Cristy Li

Paul an Apostle: “Grace to you and peace from God Our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age, according to the Will of Our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever!” Amen. –Galatians 1:1A; 3-5
Image Courtesy: Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word

Song of Trust and Security in God

Protect me O God, for in You I take refuge. I say to the Lord, ‘You are My Lord, I have no good apart from you.’

As for the holy ones in the land, they are noble in whom is all mt delight.

Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows, their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names upon my lips.

The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup, You hold my lot. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a good heritage.

I bless the Lord who gives me counsel, in the night also my heart instructs me. I keep the Lord always before me because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body also rests secure. For You do not give me up to Sheol (Hell) or let Your faithful one see the Pit.

You show me the path of life. In Your presence there is fullness of joy. In your right hand are pleasures forevermore. –Psalm 16:1-11

There Is No Other Gospel

Paul an Apostle: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the One who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel — not that there is another gospel but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the Gospel of Christ – Even if we or an Angel from Heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed!

As we have said before, so now, I repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that one be accursed! –Galations 1:1-9

The Bread From Heaven

The next day (after Jesus had given Thanks to God and fed the 5,000  –John 6:1-14) the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with His disciples but that His disciples had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given Thanks. When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.

When they found Him (Jesus) on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, ‘Rabbi, when did You come here?’

Jesus answered them, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for Me, not because you saw signs but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on Him that God The Father has set His seal.”

Then they said to Him (Jesus), ‘What must we do to perform the works of God?’

Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”

So they said to Him (Jesus), ‘What sign are you going to give us then so that we may see it and believe You? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, “He gave them bread from Heaven to eat.”‘ (Psalm 78:23-25)

Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from Heaven but it is My Father who gives you the true bread from Heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from Heaven and gives life to the world.”

They said to Jesus, ‘Sir, give us this bread always.’

Jesus said to them, “I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to Me will never be hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. I have said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. Everything that the Father gives me will come to Me and anyone who comes to Me I will never drive away. For I have come down from Heaven, not to do My own will but the will of Him who sent Me and this is the will of Him (God) who sent Me, that I should lose nothing of all that He has given Me but raise it up on the last day. This is indeed the will of My Father, that all who see the Son and believe in Him may have eternal life and I will raise them up on the last day.” –John 6:22-40

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Jesus speaking, “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.” –John 10:14-15 (NRSVCE)  Image Courtesy: EWTN

Results of Justification

Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through Our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God and not only that but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character and character produces hope and hope does not disappoint us because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person — though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die but God proves His love for us that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by His Blood, will we be saved through Him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life but more than that, we even boast in God through Our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now been received reconciliation. –Romans 5:1-11

Related: For Today’s Bible Readings on the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus -USCCB

Jesus said, “In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you,
for this is the Law of the Prophets.” –Matthew 7:12

Images Courtesy: Mission For The Homeless

• Jesus said, “Give to everyone who begs from you;
  Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:30A – 31

For More Information Visit: Mission For The Homeless
By Mail:                                P.O. Box 7194, Oakland, CA 94601

“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.” –John 6:51 (NRSVCE)  Image Courtesy: EWTN

Jesus said, ” I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never be hungry and whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty but I said to you that you have seen Me and yest do not believe. Everything that the Father gives Me will come to me and anyone who comes to Me I will never drive away.

For I have come down from Heaven not to do My own will but the will of Him who sent Me and this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I should lose nothing of all that He has given Me but raise it up on the last day.

This is indeed the will of My Father, that all who see the Son and believe in Him may have eternal life and I will raise them up on the last day.” –John 6:35-40

The Instruction of The Lord’s Supper

For I (Paul) received from the Lords what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when He was betrayed took a loaf of bread and when He had given Thanks He broke it and said, “This is My Body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”

In the same way He tool the cup also after supper saying, “This cup is the New Covenant in My blood. Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of Me.”

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. –1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Related: Today’s Bible Readings on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ -USCCB

Jesus said, “Those who love Me will keep My Word and My Father will love them and We will come to them and make Our home with them.” –John 14:23 (NRSVCE)

The one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver and God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. –2 Corinthians 9:6-9

As it is written: They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor,
their righteousness endures forever. –Psalm 112:9

Blessings Of The Righteous

Praise the Lord!

