they kept on shouting at the top of their voices, demanding that he should be crucified. And their shouts kept growing louder.

Pilate then gave his verdict: their demand was to be granted.

He released the man they asked for, who had been imprisoned because of rioting and murder, and handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they pleased.

As they were leading him away they seized on a man, Simon from Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and made him shoulder the cross and carry it behind Jesus.

Large numbers of people followed him, and women too, who mourned and lamented for him.

But Jesus turned to them and said, 'Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep rather for yourselves and for your children.

For look, the days are surely coming when people will say, "Blessed are those who are barren, the wombs that have never borne children, the breasts that have never suckled!"

Then they will begin to say to the mountains, "Fall on us!"; to the hills, "Cover us!"

For if this is what is done to green wood, what will be done when the wood is dry?'

Now they were also leading out two others, criminals, to be executed with him.

When they reached the place called The Skull, there they crucified him and the two criminals, one on his right, the other on his left.

Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing.' Then they cast lots to share out his clothing.

The people stayed there watching. As for the leaders, they jeered at him with the words, 'He saved others, let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.'

The soldiers mocked him too, coming up to him, offering him vinegar,

and saying, 'If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.'

Above him there was an inscription: 'This is the King of the Jews'.

One of the criminals hanging there abused him: 'Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us as well.'

But the other spoke up and rebuked him. 'Have you no fear of God at all?' he said. 'You got the same sentence as he did,

but in our case we deserved it: we are paying for what we did. But this man has done nothing wrong.'

Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.'

He answered him, 'In truth I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.'

It was now about the sixth hour and the sun's light failed, so that darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.

The veil of the Sanctuary was torn right down the middle.

Jesus cried out in a loud voice saying, 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.' With these words he breathed his last.

When the centurion saw what had taken place, he gave praise to God and said, 'Truly, this was an upright man.'

And when all the crowds who had gathered for the spectacle saw what had happened, they went home beating their breasts.

All his friends stood at a distance; so also did the women who had accompanied him from Galilee and saw all this happen.

Luke 23:1-49



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My Reading Notes:
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'Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing.'

I would ask myself too: do I know what I am doing? I suppose I do. But sometimes, I should remind myself, that there might be black spots in my eyes, that I really do not know what I am doing. Please forgive me My Lord, and please open my eyes, let me see clearly what I am doing and what ought I shall be doing. Please open my eyes.

Before blaming others

My Sunday Scripture 2010.3.21


and Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

At daybreak he appeared in the Temple again; and as all the people came to him, he sat down and began to teach them.

The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman along who had been caught committing adultery; and making her stand there in the middle

they said to Jesus, 'Master, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery,

and in the Law Moses has ordered us to stone women of this kind. What have you got to say?'

They asked him this as a test, looking for an accusation to use against him. But Jesus bent down and started writing on the ground with his finger.

As they persisted with their question, he straightened up and said, 'Let the one among you who is guiltless be the first to throw a stone at her.'

Then he bent down and continued writing on the ground.

When they heard this they went away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until the last one had gone and Jesus was left alone with the woman, who remained in the middle.

Jesus again straightened up and said, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?'

'No one, sir,' she replied. 'Neither do I condemn you,' said Jesus. 'Go away, and from this moment sin no more.'

John 8:1-11

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My Reading Notes:
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Before blaming others, I should first check myself......

and this is the only feature I could find in Abraham Lincoln, he is the only one who can do this.

What is God's way?

My sunday Scripture 2010.3.14



The tax collectors and sinners, however, were all crowding round to listen to him,

and the Pharisees and scribes complained saying, 'This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.'

So he told them this parable:

Then he said, 'There was a man who had two sons.

The younger one said to his father, "Father, let me have the share of the estate that will come to me." So the father divided the property between them.

A few days later, the younger son got together everything he had and left for a distant country where he squandered his money on a life of debauchery.

'When he had spent it all, that country experienced a severe famine, and now he began to feel the pinch;

so he hired himself out to one of the local inhabitants who put him on his farm to feed the pigs.

And he would willingly have filled himself with the husks the pigs were eating but no one would let him have them.

Then he came to his senses and said, "How many of my father's hired men have all the food they want and more, and here am I dying of hunger!

I will leave this place and go to my father and say: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;

I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired men."

So he left the place and went back to his father. 'While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran to the boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him.

Then his son said, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son."

But the father said to his servants, "Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

Bring the calf we have been fattening, and kill it; we will celebrate by having a feast,

because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found." And they began to celebrate.

