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.
2010年4月30日 星期五
2010年4月24日 星期六
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.)
-------------------
My Reading Notes:
-------------------
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.
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.)
-------------------
My Reading Notes:
-------------------
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.
2010年4月17日 星期六
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
------------------------
My Reading Notes:
------------------------
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.
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
------------------------
My Reading Notes:
------------------------
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.
2010年4月10日 星期六
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)
-----------------------
My Reading Notes:
-----------------------
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.
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)
-----------------------
My Reading Notes:
-----------------------
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.
2010年4月3日 星期六
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
----------------------
My Reading Notes:
----------------------
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.
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
----------------------
My Reading Notes:
----------------------
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.
2010年3月27日 星期六
'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
-----------------------------
My Reading Notes:
-----------------------------
'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.
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
-----------------------------
My Reading Notes:
-----------------------------
'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.
2010年3月20日 星期六
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
----------------------
My Reading Notes:
----------------------
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.
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
----------------------
My Reading Notes:
----------------------
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.
2010年3月13日 星期六
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
--------------------
My Reading Notes:
--------------------
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?
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
--------------------
My Reading Notes:
--------------------
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?
2010年3月6日 星期六
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
--------------------
My Reading Notes:
--------------------
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.
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
--------------------
My Reading Notes:
--------------------
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.
2010年2月27日 星期六
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)
---------------------
My Reading Notes:
---------------------
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.
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)
---------------------
My Reading Notes:
---------------------
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.
2010年2月20日 星期六
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
-------------------
My Reading Notes:
-------------------
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.
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
-------------------
My Reading Notes:
-------------------
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.
2010年2月13日 星期六
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)
-------------------
My Reading Notes:
-------------------
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.
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)
-------------------
My Reading Notes:
-------------------
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.
2010年2月6日 星期六
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.
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.
2010年1月30日 星期六
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
-------------------
My Reading Notes:
-------------------
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.
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
-------------------
My Reading Notes:
-------------------
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.
2010年1月23日 星期六
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
---------------------
My Reading Notes:
---------------------
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.
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
---------------------
My Reading Notes:
---------------------
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.
2010年1月16日 星期六
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
--------------------
My Reading Notes:
--------------------
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.
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
--------------------
My Reading Notes:
--------------------
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.
2010年1月9日 星期六
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)
-------------------
My reading notes:
-------------------
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.
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)
-------------------
My reading notes:
-------------------
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.
2010年1月1日 星期五
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
------------------
My reading notes:
------------------
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?
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
------------------
My reading notes:
------------------
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?
2009年12月26日 星期六
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
-----------------
My Reading Notes:
-----------------
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.
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
-----------------
My Reading Notes:
-----------------
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.
2009年12月18日 星期五
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
------------------
My Reading Notes:
------------------
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.
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
------------------
My Reading Notes:
------------------
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.
2009年12月12日 星期六
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
--------------------
My Reading Notes:
--------------------
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.
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
--------------------
My Reading Notes:
--------------------
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.
2009年12月5日 星期六
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
-------------------
My Reading Notes:
-------------------
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.
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
-------------------
My Reading Notes:
-------------------
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.
2009年11月25日 星期三
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)
----------------
My Reading Notes:
----------------
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.
'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)
----------------
My Reading Notes:
----------------
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.
2009年11月20日 星期五
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
----------------
My Reading Notes:
----------------
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.
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
----------------
My Reading Notes:
----------------
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.
2009年11月11日 星期三
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
------------------
My Reading Notes:
------------------
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.
"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
------------------
My Reading Notes:
------------------
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.
2009年11月5日 星期四
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
-------------------
My Reading Notes:
-------------------
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.
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
-------------------
My Reading Notes:
-------------------
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.
2009年10月30日 星期五
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
-----------------
My Reading Notes:
-----------------
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.
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
-----------------
My Reading Notes:
-----------------
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.
