So let's talk about today's readings 5/26/09

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“But now I know that none of you
to whom I preached the kingdom during my travels
will ever see my face again.”

I feel these words of Paul’s today right down into my bones…
The people who are seeing us today may be seeing us for the last
time. Maybe there is someone we see today that we will never see again.
Who is it? We don’t know, the Holy Spirit hasn’t revealed it, like He did to
Paul today. What is it like when the Holy Spirit reveals something that will
happen? What does it sound like, look like, feel like? To others it might look
like a coincidence. Just look at Paul’s experiences. He often was persecuted
and imprisoned. Why shouldn’t he expect it to happen again in Jerusalem?
But the Holy Spirit revealed something to him, like when Jesus knew He was
going to Jerusalem to die.

So what do we say to those we will never see again? Paul solemnly declares
that his concience is clear, because he did not shrink from proclaiming the
entire plan of God “to any of you”. So what is the entire plan of God? And
have we shrank from proclaiming it to anyone?

What struck you about today’s readings? :bible1::twocents:

p.s. - today is the day of Philip Neri, a priest with a sense of humor…
 
“I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me” – from the gospel

What about this verse? John 3:16 "for God so loved the world that He
gave His only Son, that whoever
believes in Him may not die, but may
have eternal life.
Who is “the world”?
Are they the same in these 2 verses,
or are they different?
 
Hey there Cheetos1,it’s been awhile! I’m baaack!

I think that both verses are speaking of those who have heard the good news and repented. These are the ones who live in Christ. The ones who do God’s Will through the Word Incarnate. Isn’t it both awesome and scary to know we are picked by God? We do know not everyone goes to heaven, so those are the rest of the world.

Paul had courage that is for sure. He knew what was coming and still did God’s Will. I think that is something very special. To know that one is to suffer and even die is quite fearsome. My beliefs are sometimes scorned or rejected. So I think we all go through some persceution with our beliefs and know it is going to happen again and again. How we take and use this knowledge is what I think St Paul is talking about. He states he has no blood on his hands because he did as instructed by God. If we do this also, we too shall have the same. I think it is hard to spread the word by mouth alone and do believe that our actions (examples) need to be there also. I guess I am saying we need to live our faith as well as speak it.

God Bless!
 
Hi Cheetos1,
I studied your question and did some digging this is what I’ve found.
Please look up the scriptures in your own Bible.
I think you were reading from John 17: 15,16. Jesus was praying on behalf of his disciples. Requesting that God watch over them because they are “no part of the world”.
The world Jesus is refering to here is the “WORLD” of mankind alienated from God. 1John5:19; John 8:44; Ephesians 2:2,3.
Jesus disciples were not to be hidden away, but they were sent out into ‘the world’ to make the truth about him known. John 17:18.
Matt. 5:14-16 tells us they were the ‘Light of the World’. Telling people about how God’s truth could have a positive affect on their lives.
Read 1 John 2:15-17
The “WORLD” here is the world Christians must keep seperate from, it is human society alienated from God and under Satan’s control.
The Bible shows that God loves the world of mankind as imperfect and desperately in need of help. Satan though, has organized most of mankind in oppposition to God.
The desires of the flesh and the eyes and wanting personal exaltation ‘originate with the world’. Just think of the things we see around us every day. Don’t most people build their lives around the desires of the flesh and the of the eyes and “the showy display of ones means of life”??? These are the things that shape their lives.
Loving the world as God does is different from loving it’s wrong desires and practices. God’s love opened the way to freedom from these sinful desires and their bad results. This love was expressed by giving HIs own Son to ransom mankind. John 3:16.
This is the Good News, we as Christians need to be telling others about.
I hope this helps you with your question.
 
Welcome back Vickinator, glad you are o.k.!
You say we need to live our faith, not just speak it. I agree! But have you noticed
that people seem to have a little bit different ideas as to what that entails?

Welcome to the forums Prairie girl, thanks for talking about the daily readings…
You are saying that “the world” means both the general population, and the
people who are alienated from God, and gave good supporting scripture for this.

Then, you said something else interesting:

“Just think of the things we see around us every day. Don’t most people build their lives around the desires of the flesh and the of the eyes and “the showy display of ones means of life”??? These are the things that shape their lives.”
So now I am thinking… have you got any examples??
Is the computer one of them?
 
cheeto1 said:
Welcome back Vickinator, glad you are o.k.!
You say we need to live our faith, not just speak it. I agree! But have you noticed
that people seem to have a little bit different ideas as to what that entails?

Welcome to the forums Prairie girl, thanks for talking about the daily readings…
You are saying that “the world” means both the general population, and the
people who are alienated from God, and gave good supporting scripture for this.

