“God is not Solitude but Communion. He is Love and therefore communication because love always communicates. Indeed it communicates itself in order to encounter the other.” -Pope Francis
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A Wounded Soldier is Assisted by Most Decorated Army Chaplain
Capt. Emil J. Kapaun –Image Courtesy: Pinterest
(U.S. Army) Catholic Priest/Army Chaplain, Capt. Emil Kapaun while assigned to Headquarters Co. 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism, patriotism and selfless service during the ‘Battle of Unsan’ 01-02 November, 1950 while serving with the 3rd Battalion, Fr. Kapaun of the 8th Cavalry Regiment.
As Communist forces encircled the battalion, Fr. Kapaun moved fearlessly from foxhole-to-foxhole under direct enemy fire in order to provide comfort and reassurance to the outnumbered Soldiers, repeatedly exposing himself to enemy fire to recover wounded men, dragging them to safety.
When Fr. Kapaun could not drag them, he dug shallow trenches to shield them from enemy fire–As Communist forces closed in, Fr. Kapaun rejected several chances to escape, instead volunteering to stay behind and care for the wounded. On the 02 November, 1950 Fr. Kapaun was taken prisoner by Communist forces.
After being taken prisoner, Fr. Kapaun and other POWs were marched for several days northward toward POW camps. During the march, Fr. Kapaun led by example in caring for injured Soldiers, refusing to take a break from carrying the stretchers of the wounded, while encouraging others to do their part.
Once inside the dismal POW camp. Fr. Kapaun risked his own life by sneaking around the camp after dark, foraging for food, caring for the sick and encouraging his fellow Soldiers to sustain their faith and humanity.
On at least one occasion, Fr. Kapaun was brutally punished by Communists for his disobedience, being forced to sit outside in subzero weather without any clothing. When Communist forces instituted a mandatory reeducation program, Fr. Kapaun patiently and politely rejected every theory put forth by the instructors. Later in 1951 Fr. Kapaun openly flouted his captors by celebrating Easter Sunrise Mass with Soldiers.
When Fr. Kapaun began to suffer from the physical toll of his captivity, the Communist forces transferred him to a filthy, unheated hospital–while being carried there, Fr. Kapaun asked God’s forgiveness for his captors and made his fellow prisoners promise to keep their faith. Capt Emil J. Kapaun died on the 23 May, 1951 alone as a POW in captivity.
Chaplain Kapaun, repeatedly risked his own life to save the lives of hundreds of fellow Americans, his extraordinary courage, faith and leadership inspired thousands of prisoners to survive hellish conditions, resist the enemy indoctrination and retain their faith in God and country.
For Fr. Kapaun’s heroic, patriotic and selfless military service in both WW II and the Korean War, he was awarded the Bronze Star, Distinguished Service Cross and Medal of Honor posthumously, becoming known as the ‘Soldiers Chaplain’ by the men her served throughout his life, devoted to the service of others.
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“We bring you the Good News that what God promised to our ancestors He has fulfilled for us — by raising Jesus.” Acts 13:32-33A (NRSVCE) Image Courtesy: St. Paul Street Evangelization
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the Words of the Prophecy and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it. For the time is near — Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come…and from Jesus Christ. the Faithful Witness, the first born of the dead and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and freed us from our sins by His blood and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen!
Look He is coming with the clouds; Every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him and on His account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be Amen! –Revelation 1;3; 4A -7
Paul and Barnabas in Antioch of Pisidia
Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia, John however left them and returned to Jerusalem but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia and on the Sabbath Day they went into the Synagogue and sat down.
After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the officials of the Synagogue sent them a message saying, ‘Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people give it.’
So Paul stood up and with a gesture began to speak:
“You (men) of Israel and others who fear God listen. The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and made the people great during their stay in the Land of Egypt and with uplifted arm He led them out of it. For about forty years He put up with them in the wilderness. After He had destroyed seven nations in the Land of Canaan, He gave them their land as an inheritance for about four hundred and fifty years. After that He gave them judges until the time of the Prophet Samuel then they asked for a king and God gave them Saul, son of Kish, a man of the Tribe of Benjamin who reigned forty years.
When He had removed him, He made David their king. In His testimony about him He said, ‘I have found David, son of Jesse to be a man after My heart, who will carry out all My wishes.’