Happy are those who fear the Lord, who greatly delight in His Commandments. Their descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.

Wealth and riches are in their houses and their righteousness endures forever. They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright, they are gracious, merciful and righteous. It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their affairs with justice.

For the righteous will never be moved, they will be remembered forever. They are not afraid of evil tidings, their hearts are firm, secure in the Lord.

Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid, in the end they will look in triumph on their foes; They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor; Their righteousness endures forever; Their horn is exalted in honor.

The wicked see it and are angry; They gnash their teeth and melt away; The desire of the wicked comes to nothing. –Psalm 112:1-10

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Glory to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; To God who is, who was and who is to come.
Cf. Revelation 1:8 (NRSVCE)  Image Courtesy: EWTN

Brothers and Sisters: Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through Our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand and we boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character and character produces hope and hope does not disappoint us because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. –Romans 5:1-5

Jesus speaking to His Disciples: “I still have many things to say to you but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own but will speak whatever He hears and He will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify Me because He will take what is Mine and declare it to you. All that The Father has is Mine. For this reason I said that He will take what is Mine and declare it to you.” –John 16:12-15

Related: For Today’s Bible Readings and More Visit: -USCCB

Trinity Sunday: God’s Enduring Presence – Natl Catholic Register

O Happy Virgin, you gave birth to the Lord;
O Blessed Mother of the Church, you warm our hearts with the Spirit of your Son Jesus Christ.
Image Courtesy: St. Paul Street Evangelization

After Jesus had been taken up to Heaven (Acts 1:11) they (Apostles) returned to Jerusalem from the Mount called Olivet which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath’s Day journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, John and James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas son of James.

All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary, the Mother of Jesus as well as His brothers. –Acts 1:12-14

Related: Today’s Bible Readings ‘Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of the Church’  -USCCB

The New Memorial of Our Lady, Mother of the Church -Natl Catholic Register

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in them the fire of Your love.
Image Courtesy: St. Paul Street Evangelization

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

When the day of Pentecost had come, they (Disciples) were all together in one place and suddenly from Heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues as of fire appeared among them and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them the ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under Heaven living in Jerusalem and at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.

Amazed and astonished they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? How is it that we hear, each of us in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene and visitors of Rome, both Jews and Proselytes, Cretans and Arabs — in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.’ –Acts 2:1-11 (NRSVCE)

Life In The Spirit

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, for the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has set you free from The Law of sin and of death. For God has done what The Law weakened by the flesh could not do. By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and to deal with sin, He condemned sin in the flesh so that the just requirement of The Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the (Holy) Spirit.

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

To set the mind on the flesh is death but to set the mind on the (Holy) Spirit is life and peace. For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, it does not submit to God’s Law — indeed it cannot and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

You are not in the flesh, you are in the (Holy) Spirit since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the (Holy) Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him but if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of Him (God) who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through His Spirit that dwells in you.

So then, Brothers and Sisters, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh — for if you live according to the flesh you will die but if you live by the (Holy) Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear but you received a Spirit of adoption. When we cry ‘Abba! Father!’ It is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ — if, in-fact, we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

Future Glory

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God, for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now and not only the creation but we ourselves who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? If we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness for we do not know how to pray as we ought but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words and God who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the Saints according to the will of God.

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn within a large family and those whom He predestined He also called and those whom He called He also justified and those whom He justified He also glorified. 

God’s Love in Christ Jesus

What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold His own Son but gave Him up for all of us, will He not with Him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril or sword? As it is written,

‘For your sake we are being killed all day long,
we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.’ (Psalm 44:22)

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus  Our Lord. –Romans 8:1-39

Related: For Today’s Bible Readings on Pentecost Sunday and More Visit: -USCCB

Jesus said, “I will ask the Father and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever.”
–John 14:16 (NRSVCE)  Image Courtesy: Franciscan Friars

Jesus The Way to The Father

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’

Jesus said to him (Thomas), “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you know Me, you will know My Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”

Philip said to Him (Jesus), ‘Lord, show us the Father and we will be satisfied.’

Jesus said to him (Philip), “Have I been with you all this time Philip and you still do not know Me? Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’ Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The Words that I say to you I do not speak on My own but the Father who dwells in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me but if you do not, then believe Me because of the works themselves.