'Now the elder son was out in the fields, and on his way back, as he drew near the house, he could hear music and dancing.

Calling one of the servants he asked what it was all about.

The servant told him, "Your brother has come, and your father has killed the calf we had been fattening because he has got him back safe and sound."

He was angry then and refused to go in, and his father came out and began to urge him to come in;

but he retorted to his father, "All these years I have slaved for you and never once disobeyed any orders of yours, yet you never offered me so much as a kid for me to celebrate with my friends.

But, for this son of yours, when he comes back after swallowing up your property -- he and his loose women -- you kill the calf we had been fattening."

'The father said, "My son, you are with me always and all I have is yours.

But it was only right we should celebrate and rejoice, because your brother here was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found." '

Luke 15:1-3, 11-32


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My Reading Notes:
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This is a parable. The hidden meaning is always fresh.

The meaning goes like this: People goes away from God, and what they got is poverty. The treasure is in God's place. It is as simple as that. But the parable remains a parable still. People got to think: Is it true that you will find poverty instead of fortune?

People are seeking pleasure. People are seeking to satisiy earthly desire. People are not using their mind. They use only organs. By doing so, poverty is waiting, not only for one man, but countries and cultures.

And the question still remains: What is God's way? How can we find fortune in God's way?

unless you repent

My Sunday Scripture 2010. 3.7.


It was just about this time that some people arrived and told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with that of their sacrifices. At this he said to them,

'Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than any others, that this should have happened to them?

They were not, I tell you. No; but unless you repent you will all perish as they did.

Or those eighteen on whom the tower at Siloam fell, killing them all? Do you suppose that they were more guilty than all the other people living in Jerusalem?

They were not, I tell you. No; but unless you repent you will all perish as they did.'

He told this parable, 'A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it but found none.

He said to his vinedresser, "For three years now I have been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and finding none. Cut it down: why should it be taking up the ground?"

"Sir," the man replied, "leave it one more year and give me time to dig round it and manure it:

it may bear fruit next year; if not, then you can cut it down." '

Luke 13:1-9


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My Reading Notes:
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Why do I need to repent? What had I done wrong?
May be this is the most difficult question in the Bible.

We are all wrong, if we can see the problem in a higher level. Just like seeing that in yesterday. No one could deny that one had done something wrong, and very wrong in the past. .. I will try to understand more about this matter. Hope some one could help me.

Is it necessary to send Jesus as his son to us?

My Sunday Scripture 2010.2.28


Now about eight days after this had been said, he took with him Peter, John and James and went up the mountain to pray.

And it happened that, as he was praying, the aspect of his face was changed and his clothing became sparkling white.

And suddenly there were two men talking to him; they were Moses and Elijah

appearing in glory, and they were speaking of his passing which he was to accomplish in Jerusalem.

Peter and his companions were heavy with sleep, but they woke up and saw his glory and the two men standing with him.

As these were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, 'Master, it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.' He did not know what he was saying.

As he was saying this, a cloud came and covered them with shadow; and when they went into the cloud the disciples were afraid.

And a voice came from the cloud saying, 'This is my Son, the Chosen One. Listen to him.'

And after the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. The disciples kept silence and, at that time, told no one what they had seen.

(Luke 9:28b-36)


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My Reading Notes:
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I had used to think that if God had ever created human being, he must had build in some connection inside the human body for us to communicate with him. This inborn connection, we may say, is the inner feeling about God, and about every other creature in the universe. We are connected from the very beginning. Of all the connections, of course, the most important one should be the one we connect with God.

Is it necessary to send Jesus as his son to us?

There might be something we can hardly understand. However, for the uncivilized human being, we will be easier to reach by something not within but from outside. In another word, we are foolish enough, that we can not understand things from within, thus God sent us his Son, making us to listen to Him better.

This is the same reason as we have a mind, but still we need to read books and to do every exploration to achieve anything.

How do we get to our wishes by avoiding the baits?

My Sunday Scripture 2010.2.21


Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert,

for forty days being put to the test by the devil. During that time he ate nothing and at the end he was hungry.

Then the devil said to him, 'If you are Son of God, tell this stone to turn into a loaf.'

But Jesus replied, 'Scripture says: Human beings live not on bread alone.'

Then leading him to a height, the devil showed him in a moment of time all the kingdoms of the world

and said to him, 'I will give you all this power and their splendour, for it has been handed over to me, for me to give it to anyone I choose.