Then, you said something else interesting:

“Just think of the things we see around us every day. Don’t most people build their lives around the desires of the flesh and the of the eyes and “the showy display of ones means of life”??? These are the things that shape their lives.”
So now I am thinking… have you got any examples??
Is the computer one of them?
Click to expand...
Cheeto1, I was thinking about how Father Corapi preaches on the Cateschism. He says when you lie, you lie. There is no subtle difference. It is a sin. There are degrees of sin of course, but it is a sin. There are many of us who think that they can get around the 10 Commandments like this. I do think this is where we get in trouble. If we kill a person, we break the 7th Commandment. Big trouble. If we slander someone’s reputation, we are guilty of the same. People just take the Commandments literally. Not for everything that they represent. If we don’t live by the 10 Commandments and the Cateschism by example, then no one will take our words seriously. They will laugh and turn away. This is how I see the difference in spreading the Godd News of Jesus. You have to live it and speak it.

I think that desires of the flesh and the ardor of wordly desires are simple and yet, sometimes hard to discern. If anything on this earth becomes an obsession and pulls you away from God then you have a serious problem. If one is not spending enough time helping others, worshipping God, and doing it for the love of God, then there is trouble. Anything can become an “idol”. Food, sex, computers, relationships, family, etc…, if it takes from God what He deserves. We are bound by God to only worship Him. IF we spend our time doing things that are not for Him, through Him or with Him, I don’t think it is good.

As for computers, if you are neglecting helping others, then yes it might be a problem. Ask God and He will let you know. I always get a feeling when I am doing something too much, a sort of nameless guilt hangs over me. I think it is the Holy Spirit telling me to refocus on the real picture.

Just some thoughts…

God Bless!
 
Hi again Cheeto1,
I’m glad you’re thinking. You asked for some examples. First of all please look up 2 Cor. 4:4 here it speaks of peoples minds being blinded by the god of the present age. Satan has blinded many to the Good News about Christ, and also about right and wrong, good and bad. Also look at 2 Cor.11:14.
The world and it’s attractions can easily distract us from serving God. Nothing the world provides is designed to draw us closer to God. There are many things in the world that are not wrong in them selves, such as a computer, but if we grow to love them, or put too much emphasis on them we can then be on a dangerous course. 1Tim. 6: 9-10 for instance talks about the LOVE of money. We know we need money it’s the means we have for obtaining our necessities. In this respect money is a protection. (Ecclesiastes 7:12)
Much of the world is truly bad and can corrupt us. If we watch movies or TV programs that highlight violence, materialism, or sexual immorality, those things can become acceptable to us and then tempt us. If we mix with people whose MAIN interest is improving their life-style or think only of work opptunities and getting ahead those things can become chief importance to us too. Matt.6:24; 1Cor.15:33
Another scripture you can look up is 2Tim.3:1-5. This really discribes the attitudes of people today. As Christians we need to be alert to ourselves that we don’t let these attitudes creep in on us. By reading the Bible every day and thinking deeply about what we read can change us and make us better Christians. Hebrews 4:12 says " Indeed, God’s word is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword. It penetrates and divides soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the reflections and thoughts of the heart". Also look at 2 Tim 3:16. The Bible is definitely a book for our day. It tells us the truth about our Creator and how we can live a satisfying life. And sometimes we learn a truth that we may never have considered. Or it teaches us the something that we may have had a mistaken belief in before. Then it’s up to us and our conscience if we are to believe God’s word or the word of men. A humble person keeps digging for answers.
Keep thinking and asking questions Matt 7:7.
 
prairie_girl said:
Hi again Cheeto1,
I’m glad you’re thinking. You asked for some examples… As Christians we need to be alert to ourselves that we don’t let these attitudes creep in on us.
Click to expand...
It seems that you are thinking too. These are some good scripture examples of what
you are saying about “worldly life”. But, the examples I want are real examples from
our life. I agree with what you have said about Tv, and the love of money, but not
everyone agrees. And how do you know what someone else’s MAIN interest is?
What I am trying to say is, nobody agrees on how to follow the 10 commandments.
What is a “worldly way of life”, is open to opinion.
 
thevickinator16 said:
when you lie, you lie. There is no subtle difference. It is a sin. If we kill a person, we break the 7th Commandment. Big trouble. If we slander someone’s reputation, we are guilty of the same. Anything can become an “idol”

As for computers, if you are neglecting helping others, then yes it might be a problem.
Click to expand...
Ah, this is exactly what I mean. People have all different opinions on when it is O.K.
with God to lie, kill, slander, and no one would actually think their idol of today was
an idol. I don’t know one commandment that’s not open to opinion.

Of course we are neglecting helping others while we are on the computer, you can’t
do 2 things at once. While you’re choosing the one, you’re un-choosing the other.
And how about the price of internet? We’re not giving that to the poor.

You said many good things…
 
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