Posted on 01/17/2013 10:16:52 PM PST by Salvation
Hebrews 4:1-5, 11
Through Faith We Can Attain God’s “Rest”
[11] Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, that no one fall by the same sort
of disobedience.
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Commentary:
1-11. This chapter is a further exhortation to fidelity and develops the theme of
that “rest” which the people of Israel failed to attain. The comparison between
Moses and Jesus (cf. 3:1ff) is now extended to Jews and Christians. Moses had
tried to get the people of Israel to stay true to God and so enter their place of
rest (cf. Deut 12:9-10). He laid down the precept of sabbath rest (Deut 5:12-15;
Ex 20:8-11; 35:1-3; Num 15:32-36) in memory of God’s resting after the Creation,
and as a sign of the Covenant and a symbol of eternal rest. In the Gospel Christ
promises a new kind of rest, an eternal one, in the house of the Father (cf. Jn
14:1-3, 27).
The history of the chosen people is not, then, a mere chronicle of past events.
It is something meaningful to us today and full of lessons for Christian living. To
Christians also, as members of the new Israel, God offers a “rest”, one which is
richer than the temporal rest the Jews obtained when they took possession of
the promised land, for the rest promised to Christians is rest in heaven.
However, the Jews disobeyed God’s commandments; they soiled themselves by
worshipping idols and failed to grasp the significance of their own history. And
they confused God’s rest, their true destiny, with the sabbath rest—a physical
rest which they practised in an almost exclusively external way (cf. Mk 3:1-6; Lk
13:10-17). Christians also can run a similar risk if they fail to hold on to every-
thing which Jesus Christ, the mediator of the New Covenant has won for them.
1. God’s promise of rest remains valid, but to attain it one needs to be faithful and
obedient—to have a vigilance which comes from holy fear of God, a fear of being
excluded from eternal blessedness. The text can also be interpreted as meaning
“Let us fear, lest any one of you despair because he thinks he has been exclu-
ded permanently”; that is, “let us fear despair”.
In this context “rest” refers to all the supernatural graces we obtain through grace,
particularly that of seeing and enjoying God in the future life. This rest, which will
reach its perfection in heaven and which begins in this life with faith and grace, is
man’s true end or destiny. “God works with creative power by sustaining in exis-
tence the world that he called into being from nothing, and he works with salvific
power in the hearts of those whom from the beginning he has destined for ‘rest”’
(John Paul II, “Laborem Exercens”, 25).
The saints have often liked to describe the joy which heaven gives, that eternal
rest which God deigns to grant souls who depart this world. “Who can measure
the happiness of heaven, where no evil at all can touch us, no good will be out
of reach; where life is to be one long laud extolling God, who will be all in all [...].
This, indeed, will be that ultimate Sabbath that has no evening and which the
Lord foreshadowed in the account of his creation [...]. Only when we are remade
by God and perfected by a greater grace shall we have the eternal stillness of
that rest in which we shall see that he is God. Then only shall we be filled with
him when he will be all in all” (St Augustine, “The City of God”, XXII, 30).
Losing this “rest” is the only thing one should really fear.
2. The good news was proclaimed to the Jews in the sense that they also heard
the preaching of Moses which aimed at preparing the chosen people to be gene-
rous in their fidelity to the Lord’s promises. The Israelites, however, rebelled
against those who were the first to hear the divine message—Abraham, Isaac,
Jacob, Moses himself, Joshua and the prophets.
The preaching of the Word can actually harden a person’s heart if he does not li-
sten to it with the right dispositions. “To obtain salvation it is not enough to hear
the words. One needs to take them in with faith and keep a firm hold on them.
What good was God’s promise to those who received it if they did not receive it
faithfully or failed to put their trust in his power—if they did not, so to speak, fuse
with, become one with, the divine words?” (Theodoret of Cyrus, “Interpretatio Ep.
Ad Haebreos”, IV). What proves a person’s true obedience to God’s word is his
solidarity with those to whom God had given the authority to proclaim it.