Do homage, then, to me, and it shall all be yours.'

But Jesus answered him, 'Scripture says: You must do homage to the Lord your God, him alone you must serve.'

Then he led him to Jerusalem and set him on the parapet of the Temple. 'If you are Son of God,' he said to him, 'throw yourself down from here,

for scripture says: He has given his angels orders about you, to guard you, and again:

They will carry you in their arms in case you trip over a stone.'

But Jesus answered him, 'Scripture says: Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'

Having exhausted every way of putting him to the test, the devil left him, until the opportune moment

Luke 4:1-13


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My Reading Notes:
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It is the things we needed, the vanities we wished, and the special magic we always hoped. The devil hope to use them as baits to catch us. And so many times we had forgotten, those are baits.

How do we get things we wanted? By working hard, and with the holy spirit guiding us, we can achieve our aim.

How blessed are you who are poor

My Sunday Scripture 2010.2.14

He then came down with them and stopped at a piece of level ground where there was a large gathering of his disciples, with a great crowd of people from all parts of Judaea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon

Then fixing his eyes on his disciples he said: How blessed are you who are poor: the kingdom of God is yours.

Blessed are you who are hungry now: you shall have your fill. Blessed are you who are weeping now: you shall laugh.

'Blessed are you when people hate you, drive you out, abuse you, denounce your name as criminal, on account of the Son of man.

Rejoice when that day comes and dance for joy, look!-your reward will be great in heaven. This was the way their ancestors treated the prophets.

But alas for you who are rich: you are having your consolation now.

Alas for you who have plenty to eat now: you shall go hungry. Alas for you who are laughing now: you shall mourn and weep.

'Alas for you when everyone speaks well of you! This was the way their ancestors treated the false prophets.

(Luke 6:17, 20-26)

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My Reading Notes:
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I have never had any other comfort greater then the comfort from The Lord. Its the blessing coming from above. Its the ultimate blessing. By this blessing, we who are living in the up-side-down world will know, one day, darkness will be driven away, and light would be anywhere and everywhere, by then, we are all very happy.

We would rejoice for such a day.

And that is why I will keep on smiling, because I know that day will come.

Only in weakness do I weep, but once the cloud is over, I will smile like broad sunshine.

it is people you will be catching

My Sunday Scripture 2010.2.7

Now it happened that he was standing one day by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the crowd pressing round him listening to the word of God,

when he caught sight of two boats at the water's edge. The fishermen had got out of them and were washing their nets.

He got into one of the boats -- it was Simon's -- and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.

When he had finished speaking he said to Simon, 'Put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch.'

Simon replied, 'Master, we worked hard all night long and caught nothing, but if you say so, I will pay out the nets.'

And when they had done this they netted such a huge number of fish that their nets began to tear,

so they signalled to their companions in the other boat to come and help them; when these came, they filled both boats to sinking point.

When Simon Peter saw this he fell at the knees of Jesus saying, 'Leave me, Lord; I am a sinful man.'

For he and all his companions were completely awestruck at the catch they had made;

so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were Simon's partners. But Jesus said to Simon, 'Do not be afraid; from now on it is people you will be catching.'

Then, bringing their boats back to land they left everything and followed him.

Luke 5:1-11


My Reading Notes:

It might be difficult to get people back in believe, but it is sure that they will come back. Truth is always there, only sometimes the eyes are blind. Once the blinding elements removed, sight will be clear again.

People will see things as they are.

When heaven remained shut

My Sunday Scripture 2010.1.31

Then he began to speak to them, 'This text is being fulfilled today even while you are listening.'

And he won the approval of all, and they were astonished by the gracious words that came from his lips. They said, 'This is Joseph's son, surely?'

But he replied, 'No doubt you will quote me the saying, "Physician, heal yourself," and tell me, "We have heard all that happened in Capernaum, do the same here in your own country." '

And he went on, 'In truth I tell you, no prophet is ever accepted in his own country.

'There were many widows in Israel, I can assure you, in Elijah's day, when heaven remained shut for three years and six months and a great famine raged throughout the land,

but Elijah was not sent to any one of these: he was sent to a widow at Zarephath, a town in Sidonia.

And in the prophet Elisha's time there were many suffering from virulent skin-diseases in Israel, but none of these was cured -- only Naaman the Syrian.'

When they heard this everyone in the synagogue was enraged.

