Category: Uncategorized

Saint of the Week

St. Maximus the Confessor

STRENGTH IN MEEKNESS

Numbers 12:3

(Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all men on the face of the earth.)

Personal Challenge

Our culture has evolved to what it is today by elevating and praising (almost worshiping) the strong man. We have in our history the Marlboro Man, John Wayne, Batman, and many other super heroes that come across as strong and in charge. The truth is that real strength, real leadership comes in meekness, or humility. Moses was able to go up against Pharoah and his entire nation to get the Israelites set free from slavery and oppression. He then led what would become over a million people through the wilderness to their new and promised land. And God labelled him as meek, more than all men on the face of the earth. This is the kind of men that we need today and leading our country, our businesses, and our churches. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

A BLESSING

Numbers 6:24-26

“The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be merciful to you;
the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”

Encouraging Words

This blessing was given to the priests in the early days of Judaism as a way to send off the people after a time of worship. It became a way to bless others as you departed their company. We can continue this tradition by blessing those in our lives and whose paths we cross by loving them as Jesus would. Lord, have mercy! Lord have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

WALKING WITH GOD

Leviticus 26:12

I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.

Encouraging Words

In the beginning, after God created Adam and Eve, He placed them in the Garden of Eden, Paradise. He walked with them and talked with them on a regular basis. Then it was all brought to an end with mankind’s first sin of rejecting God. In this passage, God promises that there will be a day when He walks amongst us again. Jesus initiated that day when He walked amongst us and will bring it to full fruition when He returns. Glory be to God! Come, Lord Jesus, come!

CONTINUED BRINGING FREEWILL OFFERINGS

Exodus 36:3-5

They received from Moses all the offerings the children of Israel brought for all the works for making the holy place, and they continued bringing him freewill offerings every morning. Then all the wise men who were doing all the work of the holy place came, each according to the work he was doing, and they spoke to Moses, saying, “The people bring much more than enough for the work the Lord commanded us to do.”

Personal Challenge

All of us who have been involved in a church or parish at some time in our life, are familiar with capital projects. Those projects that call for donations above, and beyond, regular tithes and offerings. This is what we are reading about in this passage from Exodus. Moses is tasked by God to build His Tabernacle for the people. Moses calls upon the people to donate to the needs of the workers to get the job done. Donations come pouring in to the point that the people are told to stop donating. Why does this not happen today? I believe the reason is often due to one of two issues. First, are we, the people of the church, in tune with what God wants us to do, especially with our resources? If not, then the funding falls short. Second, and often the most frequent issue, is the project being undertaken in alignment with what God wants the church to be doing? If not, again the funding will fall short. It is critical that both we, the members, and the church itself, be in alignment with God. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

NO OTHER GOD

Exodus 34:14

(for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord God, a jealous name, is a jealous God),

Personal Challenge

In the day that this was written there were many gods that were worshipped by people. The sun, the moon, the stars, parts of nature, you name it, these were gods in the eyes of many. Today, the gods being worshipped are much different. They are wealth, power, self, and many permutations of these things. God desires that we worship Him and through that act of worship love our neighbor. By doing this we turn our backs on wealth, power, and self, and turn towards the people in our lives and how we can bless them. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

OBEY AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENT

Exodus 19:5-6

“‘Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you shall be a special people to Me above all nations; for all the earth is Mine. You shall be to Me a royal priesthood and a holy nation.’ These are the words you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

Personal Challenge

One thing about God is that He is consistent. He never changes nor is he affected by events or people in this world. He is a covenantal God. He always keeps His end of the contract. Jesus fulfilled the covenants of the Old testament and ushered in a new one. It is based on love and not law. Our responsibility under this new covenant is to love God and our neighbor. We are not to do this in word only but in our deeds. If our actions do not align with His expectations then we may be surprised at the result of using words only. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Saint of the Week

St. Maria of Paris

MY HELPER AND MY SALVATION

Exodus 15:2

The Lord became my helper and the shield of my salvation;
He is my God, and I will glorify Him;
My father’s God, and I will exalt Him.

Encouraging Words

God is God and I am not. He holds all of creation in the palm of His hand, and yet, He is willing to be my helper and the shield of my salvation. He chooses to cover His children with His protection. Why would I not glorify Him? Thanks be to Him that I am His loved
child.

HARDENING OF THE HEART

Exodus 8:11

But when Pharaoh saw there was relief, his heart was hardened; and he did not heed them, as the Lord said.

Personal Challenge

In the Old Testament story of Moses attempting to get Pharoah to free the Israelite slaves and let them go, we see multiple accounts of Pharoah hardening his heart after observing God’s power and deciding not to let the people go. God is not hardening Pharoah’s heart but, in His providence, knows that is what Pharoah is going to do. The message here is that we all need to keep a watch over our heart so that we do not harden it toward God or our neighbor. It is always our choice. We know that you can die from hardening of the arteries but hardening of the heart could have eternal consequences. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!. Lord, have mercy!