Very truly I tell you, the one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do and in fact, will do greater works than these because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in My name you ask Me for anything, I will do it.”

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

“If you love Me, you will keep My Commandments and I will ask the Father and He will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees Him not knows Him. You know Him because He abides with you and He will be in you.

I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see Me but you will see Me because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in My Father and you in Me and I in you.

They who have My Commandments sand keep them are those who love Me and those who love Me will be loved by My Father and I will love them and reveal Myself to them.”

Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him (Jesus), ‘Lord, how is it that You will reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?’

Jesus answered him (Judas) “Those who love Me will keep My Word and My Father will love them and We will come to them and make Our home with them. Whoever does not love Me does not keep My Words and the Word that you hear is not mine but is from the Father who sent Me. I have said these things to you while I am still with you but the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not let them be afraid.

You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away and I am coming to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father because the Father is greater than I and now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe.

I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, he has no power over Me but I do as the Father has commanded Me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us be on our way.” –John 14:1-31

Jesus Prays For His Disciples

Jesus looked up to Heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come, glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify You, since You have given Him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given Him and this eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I glorified You on earth by finishing the work that You gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify Me in Your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.

I have made known Your name to those whom You gave Me from the world. They were Yours and You gave them to Me and they have kept Your Word. Now they know that everything You have given Me is from You; For the Words that You gave to Me I have given to them and they have received them and know in truth that I came from You and they have believed that You sent Me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world but on behalf of those whom You gave Me because they are Yours. All Mine are Yours and Yours are mine and I have been glorified in them and now I am no longer in the world but they are in the world and I am coming to You.

Holy Father, protect them in Your Name that You have given Me, so that they may be one, as We are one.

While I was with them. I protected them in Your Name that You have given Me. I guarded them and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost so that the Scripture might be fulfilled but now I am coming to You and I speak these things in the world so that they may have My joy made complete in themselves. I have given them Your Word and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking You to take them out of the world but I ask You to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth. As You have sent Me into the world, so I have sent them into the world and for their sakes I sanctify Myself so that they also may be sanctified in truth.

I ask not only on behalf of these but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one. As You, Father, are in Me and I am in You, may they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.

The glory that You have given Me I have given them, so that they may be one, as We are one, I in them and You in Me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me.

Father, I desire that those also, whom You have given Me, may be with Me where I am, to see the glory, which You have given Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

Righteous Father, the world does not know You but I know You and these know that You have sent Me. I made known Your name known to them and I will make it known so that the love with which you have loved Me may be in them and I in them.” –John 17:1-26

Related: For Today’s Bible Readings and More Visit -USCCB

“Go therefore and make Disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” –Matthew 28:19-20 (NRSVCE)
Image Courtesy: St. Paul Street Evangelization

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

In the first Book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when He was taken up to Heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the Apostles whom He had chosen. After His suffering He presented Himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the Kingdom of God. While staying with them, He ordered them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait there for the promise of The Father. “This” He said “is what you have heard from Me, for John baptized with water but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (See: Matthew 3:11)

The Ascension of Jesus

So when they had come together they asked Him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the Kingdom to Israel?’

Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be My witness in Jerusalem, in all Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”

When He had said this as they were watching, He was lifted up and a cloud took Him out of their sight.

While He was going and they were gazing up toward Heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them, they said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward Heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you in Heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into Heaven.” –Acts 1:1-11

Paul an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the Will of God — Grace to you and peace from God, Our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Blessings In Christ

Blessed be the God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the Heavenly places, just as He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be Holy and blameless before Him in love, He destined us for adoption as His children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace that He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace that He lavished on us.

With all wisdom and insight, He has made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure that He set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in Him, things in Heaven and things on earth.

In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of Him who accomplishes all things according to His counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of His glory.

In Him you also, when you had heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation and had believed in Him, were marked with the Seal of the promised Holy Spirit, this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of His glory.

Paul’s Prayer

I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the Saint’s and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know Him, so that with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance among the Saint’s and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power for us who believe, according to the working of His great power.

God put this power to work in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the Heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come and He has put all things under His feet and has made Him the head over all things for the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. –Ephesians1:1; 2-23

Related: For Today’s Bible Readings and More Visit: -USCCB