Saint Luke 4:21-30


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My Reading Notes:
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May be this is the most terrible thing of all. And it might be true.
Heaven is not always open. Sometimes, it is shut. All the people on earth,
except a very very few, cannot reach help.

People will got angry only by hearing this. But it is true.

Some times, there was total darkness, even the most wise man on earth had become blind. For the older generation of China, they had all experienced the Cultural Revolution. By that time, all were blind. And the heaven was shut for them. There was nowhere for light, and nothing could help. People were all blind in the mind.

But why? but why? I can not understand this. May be that was a serious lesson to learn. We should open our eyes.

What is the good news?

My Sunday Scripture 2010.1.24

Seeing that many others have undertaken to draw up accounts of the events that have reached their fulfilment among us,

as these were handed down to us by those who from the outset were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word,

I in my turn, after carefully going over the whole story from the beginning, have decided to write an ordered account for you, Theophilus,

so that your Excellency may learn how well founded the teaching is that you have received.

-------

Jesus, with the power of the Spirit in him, returned to Galilee; and his reputation spread throughout the countryside.

He taught in their synagogues and everyone glorified him.

He came to Nazara, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day as he usually did. He stood up to read,

and they handed him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll he found the place where it is written:

The spirit of the Lord is on me, for he has anointed me to bring the good news to the afflicted. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives, sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord.

He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the assistant and sat down. And all eyes in the synagogue were fixed on him.

Then he began to speak to them, 'This text is being fulfilled today even while you are listening.'

Saint Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21

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My Reading Notes:
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There was a time when, only words of the prophet can be of some comfort. Because people are all captives, are all blind. All human being are not free.

And there was a time when, Jesus had descended on earth, proclaiming to us the good news, that we could open our eyes and see. We are free. That is the biggest favor given to us people from the Lord.

We were all blind, and now that we could open our eyes. And that was the good news told us two thousand years ago.

Somehow, not every one on earth could reach the meaning behind it.

And I had found out, only Zhuang Zi had the similar meaning about free in the Chinese culture.

Can we turn ourselves into wine?

My Sunday Scripture 2010.1.17



On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee. The mother of Jesus was there,

and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited.

And they ran out of wine, since the wine provided for the feast had all been used, and the mother of Jesus said to him, 'They have no wine.'

Jesus said, 'Woman, what do you want from me? My hour has not come yet.'

His mother said to the servants, 'Do whatever he tells you.'

There were six stone water jars standing there, meant for the ablutions that are customary among the Jews: each could hold twenty or thirty gallons.

Jesus said to the servants, 'Fill the jars with water,' and they filled them to the brim.

Then he said to them, 'Draw some out now and take it to the president of the feast.'

They did this; the president tasted the water, and it had turned into wine. Having no idea where it came from -- though the servants who had drawn the water knew -- the president of the feast called the bridegroom

and said, 'Everyone serves good wine first and the worse wine when the guests are well wined; but you have kept the best wine till now.'

This was the first of Jesus' signs: it was at Cana in Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

John 2:1-11

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My Reading Notes:
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Jesus had turned water into wine. And this could also be explained into an analogy: that Jesus had come to earth to turn human beings into a higher form
of human beings, that the higher form of human beings are the human beings who know love.

Can each of us, turn ourselves into wine through Jesus? and through our own effort?

And this process has been going for two thousand years. At least for the western culture, they had received Jesus for that long, and for us in the fareast,
we had come to know this for only a few hundred years.

Can we raise ourselves up a level?

Can I raise myself up a level?

Yes, I hope I can.

Where is God?

My Sunday Scripture 2010.1.10.

A feeling of expectancy had grown among the people, who were beginning to wonder whether John might be the Christ,

so John declared before them all, 'I baptise you with water, but someone is coming, who is more powerful than me, and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

..................

Now it happened that when all the people had been baptised and while Jesus after his own baptism was at prayer, heaven opened

and the Holy Spirit descended on him in a physical form, like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my Son; today have I fathered you.'
(Luke 3:15-16, 21-22)


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My reading notes:
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Recently I had got a photo of the Milky Way Galaxy. I wondered very much that in so vast a place, where is our fellow human beings. We as human being, is not in proportion with the universe. We have a mind and eyes and some short length organs to handle the nearby world. In such a big space, our tools, including our mind, simply cannot function.

Where is God?

Now that he had come, in the form of humanbeings. And the holy spirit had come too, the spirit had descended on him, in a physical form, like a dove.

