Today's Mass Readings (Jan 9) - Possessing Christ / Healing / Jesus honors Mosaic ritual

[distracted]

Friday (1-9)

1 John 5:5-13:

Beloved, Who indeed is the victor over the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is the one who came through water and Blood, Jesus Christ, not by water alone, but by water and Blood. The Spirit is the one who testifies, and the Spirit is truth. So there are three who testify, the Spirit, the water, and the Blood, and the three are of one accord. If we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is surely greater. Now the testimony of God is this, that he has testified on behalf of his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar by not believing the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever possesses the Son has life; whoever does not possess the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you so that you may know that you have eternal life, you who believe in the name of the Son of God.

St. Luke 5:12-16:

It happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was; and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with him and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do will it. Be made clean.” And the leprosy left him immediately. Then he ordered him not to tell anyone, but “Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” The report about him spread all the more, and great crowds assembled to listen to him and to be cured of their ailments, but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.

*Jesus proves that the Mosaic law is not to be discarded… (He directs the healed man to go to the priest…)

I mention this becsaue some people (non-Cath) think that Jesus’ coming did away with necessity of such things… but He said that “not one tittle of the law will be done away with…” [until the End]

I think it is also interesting that Jesus does SO many healings and nowadays, people generally do not seem to believe that Jeus can heal as He did when on Earth… I still get healing through his Church on Earth… Since Catholics live longer than Protestants we can see… that the Church is even healthy for our physical selves… *

 

[NDfan]

Friday (1-9)

1 John 5:5-13:

Beloved, Who indeed is the victor over the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is the one who came through water and Blood, Jesus Christ, not by water alone, but by water and Blood. The Spirit is the one who testifies, and the Spirit is truth. So there are three who testify, the Spirit, the water, and the Blood, and the three are of one accord. If we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is surely greater. Now the testimony of God is this, that he has testified on behalf of his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar by not believing the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever possesses the Son has life; whoever does not possess the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you so that you may know that you have eternal life, you who believe in the name of the Son of God.

St. Luke 5:12-16:

It happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was; and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with him and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do will it. Be made clean.” And the leprosy left him immediately. Then he ordered him not to tell anyone, but “Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” The report about him spread all the more, and great crowds assembled to listen to him and to be cured of their ailments, but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.

*Jesus proves that the Mosaic law is not to be discarded… (He directs the healed man to go to the priest…)

I mention this becsaue some people (non-Cath) think that Jesus’ coming did away with necessity of such things… but He said that “not one tittle of the law will be done away with…” [until the End]

I think it is also interesting that Jesus does SO many healings and nowadays, people generally do not seem to believe that Jeus can heal as He did when on Earth… I still get healing through his Church on Earth… Since Catholics live longer than Protestants we can see… that the Church is even healthy for our physical selves… *

Do you have a life expectancy table to prove this

As far as Mosaic law. It does not apply to non-Jews. That’s why Paul argued so much with the Jews at that time. They wanted Christians to first become Jewish.

 

[distracted]

Do you have a life expectancy table to prove this

As far as Mosaic law. It does not apply to non-Jews. That’s why Paul argued so much with the Jews at that time. They wanted Christians to first become Jewish.

i never said that Jesus approved of ALL Mosaic law… though the Bible does not say he didn’t…

but this passage shows that he wanted people to honor the priests and that he did NOT abolish their practices… In another passage he said to do as they say, just not as they DO…

 

[NDfan]

i never said that Jesus approved of ALL Mosaic law… though the Bible does not say he didn’t…

No but Paul refuted the demand of the Jews for Christians to become Jewish first. Christ chose Paul to be an Apostle. That was what the whole Jerusalem council was about. Peter said it perfectly. Why should we burden GOD by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? The decision of the council reflects no need for gentiles to follow Jewish law.

but this passage shows that he wanted people to honor the priests and that he did NOT abolish their practices… In another passage he said to do as they say, just not as they DO…

Christ was speaking to Jews though so of course HE would tell them to obey Priests. Christ HIMSELF did. But gentiles are not commanded to obey Mosaic law. If that were the case then all Christians would be following Jewish Priests today.