Of this man’s posterity, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus as He promised; Before His coming John had already proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel and as John was finishing his work, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No but one is coming after me. I am not worthy to untie the thong of the sandals on His feet.’
My Brothers, you descendants of Abraham’s family and others who fear God, to us the message of this Salvation has been sent because the residents of Jerusalem and their leaders did not recognize Him or understand the Words of the Prophets that are read every Sabbath, they fulfilled those words by condemning Him. Even though they found no cause for a sentence of death, they asked Pilate to have Him killed.
When they had carried out everything that was written about Him, they took Him down from the tree (Cross) and laid Him in a tomb but God raised Him from the dead and for many days He appeared to those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem and they are now His witnesses to the people and we bring you the Good News that what God promised to our ancestors He has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising Jesus as also it is written in the Second Psalm, (Psalm 2:7) ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.’
As to His raising Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken in this way, ‘I will give you the Holy Promises made to David.’ Therefore He has also said in another Psalm, (Psalm 16:10) ‘You will not let your Holy One experience corruption (decay).’
For David after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation died, was laid beside his ancestors and experienced corruption but He who God raised up experienced no corruption.
Let it be known to you therefore my Brothers, that through this Man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. By this Jesus, everyone who believes is set free from all those sins from which you could not be freed by the Law of Moses. Beware therefore, that what the Prophets said does not happen to you.
‘Look you scoffers! Be amazed and perish, for in your days I am doing a work, a work that you will never believe, even if someone tell you.'” (See: Habakkuk 1:5)
As Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people urged them to speak about these things again the next Sabbath. When the meeting of the Synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the Grace of God.
The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to heard the Word of The Lord but when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and blaspheming they contradicted what was spoken by Paul. Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly saying, ‘It was necessary that the Word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you reject it and judge yourselves to be unworthy of eternal life, we are now turning to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has Commanded us saying, “I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, so that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'” (See: Isaiah 49:6)
When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the Word of the Lord and as many as had been destined for eternal life became believers. Thus the Word of the Lord spread throughout the region but the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, driving them out of the region. So they shook the dust off their feet (See: Matthew 10:14) in protest against them and went to Iconium – the Disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. –Acts 13:13-52
The Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul
for the work to which I have called them.” –Acts 13:2B (NRSVCE)
Image Courtesy: St. Paul Street Evanglization
The Word of God continued to advance and gain adherents (spread) — After completing their Mission, Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem and brought with them John, whose other name was Mark.
Barnabas & Saul Commissioned
In the Church at Antioch there were Prophets and Teachers: Barnabas, Simeon, (who was also called Niger) Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the Court of King Herod the ruler and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
After fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them (Barnabas and Saul) and sent them off.
The Apostles Preach in Cyprus
Being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the Word of God in the Synagogues — They had John to assist them. –Acts 12:24 – 13:5
Jesus The Light of the World
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness
but will have the light of life.” –John 8:12
The Nations Called To Praise God
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face shine upon us, that Your way may be known upon earth, Your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You.
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You.
The earth has yielded its increase; God, Our God has blessed us. May God continue to bless us. Let all the ends of the earth revere Him. –Psalm 67:1-7
Summary of Jesus’ Teaching
Jesus cried aloud: “Whoever believes in Me believes not in Me but in Him who has sent Me and whoever sees me sees Him who sent Me. I have come as Light into the World so that everyone who believes in Me should not remain in darkness. I do not judge anyone who hears My Words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world but to save the world.
The one who rejects Me and does not receive My Word has a judge; On the last day the Word I have spoken will serve as judge, for I have not spoken on My own but the Father who sent Me has Himself given Me a Commandment about what to say and what to speak and I know His Commandment is eternal life. What I speak therefore, I speak just as the Father has told Me.” –John 12:44-50
‘I remembered the Word of the Lord, how He had said, “John baptized with water but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” If then God gave them the same gift that He gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God.’ –Acts 11:16-17 (NRSVCE)
Image Courtesy: Viola Tamez
Peter’s Report to the Church at Jerusalem
The Apostles and the Believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles has also accepted the Word of God so when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him saying, ‘Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?’
Then Peter began to explain it to them, step-by-step saying, “I was in the City of Joppa praying and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from Heaven, being lowed by the four corners and it came close to me. As I looked at it closely, I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles and birds in the air. I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up Peter; Kill and eat.’