2009年10月24日 星期六
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
------------------
My Reading Notes:
------------------
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.
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
------------------
My Reading Notes:
------------------
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.
2009年10月17日 星期六
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.
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.
2009年10月9日 星期五
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
------------------
My Reading Notes:
------------------
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.)
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
------------------
My Reading Notes:
------------------
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.)
2009年10月3日 星期六
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
------------------
My Reading Notes:
------------------
"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.
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
------------------
My Reading Notes:
------------------
"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.
2009年9月26日 星期六
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
------------------
My Reading Notes:
------------------
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.
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
------------------
My Reading Notes:
------------------
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.
2009年9月18日 星期五
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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My Reading Notes:
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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.
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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My Reading Notes:
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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.
2009年9月12日 星期六
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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My Reading Notes:
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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.
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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My Reading Notes:
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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.
2009年8月31日 星期一
Ephphetha is for us, too.
My Sunday Scripture 2009.9.6.
Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.
There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man.
After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue.
He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means, “Be opened!”).
At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.
Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it.
People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Saint Mark 7:31-37
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My Reading Notes:
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To a certain extend, we are all blind. We can not see the view from the upper level.
It is not easy to see that we are all blind. If some one who could be humble enough and he will learn this lesson, by admitting that "I am blind and can not see", then may he utter the sound "Ephphatha!" (be opened!) to heal himself out of the blindness.
(note: some spell Ephphetha, not Ephphatha)
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Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.
There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man.
After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue.
He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means, “Be opened!”).
At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.
Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it.
People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Saint Mark 7:31-37
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My Reading Notes:
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To a certain extend, we are all blind. We can not see the view from the upper level.
It is not easy to see that we are all blind. If some one who could be humble enough and he will learn this lesson, by admitting that "I am blind and can not see", then may he utter the sound "Ephphatha!" (be opened!) to heal himself out of the blindness.
(note: some spell Ephphetha, not Ephphatha)
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2009年8月29日 星期六
Where do the dirty things come from?
My Sunday Scripture 2009.8.30
Now when the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. (For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles (and beds).) So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, "Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?" He responded, "Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.' You disregard God's commandment but cling to human tradition." He summoned the crowd again and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile." From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile."
Saint Mark 7:1-8.14-15.21-23.
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My Reading Notes:
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Where do the dirty things come from?
It is from within, not from outside. To purify oneself, is to clean it from inside.
The bigger motivation power is from within. If you wanted to do anything, it is from within that you wanted to do. If you do not wish to do anything, it is from within that you refuse to do.
And the question is: How do I know what is inside my mind? Am I doing the things I really wanted to do?
Could I be a fool doing all that is not my true wish?
And the answer is obvious.
Now when the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. (For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles (and beds).) So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, "Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?" He responded, "Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.' You disregard God's commandment but cling to human tradition." He summoned the crowd again and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile." From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile."
Saint Mark 7:1-8.14-15.21-23.
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My Reading Notes:
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Where do the dirty things come from?
It is from within, not from outside. To purify oneself, is to clean it from inside.
The bigger motivation power is from within. If you wanted to do anything, it is from within that you wanted to do. If you do not wish to do anything, it is from within that you refuse to do.
And the question is: How do I know what is inside my mind? Am I doing the things I really wanted to do?
Could I be a fool doing all that is not my true wish?
And the answer is obvious.
2009年8月22日 星期六
It is the spirit that gives life while the flesh is of no avail.
My Sunday Scriture 2009.8.23
Then many of his disciples who were listening said, "This saying is hard; who can accept it?" Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, "Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe." Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. And he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father." As a result of this, many (of) his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, "Do you also want to leave?" Simon Peter answered him, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God."
Saint John 6:60-69.
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My Reading Notes:
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It is very important idea: "It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail." It is Jesus who told us to eat his flesh to gain eternal life, now Jesus told us more: It is the spirit that gives life, when we eat his flesh, he will remain in us and we in him, but it is the spirit which is more important. Jesus had said: "The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life."