We as human beings, do not have enough tools to handle subtle matters. So the spirit had to show himself in a form. We saw the dove and understand.

Where is God? Yes, this is God himself descended.

Can we turn the world over?

My Sunday Scripture 2010.1.3


After Jesus had been born at Bethlehem in Judaea during the reign of King Herod, suddenly some wise men came to Jerusalem from the east

asking, 'Where is the infant king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose and have come to do him homage.'

When King Herod heard this he was perturbed, and so was the whole of Jerusalem.

He called together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, and enquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

They told him, 'At Bethlehem in Judaea, for this is what the prophet wrote:

And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, you are by no means the least among the leaders of Judah, for from you will come a leader who will shepherd my people Israel.'

Then Herod summoned the wise men to see him privately. He asked them the exact date on which the star had appeared

and sent them on to Bethlehem with the words, 'Go and find out all about the child, and when you have found him, let me know, so that I too may go and do him homage.'

Having listened to what the king had to say, they set out. And suddenly the star they had seen rising went forward and halted over the place where the child was.

The sight of the star filled them with delight,

and going into the house they saw the child with his mother Mary, and falling to their knees they did him homage. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.

But they were given a warning in a dream not to go back to Herod, and returned to their own country by a different way.

Saint Matthew 2:1-12



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Jesus had come to the world for two thousand years. He had brought us the good news:

That we must love one another. But for two thousand years, we have done very very little. Do we love one another? Do we have good political and economic systems to support love? Do we have enough knowledge to handle human matters and keep us in a loving environment?

May be the political and economic matters are not the most important. But how are we to spread love?

It might be a very simple way. Starting from ourselves.

Can we, by a very strong sense of love, turn the world over?

Family value is secondary

My Sunday Scripture 2009.12.27

Every year his parents used to go to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover.

When he was twelve years old, they went up for the feast as usual.

When the days of the feast were over and they set off home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem without his parents knowing it.

They assumed he was somewhere in the party, and it was only after a day's journey that they went to look for him among their relations and acquaintances.

When they failed to find him they went back to Jerusalem looking for him everywhere.

It happened that, three days later, they found him in the Temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and asking them questions;

and all those who heard him were astounded at his intelligence and his replies.

They were overcome when they saw him, and his mother said to him, 'My child, why have you done this to us? See how worried your father and I have been, looking for you.'

He replied, 'Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?'

But they did not understand what he meant.

He went down with them then and came to Nazareth and lived under their authority. His mother stored up all these things in her heart.

And Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favour with God and with people.

Luke 2:41-52

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The question is: How important is a family? Is the family superior to everything?
or, something more important are superior?

It is obvoius that the love of God, and the love of all are more important. And this is the very basic difference between the Confucius thought and a Christian.

In Confucism, the value of a hierarchical system is most important. And that would lead to the suffocation of truth, because the criterion to truth had been put in the hands of the authority.

Do You have the Blessing

My Sunday Scritpture 2009.12.20

Mary set out at that time and went as quickly as she could into the hill country to a town in Judah.

She went into Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth.

Now it happened that as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

She gave a loud cry and said, 'Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord?

Look, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy.

Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.'

Luke 1:39-45

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This is one of the most interesting stories from the Bible. An ordinary girl Mary had been, but suddenly she was chosen to be the mother of Jesus.

All of a sudden, she was blessed with the good will of the Heaven.

and with a sword, too.

She was destined to suffer the lost of her child.

One would admire her of her way to receive God.

And one would also had to have some wisdom to understand that by taking up the important task, she must also suffer.

No other suffer could be bigger then the suffer she had.

To compare with her, we are but small creatures.

HE will give us the Holy Spirit and Fire

My Sunday Scripture 2009.12.13


When all the people asked him, 'What must we do, then?'

he answered, 'Anyone who has two tunics must share with the one who has none, and anyone with something to eat must do the same.'

There were tax collectors, too, who came for baptism, and these said to him, 'Master, what must we do?'

He said to them, 'Exact no more than the appointed rate.'

Some soldiers asked him in their turn, 'What about us? What must we do?' He said to them, 'No intimidation! No extortion! Be content with your pay!'

A feeling of expectancy had grown among the people, who were beginning to wonder whether John might be the Christ,

so John declared before them all, 'I baptise you with water, but someone is coming, who is more powerful than me, and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

His winnowing-fan is in his hand, to clear his threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his barn; but the chaff he will burn in a fire that will never go out.'

