So let's talk about today's readings 1/12/09

[cheeto1]

usccb.org/nab/readings/011209.shtml

Yahoo!!! (1st day of ordinary time)

The first reading seems to imply that God speaks to us today
through Jesus only, not prophets as in days of old. Yet isn’t
the abilitly to prophesy one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit?
Also, if God ever said to Jesus, “You are my Son, this day I
have begotten You”, – on which day was that said to Him?

I took note of something in the psalm, something that was
omitted. Today’s reading includes part “b” only of verse 2.
What does part “a” say? In my NAB it says: clouds and darkness are round about Him. In my daily roman missal it says: cloud and darkness are His raiment(this means clothing). This is such a mysterious verse to understand, they had to omit it from the reading!!!

In the gospel, Jesus insists that the kingdom of God is close at
hand. Here 2,000 years later, He’s not back yet. But – it
might be today, or right now, while we are still reading this.
I don’t want anybody doing anything bad when He gets here.
Let’s all behave as nicely as we know how. I mean it.

So what struck you about today’s readings?:bible1:

 

[Light_Seeker]

The first reading seems to imply that God speaks to us today
through Jesus only, not prophets as in days of old. Yet isn’t
the abilitly to prophesy one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit?

Sure is. Nothing wrong with *personal *prophesy. But the last prophesy the Church has recognized is John’s Revelation.

I didn’t see the implication you mention, but recognized Paul defending our Lord to the Jews he was addressing not as a prophet like in the OT, but the Son of God.

Also, if God ever said to Jesus, “You are my Son, this day I
have begotten You”, – on which day was that said to Him?

Comes out of Psa 2:7:I will tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my son, today I have begotten you.

I took note of something in the psalm, something that was
omitted. Today’s reading includes part “b” only of verse 2.
What does part “a” say? In my NAB it says: clouds and darkness are round about Him. In my daily roman missal it says: cloud and darkness are His raiment(this means clothing). This is such a mysterious verse to understand, they had to omit it from the reading!!!

In the OT, clouds & darkness often surrounded God when he spoke to men (Exo 40:34, 1Ki 8:10,Exo 19:9, etc.) Also remember in Revelation He is coming in the clouds.

I don’t want anybody doing anything bad when He gets here.
Let’s all behave as nicely as we know how. I mean it.

…thanks for reminding me, gotta go confess a couple venials

So what struck you about today’s readings?:bible1:

Your wonderful questions! Keep it up

 

[Halos1n2Horns]

my opinion on the readings for today.

First reading from the book of hebrews

not quite sure if god was touching his son to let him know
hes the true one who will be propersing in the times to come.
by letting Jesus know i am with you always for you are my son and I will not leave or desert you.
I feel its a way to say repent and follow me, confession is the way to peacefulness in our lifes and in our souls.
I feel this reading is a start of going into lent. repent fast and prayer.

psalms

be steadful and do what jesus would be doing to me its a reminder of not judging or being unjust to gain knowledge and help those whom Jesus sends to us maybe?

How are we to see the glory if not by following his footprints.

gospel

His ministry and to let me know hes there to follow him , be never idle and keep praying and fasting. with a touch of social justice to help the poor, feed them.

I would assume he telling me to repent. ( maybe at easter time I am not in no hurry to get there. ) was just there in oct.

my opinion on the readings for today thank you for letting me share . Halos

sometimes knowing the theology of the bible helps

 

[cheeto1]

Halos – I am intrigued by all your comments because you speak
in such a way that goes beyond what struck you about
today’s readings and into what you believe God to be
saying to you today.

         I wonder if you would be willing to explain what this
         observation of the psalm means?

its a reminder of not judging or being unjust to gain knowledge?

What would a person do to be unjust to gain knowledge?

 

[cheeto1]

Lightseeker, thank you for all your answers. But this one isn’t
an answer:

Comes out of Psa 2:7:I will tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my son, today I have begotten you.

Did God say this to David only, or to Jesus also? If so, when?
While still in heaven, at His conception, at His birth, in His childhood, at His baptism? I really don’t expect anyone to know
the answer, but if someone thinks they have an idea, I’d be
interested.

I really want to thank everyone who is willing to talk about the
readings, it really is fun.

 

[Halos1n2Horns]

What would a person do to be unjust to gain knowledge?