Then many of his disciples who were listening said, "This saying is hard; who can accept it?" Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, "Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe." Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. And he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father." As a result of this, many (of) his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, "Do you also want to leave?" Simon Peter answered him, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God."
Saint John 6:60-69.
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My Reading Notes:
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It is very important idea: "It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail." It is Jesus who told us to eat his flesh to gain eternal life, now Jesus told us more: It is the spirit that gives life, when we eat his flesh, he will remain in us and we in him, but it is the spirit which is more important. Jesus had said: "The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life."
2009年8月15日 星期六
We ARE one
My Sunday Scripture 2009.8.16
I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us (his) flesh to eat?" Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever."
Saint John 6:51-58.
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My Reading Notes:
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In this way, Jesus told us that we are connected, we have Him in us and he had us in Him. And that is why, we are all brothers and sisters, then we should love one another.We had Jesus in us, then we can happily said, we are Jesus. And this theory coincides with Zhuang Zi the ancient Chinese philosopher: We Are One.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us (his) flesh to eat?" Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever."
Saint John 6:51-58.
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My Reading Notes:
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In this way, Jesus told us that we are connected, we have Him in us and he had us in Him. And that is why, we are all brothers and sisters, then we should love one another.We had Jesus in us, then we can happily said, we are Jesus. And this theory coincides with Zhuang Zi the ancient Chinese philosopher: We Are One.
2009年8月8日 星期六
What is believing?
My Sunday Scripture 2009.8.9
The Jews murmured about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven," and they said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, 'I have come down from heaven'?" Jesus answered and said to them, "Stop murmuring among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. It is written in the prophets: 'They shall all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."
Saint John 6:41-51
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My Reading Notes:
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Jesus said:"whoever believes has eternal life." But what is believing? To my understanding, believing is to do as Jesus taught, that is, to carry one's own cross and follow the path of loving.
Praying and worshipping are but part of the believing.
Real believing must be followed by the complete change of one's mind set and take suitable action that follows.
The Jews murmured about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven," and they said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, 'I have come down from heaven'?" Jesus answered and said to them, "Stop murmuring among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. It is written in the prophets: 'They shall all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."
Saint John 6:41-51
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My Reading Notes:
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Jesus said:"whoever believes has eternal life." But what is believing? To my understanding, believing is to do as Jesus taught, that is, to carry one's own cross and follow the path of loving.
Praying and worshipping are but part of the believing.
Real believing must be followed by the complete change of one's mind set and take suitable action that follows.
2009年8月1日 星期六
What can we do
When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. And when they found him across the sea they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?" Jesus answered them and said, "Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal." So they said to him, "What can we do to accomplish the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent." So they said to him, "What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do? Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" So Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." So they said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always." Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.
Saint John 6:24-35.
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My Reading Notes:
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The questiong here is: "What can we do?"
And the answer here is: "To believe in Jesus Christ"
What does it mean by "believing"?
It means, one must obey His teaching, and that means: to love one another.
and that also means, to dedicate oneself completely, and to open our eyes,
to feel the need of the others, to serve, to do what ever we can do.
Saint John 6:24-35.
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My Reading Notes:
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The questiong here is: "What can we do?"
And the answer here is: "To believe in Jesus Christ"
What does it mean by "believing"?
It means, one must obey His teaching, and that means: to love one another.
and that also means, to dedicate oneself completely, and to open our eyes,
to feel the need of the others, to serve, to do what ever we can do.
2009年7月25日 星期六
Political Matters are but temporary
My Sunday Scripture 2009.7.26
After this, Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee (of Tiberias). A large crowd followed him, because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. The Jewish feast of Passover was near. When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, "Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?" He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, "Two hundred days' wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little (bit)." One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many? Jesus said, "Have the people recline." Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, "Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted." So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat. When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, "This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world." Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.