I replied, “By no means Lord. for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.”
A second time the voice answered from Heaven, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call profane.’
This happened three times, then everything was pulled up again to Heaven. At that very moment three men, sent to me from Ceasarea arrived at the house where we were. The (Holy) Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me and we entered the man’s house. He told us how he had seen the Angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter, he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.’
As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning and I remembered the Word of the Lord, how He had said, “John baptized with water but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (See: Matthew 3:11)
If then God gave them the same gift that He gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?”
When they heard this, they were silenced and they praised God saying, ‘Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.’ –Acts 11:1-18
Longing For God and His Help in Distress
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. (Psalm 42:2A)
As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and behold the face of God? My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me continually, ‘Where is your God?’
These things I remember as I pour out my soul; how I went with the throng and led them in procession to the House of God with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving, a multitude keeping a festival.
Why are you cast down, O my soul and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, my help and my God.
My soul is cast down within me, therefore I remember You from the Land of Jordan and of Harmon, from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep at the thunder of Your cataracts; All Your waves and Your billows have gone over me.
By day the Lord commands His steadfast love and at night His song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.
I say to God, my rock, ‘Why have You forgotten me? Why must I walk about mournfully because the enemy oppresses me?’
As with a deadly wound in my body, my adversaries taunt me, while they say continually, ‘Where is your God?’
Why are you cast down, O my soul and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; For I shall again praise Him, my help and my God. –Psalm 42:1-11
“I am the Good Shepherd; says the Lord, The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep; I know My own and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father and I lay down My life for the sheep.” John 10:11; 14B-15 (NRSVCE) Image Courtesy: Fr. John Lewis
All Lands Summoned To Praise God
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. –Psalm 100:3B
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness, come into His presence with singing.
Know that the Lord is God. It is He that made us and we are His; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever and His faithfulness to all generations. –Psalm 100:1-5
Jesus The Good Shepherd
“Very truly I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the gate. The Gatekeeper opens the gate for Him and the sheep hear His voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.”
Jesus used this figure of speech with them (the Jews) but they did not understand what He was saying to them.
So again Jesus said, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the Gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the Gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I come that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. The hired-hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away — the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired-hand runs away because a hired-hand does not care for the sheep. I am the Good Shepherd. I know My own and My own know me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father and I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, one Shepherd. For this reason the Father loves Me because I lay down My life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from Me but I lay down of My accord. I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from My Father.”
Again the Jews were divided because of these words. Many of them were saying, ‘He has a demon and is out of His mind. Why listen to Him?’ Others were saying, ‘These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?’
Jesus Is Rejected by the Jews
At this time the ‘Festival of the Dedication’ (Chanukah) took place in Jerusalem, it was Winter and Jesus was walking in the Temple, in the Portico of Solomon – So the Jews gathered around Him and said to Jesus, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’
Jesus answered, “I have told you and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name testify to Me but you do not believe because you do not belong to My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, I know them and they follow Me. I give them eternal life and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of My hand. What My Father has given Me is greater than all else and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are One.”
The Jews took up stones again to stone Him, Jesus replied, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone Me?”
The Jews answered, ‘It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy because you, though only a human being are making yourself God.’
Jesus answered, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are ‘god’s’ and the Scripture cannot be annulled – Can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, ‘I am God’s Son?’ If I am not doing the works of My Father, then do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me and I a, in the Father.”
Then they tried to arrest Jesus again but He escaped from their hands. Jesus went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier and He remained there. Many came to Him and they were saying, ‘John performed no sign but everything that John said about this Man was true and many believed in Him there. –John 10:1-41
“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?” Saul asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The reply came,
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” –Acts 9:4B-5 (NRSVCE)
Image Courtesy: Michaelangelo – Cappella Paolina , Vatican
The Conversion of Saul
Saul still breathing threats and murder against the Disciples of the Lord, went to the High Priest and asked him for letters to the Synagogue at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he (Saul) was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from Heaven flashed around him. Saul fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”
Saul asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting but get up and enter the city and you will be told what you are to do.”
The men who were traveling with him (Saul) stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing, so they (men traveling with Saul) led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight and neither ate nor drank.
Now there was a Disciple in Damascus named Ananias, the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias,” he answered, ‘Here I am Lord.’ The Lord said to him (Ananias) “Get up and go to the street called Straight and at the house of Judas, look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.”
Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to Your Saint’s in Jerusalem and here he has authority from the Chief Priests to bind all who invoke Your name.’
The Lord said to him (Ananias), “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring My Name before Gentiles and Kings and before the people of Israel; I Myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of My Name.”
So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’
Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and his sight was restored. Then Saul got up and was baptized, after taking some food, he regained his strength
Saul Preaches In Damascus
For several days, Saul was with the Disciples in Damascus and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the Synagogues saying, ‘He is the Son of God.’ –Acts 9:1-20
Jesus (upon Commissioning the Disciples) said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the Good News to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved but the one who does not believe will be condemned.” –Mark 16:15-16
Universal Call To Worship
Praise the Lord, all you nations! Extol Him, all you peoples!
For great is His steadfast love toward us and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord! –Psalm 117
Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life — This is the Bread that comes down from Heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the Living Bread that came down from Heaven. Whoever eats of the Bread will live forever and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” –John 6:48; 50-51 (NRSVCE)
Jesus said, “No one can come to Me unless drawn by the Father who sent Me and I will raise that person up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets ‘They shall all be taught by God’ (All your children shall be taught by the Lord and great shall be the prosperity of your children.’ -See: Isaiah 54:13)
Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father.
Very truly I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life.
I am the Bread of Life. Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness and they died. This is the Bread that comes down from Heaven so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the Living Bread that came down from Heaven. Whoever eats of this Bread will live forever and the Bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
The Jews then disputed among themselves saying, ‘How can this Man give us flesh to eat?’
Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat My flesh and drink My blood have eternal life and I will raise them up on the last day; For My flesh is true food and My blood is true drink. Those who eat My flesh and drink My blood abide in Me and I in them. Just as the Living Father sent Me and I live because the Father, so whoever eats Me will live because of Me.
This is the bread that came down from Heaven, not like that which your ancestors at and they died but the one who eats this bread will live forever.” –John 6:44-58
Happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the Law of the Lord. –Psalm 119:1 (NRSVCE)
Image Courtesy: St. Paul Street Evangelization
The Arrest of Stephen
Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people, then some of those who belonged to the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called) Cyrenians, Alexandrians and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen but they could not withstand the wisdom of the (Holy) Spirit with which he spoke.
Then they secretly instigated some men to say, ‘We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.’ They stirred up the people as well as the elders and Scribes, then they suddenly confronted him, seized him and brought him before the council. They set up false witnesses who said, ‘This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the Law; We have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us.’
All who sat in the council looked intently at him and they saw his face was like the face of an Angel.
Stephen’s Address to the Council
The High Priest asked Stephen, ‘Are these things so?’
Stephen replied:
“Brothers and fathers listen to me. The God of glory appeared to our ancestor Abraham when he was in Mesoopotamia, before he lived in Haran and said to him, ‘Leave your country and your relatives and go to the land that I will show you.’
Then he (Abraham) left the country of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran – After his father died, God had him move from there to this country in which you are now living. He did not give him any of it as a heritage, not even a foot’s length but promised to give it to him as his possession and to his descendants after him, even though Abraham had no child — God spoke in these terms, this his descendants would be resident aliens in a country belonging to others, who would enslave them and mistreat them during four hundred years but “I will judge the nation that they serve,” said God, “after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.”
Then God gave the Covenant of Circumcision and so Abraham became the Father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; Isaac became the Father of Jacob and Jacob of the twelve Patriarchs.
The Patriarchs jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt but God was with him and rescued him from all his afflictions, enabled him to win favor and to show wisdom when he stood before Pharaoh, King of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and over all his household.
Now there came a famine throughout Egypt and Canaan and great suffering, our ancestors could find no food but when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our ancestors there on their first visit. On the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh – Then Joseph sent and invited his father Jacob and all his relatives to come to him, seventy five in all; So Jacob went down to Egypt, he died there as well as our ancestors and their bodies were brought back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the Sons of Hamor and Shechem but as the time drew near to the fulfillment of the promise that God had made to Abraham, our people in Egypt increased and multiplied until another king who had not known Joseph ruled over Egypt. He dealt craftily with our race and forced our ancestors to abandon their infants so that they would die.
At this time Moses was born and he was beautiful before God. For three months he was brought up in his father’s house and when he was abandoned, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son – So Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in his words and deeds.