A person would be a sinner unjustified through sin making it worth repenting to gain the knowledge Jesus has intended for us.

denying oneself of all that isn"t just, to gain knowledge we must seek, listen and observe to overcome obstacles in our paths to Christ. so this would be the knowledgement we would gain to over come the unjust.

Thanks for being aware., alot of times when i typing like in this forum i allow the words to flow freely as in the holy spirit leading my path in all thats just.

Peace i leave with you my friend halos

 

[Light_Seeker]

Did God say this to David only, or to Jesus also? If so, when?
While still in heaven, at His conception, at His birth, in His childhood, at His baptism? I really don’t expect anyone to know
the answer, but if someone thinks they have an idea, I’d be
interested.

This epistle is addressing the Jews, who are very good in OT scripture. Paul starts off by presenting the superiority of Jesus, in this chapter, by comparing him to the Angels, which the Jews believe gave them the scripture. So he does it by quoting the scripture they know - actually a very good tactic for apologetic conversion. In fact, from Heb 1:5 through 14, he is quoting:

• Heb 1:5 …Psa 2:7, Psa 7:14, and 2Sam7:14
• Heb 1:6 … Psa 97:7
• Heb 1:7 … Psa 104:4
• Heb 1:8 … Psa 45:6
• Heb 1:9 … Psa 45:7
• Heb 1:10-12 … Psa 102:25-28
• Heb 1:13 …Psa 110:1
  Epistle of Hebrews is loaded with OT verse references, due to the audience Paul is addressing. Don’t mean to indiscriminately sling cross referencing verses at you, but sometime I think Hebrews is the cross reference

Now if you look at Psalm 2, it’s a psalm of David, but there are also a few verses that are prophetic of Christ, not David. Verses 2:6-8 and 12. And the book of Acts in 4:24 and 13:33 takes the psalm verses and attribute them to Christ.

So, when does the Father actually say this to the Son? Its not recorded when, psalms only indicates it was said.

 

[Halos1n2Horns]

but that isn’t what cheeto asked she/he was asking what did the readings mean to you . and thats what i put i didn’t translate it as to what it may or maynot of actually meant. i simply added my response as in what it meant to me.

seek ye first the kingdom of god Halos

 

[Light_Seeker]

but that isn’t what cheeto asked she/he was asking what did the readings mean to you . and thats what i put i didn’t translate it as to what it may or maynot of actually meant. i simply added my response as in what it meant to me.

???
I replied with a **literal **exegesis based on Cheeto1’s three literal questions; concerning the prophecy gift of the HS; when the Father told the Son he was begotten; and clouds of darkness questions. She correctly noted that my answer to the begotten question was just a reference - and not an answer. Correct, so I expounded including the overview of the chapter, why Paul was using OT references, what they were, and why he was doing this. And then looked at the originating Psalm with references in Acts stating it was Christ, and not David, they were talking about. And the final answer, as she knew, was nobody knows, it is not written!

Spiritual interpretation; allegorical,moral, and anagogical, cannot be accomplished until literal interpretation is performed. And note that the OP did not offer any spiritual interpretations on the scripture readings, but *literal *questions.

My literal opinions were to Cheeto1’s questions, which I quoted in each post. And I truly appreciated your spiritual opinions on the readings Only with both literal and spiritual senses can the fullness of scripture come alive.

 

[cheeto1]

Lightseeker, wow, thanks for all that cross-referencing work!
Halos, I have lots of questions, almost every day, and that really
was one of my questions. Several of your observations did strike
me, though. One of them is this: you mention to never stop
praying and fasting, with a touch of social justice. I am also
mindful of lent’s imminent beginning with it’s 3 parts - prayer,
fasting, and almsgiving. I am noting that you perceive prayer
and fasting to take priority over almsgiving, instead of attempting
to make them all equal. I once met a priest who believes this
way also. My question is: as we near lent, what percentages
do people place on each of the 3 parts of lent: prayer, fasting,
and almsgiving? I think many place 100% on fasting during lent,
and I admit it is my main focus also, though not 100%. I
probably put 50% on fasting and 50% on almsgiving, but I don’t
change my prayers. I never really noticed it before, until you
made me think about it.

Has anyone thought of the percentages of importance that you
place on the 3 parts of lent in your life?