And he proclaimed the good news to the people with many other exhortations too.

Saint Luke 3:10-18

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In the kingdom of heaven, we wash ourselves not with water, but with fire.
We wash the flesh with water, but clean the soul with fire. When we can see deep into our sin, we had washed our soul with fire: the fire HE had given us.

And the clean souls could proceed. They could march ahead, with a Holy Spirit, they are free and they can go anywhere.

A cry from the desert

My Sunday Scripture 2009.12.6


In the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar's reign, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judaea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the territories of Ituraea and Trachonitis, Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,

and while the high-priesthood was held by Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah, in the desert.

He went through the whole Jordan area proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,

as it is written in the book of the sayings of Isaiah the prophet: A voice of one that cries in the desert: Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight!

Let every valley be filled in, every mountain and hill be levelled, winding ways be straightened and rough roads made smooth,

and all humanity will see the salvation of God.

Saint Luke 3:1-6

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I have been reading Al Gore's book recently. He said the Founders of America had put "faith" and "reason" in an opposite direction. He mentioned the idea from the founders of the States, that America is not a Chiristian country, nor it a Jewish or Mohamedan country. By putting the same importance to different sects, they had eliminated the religious power in the country. May be it is due to this idea, that the American people had given "reason" ultimate importance. They thought reason is the opposition of faith. However, we from the far east can see that, the balancing power of reason is spirit, not faith.

A country with high reasoning power, but lacking a spirit to balance it, is bound to have problem. This is the real problem of America, not terrorism.

What is a "spirit"? Is the "American Spirit" a spirit?

No. American Spirit is but the conclusion of some "reasoning power". It is a theory.

We can see that a spirit is coming from within, it is from the mind, it is life force, it is religious, but not necessary a religious doctrine.

What will happen next?

My Sunday Scritpure 2009.11.29

'There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; on earth nations in agony, bewildered by the turmoil of the ocean and its waves;

men fainting away with terror and fear at what menaces the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken.

And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.'

'Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened by debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life, and that day will come upon you unexpectedly,

like a trap. For it will come down on all those living on the face of the earth.

Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to hold your ground before the Son of man.'

(Saint Luke 21:25-28, 34-36)

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This message from Luke told us that the world will NOT be the same always.

There will be times of unexpected change. And that change, is beyond
the control of humanbeings.

People living in daily life expect things will happen as usual. But
it is not true.

We have a King and we are not alone

My Sunday Scripture 2009.11.22

Pilate said to Jesus,
"Are you the King of the Jews?"
Jesus answered, "Do you say this on your own
or have others told you about me?"
Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I?
Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me.
What have you done?"
Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world.
If my kingdom did belong to this world,
my attendants would be fighting
to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.
But as it is, my kingdom is not here."
So Pilate said to him, "Then you are a king?"
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 18:33b-37

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He said, his kingdom is not here.
He said, he came to testify to the truth.
He had told us the truth.

May be, Jesus is using analogy.

He is the leader of us.
And he is the center of us.
He is us and we are him.

In this sense, we can say that we are one.
and also in this sense, we are not alone. We belong to
him. We have confidence and we all have a soul, and its
all because of Him. It is just like, we have a King.
It is just like, we have a Father. We are not orphans anymore.

We are the subjects of the center of the universe.

He is near

My Sunday Scripture 2009.11.15

"But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light,

and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

And then they will see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory.

And then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

"From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.

So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates.

Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away before all these things take place.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

"But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Mark 13: 24 - 32




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This is the thing we tend to forget: That the day is near, that He is near.

And this is the comfort for the good and the threat for the bad.

We all feel comfortable if He is near. How beautiful, and how nice.

Oh, He is near.

What is the meaning of complete dedication?

My Sunday Scripture 2009.11.8

Jesus sat down opposite the treasury
and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury.
Many rich people put in large sums.
A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.
Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them,
"Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more
than all the other contributors to the treasury.
For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had,
her whole livelihood."

Mark 12:41-44

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Actually this is a very simple idea. The meaning of life
itself is not for the self. The meaning of life is to
dedicate, no matter who you are: no matter you are a
cat or a dog or a plant, your life is meant to the others.
Life itself is a chain, only those who could see the meaning
of life in the whole could understand the meaning of
dedication.

For deditcation, there is only one kind of dedication:
complete dedication. The meaning here is not how much
you could afford to pay God, but whether you could see
that you have only one life, and the purpose of that
life is for you to use it: Use it on the planet, not
for self indulgence or lazy sleeping.