 

[Reuben_J]

Friday (1-9)

1 John 5:5-13:

Beloved, Who indeed is the victor over the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is the one who came through water and Blood, Jesus Christ, not by water alone, but by water and Blood. The Spirit is the one who testifies, and the Spirit is truth. So there are three who testify, the Spirit, the water, and the Blood, and the three are of one accord. If we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is surely greater. Now the testimony of God is this, that he has testified on behalf of his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar by not believing the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever possesses the Son has life; whoever does not possess the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you so that you may know that you have eternal life, you who believe in the name of the Son of God.

St. Luke 5:12-16:

It happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was; and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with him and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do will it. Be made clean.” And the leprosy left him immediately. Then he ordered him not to tell anyone, but “Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” The report about him spread all the more, and great crowds assembled to listen to him and to be cured of their ailments, but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.

*Jesus proves that the Mosaic law is not to be discarded… (He directs the healed man to go to the priest…)

I mention this becsaue some people (non-Cath) think that Jesus’ coming did away with necessity of such things… but He said that “not one tittle of the law will be done away with…” [until the End]

I think it is also interesting that Jesus does SO many healings and nowadays, people generally do not seem to believe that Jeus can heal as He did when on Earth… I still get healing through his Church on Earth… **Since Catholics live longer than Protestants we can see… that the Church is even healthy for our physical selves… ***

Hi. Maybe it is unnecessary to have a dig at Protestants in discussing this passage in reverence to those who are participating here. After all we are not talking about our differences with them.

What a gratifying message in the first reading and what privilege it is that as Christians we have, accept and know the Son. Last Christmas I received many greetings and some included ‘Jesus is the reason’ for the season (celebration). Amen to that.

Truly we have everything in Jesus. Moving further onward in the 1st letter of John we are told that we can consider as if we receive what we ask in prayer if it is according to God’s will. On first glance this seems to limit our options but then again we are assured that ‘in Him we have everything according to His grace and the richness of His glory’.

Fortunately the grace of God includes healing. I was thinking why the examples of sicknesses did not include things like migraine or toothache but blindness, paralysis and leprosy. Then it dawns on me that all these are impediments to live a normal life. At the same time it allows them to have double messages. We can be blind, paralyze and unclean to understand and receive His word and thus we need to be healed. The good news is we can be spiritually healed and more than that the healing could even be physical in nature.

We really need to focus on Jesus and ‘possess’ him.

 

[distracted]

No but Paul refuted the demand of the Jews for Christians to become Jewish first. Christ chose Paul to be an Apostle. That was what the whole Jerusalem council was about. Peter said it perfectly. Why should we burden GOD by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? The decision of the council reflects no need for gentiles to follow Jewish law.

Christ was speaking to Jews though so of course HE would tell them to obey Priests. Christ HIMSELF did. But gentiles are not commanded to obey Mosaic law. If that were the case then all Christians would be following Jewish Priests today.

Gentiles ARE required to obey any mosaic law that Christ says they are required to obey… Jesus did NOT throw out all of the Mosaic law… otherwise, he would also have thrown out the 10 Commandments…

Being circumcized or not being circumcized is not the same issue as, say, whether or not to honor your neighbor’s marital relations… (in other words: no adultery)…

 

[distracted]

Hi. Maybe it is unnecessary to have a dig at Protestants in

why do you presume as to my motives? I was far from intending it to be a dig… just a statement of “fact” (probable fact)… or better yet, just a statement…

Truly we have everything in Jesus. Moving further onward in the 1st letter of John we are told that we can consider as if we receive what we ask in prayer if it is according to God’s will. On first glance this seems to limit our options

We are to desire only God’s will… Why would you want anything that is outside his will?? whatever you get that is outside his will won’t last… and will turn to “hideousness” (can’t think of better word right now…)…

We really need to focus on Jesus and ‘possess’ him.

best way to possess him is to be with Him in the Real Presence…