Saint John 6:1-15.
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My Reading Notes:
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I think my feeling would very much be the same with the crowd. I would think Jesus is indeed the prophet to come. Men are created, but now the Creator had send his son to the created, to tell them the fact. And one more think worth thinking: Why did Jesus refuse to be the king of Jews? Why did he not take up the post as King David did? It might be that that the post of Kings are all political matters, and political matters are all temporary.
After this, Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee (of Tiberias). A large crowd followed him, because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. The Jewish feast of Passover was near. When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, "Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?" He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, "Two hundred days' wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little (bit)." One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many? Jesus said, "Have the people recline." Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, "Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted." So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat. When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, "This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world." Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.
Saint John 6:1-15.
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My Reading Notes:
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I think my feeling would very much be the same with the crowd. I would think Jesus is indeed the prophet to come. Men are created, but now the Creator had send his son to the created, to tell them the fact. And one more think worth thinking: Why did Jesus refuse to be the king of Jews? Why did he not take up the post as King David did? It might be that that the post of Kings are all political matters, and political matters are all temporary.
2009年7月18日 星期六
I feel very much puzzled.
My Sunday Scripture 2009.7.19
The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
Saint Mark 6:30-34
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My Reading Notes:
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I cannot do away the images I had got from the vast concerts held by Michael Jackson. I would have wondered, how Jesus would pitied the crowd there.
For they could have gained nothing from the concert singer, but a false feeling of angry expression. Human on earth is in a very pitiable situation nowadays. They dont know where to go, and they are very much blinded by the material world.
I can observe by my humble mind, that human spirits are like iron powers. They need guidence, they need a magnet to draw them together. Like the sheep need the Shepherd. Now the sheeps on earth go to the concert stars, and the stars are not shepherds. I feel very much puzzled.
The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
Saint Mark 6:30-34
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My Reading Notes:
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I cannot do away the images I had got from the vast concerts held by Michael Jackson. I would have wondered, how Jesus would pitied the crowd there.
For they could have gained nothing from the concert singer, but a false feeling of angry expression. Human on earth is in a very pitiable situation nowadays. They dont know where to go, and they are very much blinded by the material world.
I can observe by my humble mind, that human spirits are like iron powers. They need guidence, they need a magnet to draw them together. Like the sheep need the Shepherd. Now the sheeps on earth go to the concert stars, and the stars are not shepherds. I feel very much puzzled.
2009年7月12日 星期日
Authority over unclean spirits
He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick--no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. He said to them, "Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them." So they went off and preached repentance. They drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
Saint Mark 6:7-13.
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My Reading Notes:
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Those who were given authority have nothing in their hands.
When you have nothing, then you are fearless, and you are pure. Then you will have the power to fight.
.
Saint Mark 6:7-13.
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My Reading Notes:
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Those who were given authority have nothing in their hands.
When you have nothing, then you are fearless, and you are pure. Then you will have the power to fight.
.
2009年7月5日 星期日
Why Couldnt Jesus be accepted by his own native people?
My Sunday Scripture 2009.7.5.
He departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples. When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said, "Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house." So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith. He went around to the villages in the vicinity teaching.
Saint Mark 6:1-6.
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My Reading Notes:
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Why Couldnt Jesus be accepted by his own native people?
If a prophet is grown in his native land, people there can not accept him. It might be that the people had their own thinking pattern. They were used in their old thoughts. If people coming from within have a new thought, they tend not to accept.
And this is why, the Jewish Nation can not accept Jesus.
When an old thought is too strong, the old thought itself will expel any new elements.
He departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples. When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said, "Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house." So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith. He went around to the villages in the vicinity teaching.
Saint Mark 6:1-6.
-----------------
My Reading Notes:
-----------------
Why Couldnt Jesus be accepted by his own native people?