Those who could see the meaning of life, is blessed.

Who Are the Blessed?

My Sunday Scripture 2009.11.1

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,
and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
He began to teach them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven.”

Matthew 5:1-12a


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Who Are the Blessed?

Those are the people who stand in the front of the current, to carry out
the will of God. The others are of 2 categories:

those who are poor, are meek, and are mourning: these are the lambs.
those who are merciful and are longing for rigeteousness and are fighting for it in a peaceful and a clean way: these are the caretakers of the lambs.

Seek, and ye shall find

They reached Jericho; and as he left Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus -- that is, the son of Timaeus -- a blind beggar, was sitting at the side of the road.

When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout and cry out, 'Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me.'

And many of them scolded him and told him to keep quiet, but he only shouted all the louder, 'Son of David, have pity on me.'

Jesus stopped and said, 'Call him here.' So they called the blind man over. 'Courage,' they said, 'get up; he is calling you.'

So throwing off his cloak, he jumped up and went to Jesus.

Then Jesus spoke, 'What do you want me to do for you?' The blind man said to him, 'Rabbuni, let me see again.'

Jesus said to him, 'Go; your faith has saved you.' And at once his sight returned and he followed him along the road.

Saint Mark 10:46-52

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Many a time you would come across such sayings, that this
is a time of NO miracles. They would tell you: DO NOT
expect miracles.

I can tell you in the name of Jesus Christ, those are
false prophets.

There are miracles everywhere.

All those seek in their own faith, shall find what
they want.

And every one who worked hard, had found what they
were expected to find. All those fought hard, will
win. There are no failure for the fighters. You
could achieve something always.

To Serve and Not To be Served

My Sunday Scripture 2009.10.18


35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached him. 'Master,' they said to him, 'We want you to do us a favour.'
36 He said to them, 'What is it you want me to do for you?'
37 They said to him, 'Allow us to sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in your glory.'
38 But Jesus said to them, 'You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I shall drink, or be baptised with the baptism with which I shall be baptised?'
39 They replied, 'We can.' Jesus said to them, 'The cup that I shall drink you shall drink, and with the baptism with which I shall be baptised you shall be baptised,
40 but as for seats at my right hand or my left, these are not mine to grant; they belong to those to whom they have been allotted.'
41 When the other ten heard this they began to feel indignant with James and John,
42 so Jesus called them to him and said to them, 'You know that among the gentiles those they call their rulers lord it over them, and their great men make their authority felt.
43 Among you this is not to happen. No; anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant,
44 and anyone who wants to be first among you must be slave to all.
45 For the Son of man himself came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'

Saint Mark 10:35-45


My Reading Notes:

This is the most important teaching about life.

Every life on earth has a purpose, and that is to serve.
Each and every life on earth has the same purpose. Even
a grass, a flower, a tree.... they are all the same,
they come to serve others. The whole of the universe
are linked up in this way.

The difference is whether we as a man know it or not.
If you can know this, if you can know that your own
life has a purpose itself, and your own life is
actually going to serve as a "server" and if you can
see that point, and if you are conscious about that,
then you can better make use of your life. Because,
you had put in your own effort as a conscious mind.
You had doubled your life force, as you had put your
self into it.

How Much Should I Give God?

My Sunday Scripture 2009.10.11

17 He was setting out on a journey when a man ran up, knelt before him and put this question to him, 'Good master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?'

18 Jesus said to him, 'Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.

19 You know the commandments: You shall not kill; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not give false witness; You shall not defraud; Honour your father and mother.'

20 And he said to him, 'Master, I have kept all these since my earliest days.'

21 Jesus looked steadily at him and he was filled with love for him, and he said, 'You need to do one thing more. Go and sell what you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.'

22 But his face fell at these words and he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth.

23 Jesus looked round and said to his disciples, 'How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!'

24 The disciples were astounded by these words, but Jesus insisted, 'My children,' he said to them, 'how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!

25 It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for someone rich to enter the kingdom of God.'

26 They were more astonished than ever, saying to one another, 'In that case, who can be saved?'

27 Jesus gazed at them and said, 'By human resources it is impossible, but not for God: because for God everything is possible.'

28 Peter took this up. 'Look,' he said to him, 'we have left everything and followed you.'

29 Jesus said, 'In truth I tell you, there is no one who has left house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children or land for my sake and for the sake of the gospel

30 who will not receive a hundred times as much, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and land -- and persecutions too -- now in this present time and, in the world to come, eternal life.