3-8. The believer can be said to “enter God’s rest” because in this life he already
begins to be intimate with the three divine Persons. In biblical terms the “rest” is
connected with the Covenant which God establishes with men. “Rest” is the re-
ward for faithfulness to the Covenant; it begins in this life in the form of serenity
and interior peace and the enjoyment of material things (such as the promised
land), but will reach its perfection only in heaven. In this sense, as Psalm 95 re-
minds us, God promised his people rest repeatedly: the psalm speaks of a “to-
day” when they will enter his “rest”: everyone can begin to enjoy “today” the rest
of divine friendship, provided he does not harden his heart, provided he repents
and becomes faithful again.
Christians have received a further invitation from God to enter his rest: because
many Jews proved to be unfaithful, a new people of God was established. This
marks a new “today”, a new point when one can opt for fidelity and enter the pro-
mised land. This “today” has two characteristics: it requires our free response to
God’s decision to call us; and it does not happen immediately: for the new peo-
ple of God, also, there is a future “sabbath”, that is, heaven.
To appreciate the subtle play of words, one should remember that the same term
is used in Hebrew for the word “rest” and for the sabbath as a day of the week.
11. The sacred writer ends his commentary on Psalm 95 with a short, concise
exhortation summing up what he has been saying and inviting his readers to en-
ter God’s rest without delay.
“There are a number of reasons why the text speaks of striving to enter (God’s)
rest,” St Thomas comments. “First, because, there is a long road ahead. Then
because time is short—and we do not know how much time we have. Third, be-
cause ours is a pressing interior call which urges us on with the stimulus of love.
Finally, because of the danger of delaying, as happened in the case of the foolish
virgins (Mt 25:1-13), who arrived late and failed to gain entry” (”Commentary on
Heb.”, 4, 2).
The central idea is not only urgency and eagerness but also dogged perseve-
rance with the help of grace.
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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
From: Mark 2:1-12
The Curing of a Paralytic
[6] Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, [7]
“Why does this man speak thus? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God
alone?” [8] And immediately Jesus, perceiving in His spirit that they thus ques-
tioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question thus in your
hearts? [9] Which is easier to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to
say, ‘Rise, take up your pallet and walk?’ [10] But that you may know that the
Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” — He said to the paralytic —
[11] “I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home.” [12] And he rose, and
immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were
all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
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Commentary:
4. Many Jewish houses had a terraced roof accessible by steps at the back.
The same structure can be found even today.
5. Here Jesus emphasizes the connection between faith and the forgiveness of
sins. The boldness of the people who brought in the paralytic shows their faith
in Christ, and this faith moves Jesus to forgive the man’s sins. We should ques-
tion how God views our faith: the faith of these people leads to the instantaneous
physical and spiritual curing of this man. We should notice also that one per-
son’s need can be helped by the merits of another.
In this man’s physical paralysis, St. Jerome sees a type or figure of spiritual pa-
ralysis: the cripple was unable to return to God by his own efforts. Jesus, God
and man, cured him of both kinds of paralysis (cf. “Comm. in Marcum, in loc.”).
Cf. notes on Matthew 9:2-7.
Jesus’ words to the paralytic—”Your sins are forgiven”—reflect the fact that his
pardon involves a personal encounter with Christ; the same happens in the
Sacrament of Penance: “In faithfully observing the centuries-old practice of the
Sacrament of Penance—the practice of individual confession with a personal act
of sorrow and an intention to amend and make satisfaction—the Church is defen-
ding the human soul’s individual right, man’s right to a more personal encounter
with the crucified forgiving Christ, with Christ saying, through the minister of the
Sacrament of Reconciliation: ‘Your sins are forgiven’; ‘Go, and do not sin again’
(John 8:11). As is evident, this is also a right on Christ’s part with regard to eve-
ry human being in the soul’s life constituted by the moment of conversion and
forgiveness” (John Paul II, “Redemptor Hominis”, 20).
7-12. Here we find a number of indicators of Jesus’ divinity: He forgives sins, He
can read the human heart and has the power to instantly cure physical illnesses.
The scribes know that only God can forgive sins. This is why they take issue
with our Lord’s statement and call it blasphemous. They require a sign to prove
the truth of what He says. And Jesus offers them a sign. Thus just as no one can
deny that the paralytic has been cured, so no one can reasonably deny that he
has been forgiven his sins. Christ, God and man, exercised power to forgive sins
and, in His infinite mercy, He chose to extend this power to His Church. Cf. note
on Matthew 9:3-7.