If a prophet is grown in his native land, people there can not accept him. It might be that the people had their own thinking pattern. They were used in their old thoughts. If people coming from within have a new thought, they tend not to accept.
And this is why, the Jewish Nation can not accept Jesus.
When an old thought is too strong, the old thought itself will expel any new elements.
2009年6月27日 星期六
Where are the miracles nowadays?
My Sunday Scripture 2009.6.28
When Jesus had crossed again (in the boat) to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea. One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, "My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live." He went off with him, and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him. There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, "If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured." Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who has touched my clothes?" But his disciples said to him, "You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, 'Who touched me?'" And he looked around to see who had done it. The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction." While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official's house arrived and said, "Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?" Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, "Do not be afraid; just have faith." He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. So he went in and said to them, "Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep." And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took along the child's father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was. He took the child by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum," which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise!" The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. (At that) they were utterly astounded. He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat.
Saint Mark 5:21-43.
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My Reading Notes:
-----------------
The myth of miracles could never be denied. But I used to have a question:
Where are the miracles nowadays? It seems to be very difficult to see a miracle
in the present day world.
My only explanation is that we dont have faith enough. Once we could have complete faith, miracles will happen. Once we could feel that we are completely dedicated and fear of nothing, we could witness miracles happen in the present day world.
Miracles did happen from time to time. Its only that people are not willing to tell what they had seen.
When Jesus had crossed again (in the boat) to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea. One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, "My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live." He went off with him, and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him. There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, "If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured." Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who has touched my clothes?" But his disciples said to him, "You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, 'Who touched me?'" And he looked around to see who had done it. The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction." While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official's house arrived and said, "Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?" Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, "Do not be afraid; just have faith." He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. So he went in and said to them, "Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep." And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took along the child's father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was. He took the child by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum," which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise!" The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. (At that) they were utterly astounded. He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat.
Saint Mark 5:21-43.
-----------------
My Reading Notes:
-----------------
The myth of miracles could never be denied. But I used to have a question:
Where are the miracles nowadays? It seems to be very difficult to see a miracle
in the present day world.
My only explanation is that we dont have faith enough. Once we could have complete faith, miracles will happen. Once we could feel that we are completely dedicated and fear of nothing, we could witness miracles happen in the present day world.
Miracles did happen from time to time. Its only that people are not willing to tell what they had seen.
2009年6月20日 星期六
that doesnt mean we can sit back and fold our hands
My Sunday Scripture 2009.6.21
On that day, as evening drew on, he said to them, "Let us cross to the other side." Leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Quiet! Be still!" The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, "Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?" They were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?"
Saint Mark 4:35-41.
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My Reading Notes:
-----------------
Jesus said to them: "Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?"
But we must not misinterpret this teaching.
We ought not be "terrified", but it is us who must work to fight back any hardships. With Jesus together, we fear nothing, but that doesnt mean doing nothing. We as human beings must take every measure to carry our crosses.
God is might. He can do anything. But that doesnt mean we can sit back and fold our hands and watch instead of working and fighting.
On that day, as evening drew on, he said to them, "Let us cross to the other side." Leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Quiet! Be still!" The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, "Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?" They were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?"
Saint Mark 4:35-41.
-----------------
My Reading Notes:
-----------------
Jesus said to them: "Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?"
But we must not misinterpret this teaching.
We ought not be "terrified", but it is us who must work to fight back any hardships. With Jesus together, we fear nothing, but that doesnt mean doing nothing. We as human beings must take every measure to carry our crosses.
God is might. He can do anything. But that doesnt mean we can sit back and fold our hands and watch instead of working and fighting.
2009年6月13日 星期六
We could do anything, and fear nothing.
My Sunday Scripture 2009.6.14
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?" He sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?"' Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there." The disciples then went off, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover. While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, "Take it; this is my body." Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Saint Mark 14:12-16.22-26.
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My Reading Notes:
-----------------
The meaning of the Eucharist is quite the same with the teachings of Zhuang Zi.