Saint Mark 10:17-30



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If I say, I will give 10%, then I have surely missed the point.

Jesus is not bargaining with us. Jesus is not asking us to give another 10% or more.

Jesus is teaching us the theory about life.

Jesus had said in other occasion: Those give up life for me will gain life.

If the young man did give up all his money, he may find the line a little puzzle: He will ask himself: Shall I give up my life after I had given up all my money?

And the ansewer is yes.

And now we had come to the point: What is the meaning of life.

A life is a life to use. Just like a candle is for burning.

To give up life means one is willing to use up his life in a meaningful course.

If a candle isnt burning, then the candle IS NOT a living candle.

If we are not burning, we ARE NOT living.

And that is the important point here: Those give up life for me will gain life.
(MT 10:39 He that findeth his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for me, shall find it.)

hardness of your hearts

My Sunday Scripture 2009.10.4.


The Pharisees approached Jesus and asked, "Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?" They were testing him. He said to them in reply, "What did Moses command you?" They replied, "Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her." But Jesus told them, "Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate."


In the house the disciples again questioned Jesus about this. He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."


And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it." Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them.

SaintMark 10:2-16

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"Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote you this commandment......"

Divorce is the worse thing in the 21st century. It is the downturn of the human nature. If there is no law to allow people to divorce, then people will handle their marriage more carefully. And this is a topic discussed by too many and nothing positive have come up so far. However, if we could aware to the hardness of our hearts, we might choose a better option for our marriage.

we saw someone driving out demons in your name

My Sunday Scripture, 2009.9.27

At that time, John said to Jesus,
"Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name,
and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us."
Jesus replied, "Do not prevent him.
There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name
who can at the same time speak ill of me.
For whoever is not against us is for us.
Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink
because you belong to Christ,
amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.

"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,
it would be better for him if a great millstone
were put around his neck
and he were thrown into the sea.
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.
It is better for you to enter into life maimed
than with two hands to go into Gehenna,
into the unquenchable fire.
And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off.
It is better for you to enter into life crippled
than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna.
And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.
Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye
than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna,
where 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'"

Saint Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

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Preventing people to do good deeds, is the major evil nowadays
Only because those people is not in the same sect, then
all their deeds are to be stopped.......

And what does it mean?

It means that those who prevent others doing good, are in fact
not doing anything good at all.

I dont know why my blog is not allowed in China.

I mean no harm, but I am prevented to say anything.

Whoever welcomes a child such as this

My Sunday Scripture 2009.9.20

After leaving that place they made their way through Galilee; and he did not want anyone to know, because he was instructing his disciples; he was telling them, 'The Son of man will be delivered into the power of men; they will put him to death; and three days after he has been put to death he will rise again.' But they did not understand what he said and were afraid to ask him. They came to Capernaum, and when he got into the house he asked them, 'What were you arguing about on the road?'
34 They said nothing, because on the road they had been arguing which of them was the greatest. So he sat down, called the Twelve to him and said, 'If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all.' He then took a little child whom he set among them and embraced, and he said to them, 'Anyone who welcomes a little child such as this in my name, welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me, welcomes not me but the one who sent me.'

Saint Mark 9:30-37

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Whoever welcomes a child such as this in my name, welcomes me.

And this is the point exactly the same as Zheong Zi, who had mentioned about a theory of the unity of man and heaven(天人合一). If anyone "welcomes" a child, is to take the child as his own, is to treat the child as his own. And this is the unity of man and heaven, or the unity of man and Jesus.

If you welcome a child, you welcome Jesus into your mind, you had put heaven into your own mind, you had united yourself with the universe.

If you love your neighbour, you will love Jesus, you will love the whole world.

In this scripture, Jesus had taught us the wonderful idea about how to unite man and heaven.

If anyone who could understand this, he will not mind being the last. For his mind is not in himself, but the children of the world, but Jesus, but the whole universe.

Why should the Christians take up the cross?

My Sunday Scripture 2009.9.13

Now Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?"

They said in reply, "John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets."

And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said to him in reply, "You are the Messiah."

Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.

He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days.

He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."

He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.

Saint Mark 8:27-35

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To take up the cross, is to take up the burden, take up the work.
It is the job for those who forgets about himself, who could think in the way of the universe, who could know the ultimate secret of life, who could know that life is but a flame of fire, not the running body machine outside the fire, and that life is a purpose to serve.