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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
First reading | Hebrews 4:1-5,11 © |
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Psalm | Psalm 77:3-4,6-8 © |
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Gospel Acclamation | cf.Ep1:17,18 |
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Or | Lk7:16 |
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Gospel | Mark 2:1-12 © |
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The following is the longer version of the vital prayer composed by Pope Leo XIII in 1888 after his startling vision as to the future of the Church. This prayer was dedicated for the Feast of St. Michael 1448 years from the date of the election of the first Leo - Pope Saint Leo the Great. Everyone is familiar with the first prayer below which was mandated by His Holiness as part of the Leonine Prayers after Low Mass. Below are both the short and longer versions of this poignant prayer which should never be forgotten.
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray, and do thou, O heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.
O glorious Archangel Saint Michael, Prince of the heavenly host, be our defense in the terrible warfare which we carry on against principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, spirits of evil. Come to the aid of man, whom God created immortal, made in His own image and likeness, and redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of the devil. Fight this day the battle of our Lord, together with the holy angels, as already thou hast fought the leader of the proud angels, Lucifer, and his apostate host, who were powerless to resist thee, nor was there place for them any longer in heaven. That cruel, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil or Satan who seduces the whole world, was cast into the abyss with his angels. Behold this primeval enemy and slayer of men has taken courage. Transformed into an angel of light, he wanders about with all the multitude of wicked spirits, invading the earth in order to blot out the Name of God and of His Christ, to seize upon, slay, and cast into eternal perdition, souls destined for the crown of eternal glory. That wicked dragon pours out. as a most impure flood, the venom of his malice on men of depraved mind and corrupt heart, the spirit of lying, of impiety, of blasphemy, and the pestilent breath of impurity, and of every vice and iniquity. These most crafty enemies have filled and inebriated with gall and bitterness the Church, the spouse of the Immaculate Lamb, and have laid impious hands on Her most sacred possessions. In the Holy Place itself, where has been set up the See of the most holy Peter and the Chair of Truth for the light of the world, they have raised the throne of their abominable impiety with the iniquitous design that when the Pastor has been struck the sheep may be scattered. Arise then, O invincible Prince, bring help against the attacks of the lost spirits to the people of God, and give them the victory. They venerate thee as their protector and patron; in thee holy Church glories as her defense against the malicious powers of hell; to thee has God entrusted the souls of men to be established in heavenly beatitude. Oh, pray to the God of peace that He may put Satan under our feet, so far conquered that he may no longer be able to hold men in captivity and harm the Church. Offer our prayers in the sight of the Most High, so that they may quickly conciliate the mercies of the Lord; and beating down the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, do thou again make him captive in the abyss, that he may no longer seduce the nations. Amen.
R: The Lion of the Tribe of Juda has conquered the root of David. V: Let Thy mercies be upon us, O Lord. R: As we have hoped in Thee. V: O Lord hear my prayer. R: And let my cry come unto Thee. V: Let us pray. O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we call upon Thy holy Name, and as suppliants, we implore Thy clemency, that by the intercession of Mary, ever Virgin, immaculate and our Mother, and of the glorious Archangel Saint Michael, Thou wouldst deign to help us against Satan and all other unclean spirits, who wander about the world for the injury of the human race and the ruin of our souls. Amen. Look down upon me, O good and gentle Jesus, while before Thy face I humbly kneel, and with burning soul pray and beseech Thee to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity, true contrition for my sins, and a firm purpose of amendment; the while I contemplate with great love and tender pity Thy five most precious wounds, pondering over them within me, calling to mind the words which David Thy prophet said of Thee, my good Jesus: "They have pierced My hands and My feet; they have numbered all My bones." Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
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We thank you, God our Father, for those who have responded to your call to priestly ministry.
Accept this prayer we offer on their behalf: Fill your priests with the sure knowledge of your love.
Open their hearts to the power and consolation of the Holy Spirit.
Lead them to new depths of union with your Son.