Jesus our Lord had given us a very important lesson before he left us. We must be one with Him. Not only Zhuang Zi, but also in some other India philosophy, Oneness is the most important fact in life. If anyone who could see into this fact and live out the meaning of it, he could have peace in mind. For he will feel that he is not alone, he is one of the one. If we could have Jesus in us.....We could do anything,
and fear nothing.
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?" He sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?"' Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there." The disciples then went off, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover. While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, "Take it; this is my body." Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Saint Mark 14:12-16.22-26.
-----------------
My Reading Notes:
-----------------
The meaning of the Eucharist is quite the same with the teachings of Zhuang Zi.
Jesus our Lord had given us a very important lesson before he left us. We must be one with Him. Not only Zhuang Zi, but also in some other India philosophy, Oneness is the most important fact in life. If anyone who could see into this fact and live out the meaning of it, he could have peace in mind. For he will feel that he is not alone, he is one of the one. If we could have Jesus in us.....We could do anything,
and fear nothing.
2009年6月6日 星期六
Human Mission
My Sunday Scripture 2009.6.7
The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."
Saint Matthew 28:16-20.
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My Reading Notes:
-----------------
I can see that the human mission given from Jesus is to prepare all the nations and all the beings with baptizing, to make all people on earth observe the commnands of Jesus Christ: That is, to honor God and to love each other. And He has promised to be with us always, until the end of the age.
The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."
Saint Matthew 28:16-20.
-----------------
My Reading Notes:
-----------------
I can see that the human mission given from Jesus is to prepare all the nations and all the beings with baptizing, to make all people on earth observe the commnands of Jesus Christ: That is, to honor God and to love each other. And He has promised to be with us always, until the end of the age.
2009年5月31日 星期日
Why do we need to know more?
My Sunday Scripture 2009.5.31.
When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning. I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
Saint John 15:26-27.16:12-15
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My Reading Notes:
-----------------
We wish to know all truth on earth, or in the universe always. But our wisdom can not bear it. Jesus wanted to tell us all. However, we can not bear it. Thus He had sent the Spirit of Truth to us. Through the Spirit of Truth, we could reach all the needed knowlege, and we could know what we are going to do.
By the help of the Advocator, we can know a little more and more.
And my point is: Knowing is doing. To know more, we can dedicate more.
When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning. I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
Saint John 15:26-27.16:12-15
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My Reading Notes:
-----------------
We wish to know all truth on earth, or in the universe always. But our wisdom can not bear it. Jesus wanted to tell us all. However, we can not bear it. Thus He had sent the Spirit of Truth to us. Through the Spirit of Truth, we could reach all the needed knowlege, and we could know what we are going to do.
By the help of the Advocator, we can know a little more and more.
And my point is: Knowing is doing. To know more, we can dedicate more.
2009年5月24日 星期日
Consecrate them in the truth
My Sunday Scripture 2009.5.24
And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are. When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely. I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.
Saint John 17:11-19.
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My Reading Notes:
-----------------
I have found it difficult to understand. Jesus has consecrated himself for us.
and he meant consecrated us in truth. Is it that he has given us truth?
Yes.
Jesus has come to the world. He had guarded us against the son of destruction.
and He has given us the truth. In my understanding, the truth means love, or at least in the time being, it is love. We as a being on earth, the mission is to love each other. And this is what Jesus has taught us.
And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are. When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely. I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.
Saint John 17:11-19.
-----------------
My Reading Notes:
-----------------
I have found it difficult to understand. Jesus has consecrated himself for us.
and he meant consecrated us in truth. Is it that he has given us truth?
Yes.
Jesus has come to the world. He had guarded us against the son of destruction.
and He has given us the truth. In my understanding, the truth means love, or at least in the time being, it is love. We as a being on earth, the mission is to love each other. And this is what Jesus has taught us.
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