When he (Moses) was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his relatives, the Israelites (his brothers, the sons of Israel) When he saw one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian. He (Moses) supposed that his kinsfolk would understand that God through him was rescuing them but they did not understand. The next day he came to some of them as they were quarreling and tried to reconcile them saying, ‘Men, you are brothers; Why do you wrong each other?’ – The man who was wronging his neighbor pushed Moses aside saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us/ Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ When Moses heard this he fled and became a resident alien in the land of Midian, there he became the father of two sons.
Now when forty years had passed, an Angel appeared to Moses in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning bush. When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight and as he approached to look, there came a voice of the Lord: “I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” Moses began to tremble and did not dare to look. Then the Lord said to him, “Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is Holy ground. I have surely seen the mistreatment of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their groaning and I have come down to rescue them. Come now, I will send you to Egypt.”
It was this Moses whom they rejected when they said, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ Whom God now sent as both ruler and liberator through the Angel who appeared to him in the bush. Moses led them out, having performed wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up a Prophet for you from your own people as He raised me up.’ He is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai and with our ancestors, he received living oracles to give to us. Our ancestors were unwilling to obey him, instead they pushed him aside and in their hearts they turned back to Egypt saying to Aaron, ‘Make gods for us who will lead the way for us; As for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.’ At that time they made a calf, offered a sacrifice to the idol and revealed in the works of their hands. God turned away from them and handed them over to worship the host of heaven as it is written in the Book of the Prophets: (See: Amos 5:25)
‘Did you offer to Me slain victims and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? No, You took along the tent of Moloch and the star of your god Rephan, the images that you made to worship, so I remove you beyond Babylon.’
Our ancestors had the tent of testimony in the wilderness as God directed when He spoke to Moses, ordering him to make it according to the pattern he had seen. Our ancestors in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our ancestors and it was there until the time of David who found favor with God and asked that he might find a dwelling place for the house of Jacob but it was Solomon who built a house for Him. Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made with human hands as the Prophet says: (See: Isaiah 66:1-2)
“Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for Me says the Lord, or what is the place of My rest?
Did not My hand make all these things?”
You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit just as your ancestors used to do. Which of the Prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One and now you have become His betrayers and murders. You are the ones that received the Law as ordained by the Angels and yet you have not kept it.” –Acts 6:8-15; 7:1-53
Christ is Risen, Creator of all; He has shown pity on all people.
Image Courtesy: I Love Jesus & Mary
The Apostles Are Persecuted
The high priest took action and all who were with him (the sect of the Sadducees) being filled with jealousy arrested the Apostles (of Christ) and put them in the public prison but during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, brought them out and said, ‘Go, stand in the Temple and tell the people the whole message about this life.’
When they heard this, they entered the Temple at daybreak and went on with their teaching.
When the high priest and those with him arrived, they called together the council and the whole body of elders of Israel and sent to the prison to have them brought but when the Temple police went there, they did not find them (Apostles) in the prison so they returned and reported, ‘We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors but when we opened them, we found no one inside.’
Now when the Captain of the Temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were perplexed about them, wondering what might be going on. Then someone arrived and announced, ‘Look the men whom you put in prison are standing in the Temple and teaching people!’
Then the Captain went with the Temple police and brought them but without violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
When they had brought them, they had them (Apostles) stand before the council, the high priest questioned them saying, ‘We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.’
Peter and the Apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than human authority. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging Him on a tree (Cross) – God exalted Him at His right hand as Leader and Savior that He might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins, we are witnesses to these things and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.’
When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them but a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up and ordered the men (Apostles) to be put outside for a short time.
Then Gamaliel said, ‘Fellow Israelites, consider carefully what you propose to do with these men (Apostles) for some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody and a number of men, about 400 joined him but he was killed and all who followed him were dispersed and disappeared. After him Judas The Galilean rose up at the time of the census and got people to follow him; he also perished and all who followed him were scattered. So in the present case, I tell you, keep away from these men (Apostles) and let them alone because if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them — in that case you may even be found fighting against God.’
They were convinced by Gamaliel and when they had called in the Apostles, they had them flogged, then ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and let them go.
As the Apostles left the council, they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name of Jesus and every day in the Temple and at home, they did not cease to teach and proclaim Jesus as the Messiah. –Acts 5:17-42