Increase in them profound faith in the Sacraments they celebrate as they nourish, strengthen and heal us.
Lord Jesus Christ, grant that these, your priests, may inspire us to strive for holiness by the power of their example, as men of prayer who ponder your word and follow your will.
O Mary, Mother of Christ and our mother, guard with your maternal care these chosen ones, so dear to the Heart of your Son.
Intercede for our priests, that offering the Sacrifice of your Son, they may be conformed more each day to the image of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Saint John Vianney, universal patron of priests, pray for us and our priests
This icon shows Jesus Christ, our eternal high priest.The gold pelican over His heart represents self-sacrifice.
The border contains an altar and grapevines, representing the Mass, and icons of Melchizedek and St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney.
Melchizedek: king of righteousness (left icon) was priest and king of Jerusalem. He blessed Abraham and has been considered an ideal priest-king.
St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney is the patron saint of parish priests.
1. Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
2. The Apostles Creed: II BELIEVE in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from there He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
3. The Lord's Prayer: OUR Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
4. (3) Hail Mary: HAIL Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and in the hour of our death. Amen. (Three times)
5. Glory Be: GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Fatima Prayer: Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.
Announce each mystery, then say 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be and 1 Fatima prayer. Repeat the process with each mystery.
End with the Hail Holy Queen:
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve! To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears! Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus!
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Final step -- The Sign of the Cross
The Mysteries of the Rosary
By tradition, Catholics meditate on these Mysteries during prayers of the Rosary.
The biblical references follow each of the Mysteries below.
St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle
Be our protection against the wickedness
and snares of the devil;
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God,
Cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits
who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen
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From an Obama bumper sticker on a car:
"Pray for Obama. Psalm 109:8"
PLEASE JOIN US -
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Luke 2:21 "...Et vocatum est Nomen eius IESUS"
("And His Name was called JESUS")
Psalm 90:14 "Because he hoped in me I will deliver him:
I will protect him because he hath known My Name."
Zacharias 10:12 "I will strengthen them in the Lord,
and they shall walk in His Name, saith the Lord."
Apocalypse 3:8 "I know thy works. Behold, I have given before thee a door opened, which no man can shut: because thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied My Name."
Apocalypse 15:4 "Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and magnify Thy Name?..."
Blessed be the most holy Name of Jesus without end!
The month of January is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. This feast is also celebrated on January 3. Here is an explanation of the devotion.
Since the 16th century Catholic piety has associated entire months to special devotions. The devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus has been traditionally associated with the month of January, due to its celebration on January 3. The name Jesus was given to the Holy Child at God's command (Luke 1:31). The Holy Name is all-powerful because of the Person who bears it; we honor it because of the command of Christ, that we should pray in His Name and because it reminds us of all the blessings we receive through our Holy Redeemer. Hence St. Paul was able to write to the Philippians: ". . . at the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth" (Phil. 2:10). By means of this devotion we also make amends for improper use of the Holy Name.
Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954
Prayer/Hymn in Honor of the Most Holy Name of Jesus - Iesu, Dulcis Memoria
Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast!
Yet sweeter far Thy face to see
And in Thy presence rest.
No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find,
A sweeter sound than Jesus' name,
The Savior of mankind.
O hope of every contrite heart!
0 joy of all the meek!
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!
But what to those who find? Ah! this
Nor tongue nor pen can show
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.
Jesus! our only hope be Thou,
As Thou our prize shalt be;
In Thee be all our glory now,
And through eternity. Amen.
---Roman Breviary
Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954
O Divine Jesus, Thou hast promised that anything we ask of the Eternal Father in Thy name shall be granted.
O Eternal Father. In the name of Jesus, for the love of Jesus, in fulfillment of this promise, and because Jesus has said it, grant us our petitions for the sake of Jesus, Thy Divine Son. Amen.
Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954
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JANUARY, 2013, Intentions of the Holy Father
The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.
Friday, January 18, 2013 Weekday |
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Just A Minute (Listen) Some of EWTN's most popular hosts and guests in a collection of one minute inspirational messages. A different message each time you click. |
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The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.
And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.
Amen. |
Information: St. Volusian
Feast Day: | January 18 |
Died | 496 |
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