Cristy Li

Do to others as you would have them do to you. –Luke 6:31 (NRSVCE)

Warning Against Partiality

My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in Our Glorious Lord

Jesus Christ? For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly and

if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, if you take notice of the one wearing the fine

clothes and say, ‘Have a seat here, please,’ while to the one who is poor you say, ‘Stand there,’

or Sit at my feet,’ have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with

evil thoughts? Listen my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the

world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the Kingdom that He has promised to those who love

Him? You have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag

you into court? Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?

You do well if you really fulfill the royal Law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your

neighbor as yourself.’ (Leviticus 19:18B ; Matthew 19:19B ; Mark 12:30-31) If you show

partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the Law as transgressors. For whoever keeps

the whole Law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For the one who said.

“You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” Now if you do not commit

adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as

those who are to be judged by the Law of Liberty. For judgment will be without mercy to

anyone who has shown no mercy; Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Faith Without Works Is Dead

What good is it, my brothers and sisters if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can

faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food and one of you says to them,

‘Go in peace, keep warm and eat your fill,’ and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is

the good of that? So faith by itself  if it has no works is dead.

Someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works

and I by my works will show you my faith. You believe that God is One, you do well. Even the

Demons believe and shudder. Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart

from works is barren? Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his

son Issac on the alter? You see that faith was active along with his works and faith was brought

to completion by the works. Thus the Scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God

and it was reckoned to him as righteousness’ (Genesis 15:6) and he was called the friend of

God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. Likewise was not Rahab

the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by

another road? (Joshua 2:1-24) For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without

works is also dead. –James 2:1-26

This poor soul cried and was heard by the Lord
and was saved from every trouble. (Psalm 34:6)

I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall be continually in my mouth.
My soul makes it boast in the Lord; Let the humble hear and be glad.

This poor soul cried and was heard by the Lord
and was saved from every trouble. (Psalm 34:6)

O magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt His name together.
I sought the Lord and He answered me and delivered me from all fears.

This poor soul cried and was heard by the Lord
and was saved from every trouble. (Psalm 34:6)

Look to Him and be radiant so your faces shall never be ashamed.

The poor soul cried and was heard by the Lord
and was saved from every trouble.

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and delivers them.

This poor soul cried and was heard by the Lord
and was saved from every trouble. (Psalm 34:6)

Psalm 34:1-7

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Be faithful until death and I will give you the Crown of Life. –Revelation 2:10B (NRSVCE)

Salutation

James, a Servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ

Greetings:

Faith and Wisdom

My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it noting but joy

because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance and let your endurance

have its full effect so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you is

lacking in wisdom, ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly and it will be given

you. Ask in faith, never doubting for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and

tossed by the wind; For the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way must not

expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Poverty and Riches

Let the Believer who is lowly boast in being raised up and the rich in being brought low because

the rich will disappear like a flower in the field. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and

withers the field; Its flower falls and its beauty perishes. It is the same way with the rich, in the

midst of a busy life, they will wither away.

Trial and Temptation

Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the

Crown of Life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him. No one when tempted should

say, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted by evil and He Himself tempts no

one but one is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; Then when they

desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin and that sin when it is fully grown gives birth to death.

Do not be deceived my beloved. Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift is from

above, coming down from the Father of Lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due

to change, In fulfillment of His own purpose He gave us birth by the Word of Truth so that we

would become a kind of first fruits of His creatures. –James 1:1-18

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Sanctify them in truth; Your Word is truth. –John 17:17  (NRSVCE)

A Psalm of David

The mouths of the righteous utters wisdom
and their tongues speak justice. (Psalm 37:30)

Do not fret because of the wicked;

Do not be envious of wrongdoers,

for they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.

Trust in the Lord and do good,

so you will live in the land and enjoy security.

Take delight in the Lord

and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord;

Trust in Him and He will act.

He will make your vindication shine like the light

and the justice of your cause like the noonday.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him;

Do not fret over those who prosper in their way,

over those who carry out evil devices.

Refrain from anger and forsake wrath.

Do not fret — it leads only to evil.

For the wicked shall be cut off

but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

Yet a little while and the wicked will be no more;

Though you look diligently for their place, they will not be there

but the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

The wicked plot against the righteous

and gnash their teeth at them

but the Lord laughs at the wicked

for He sees that their day is coming.

The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows

to bring down the poor and needy,

to kill those who walk uprightly;

Their sword shall enter their own heart

and their bows shall be broken.

Better is a little that the righteous person has

than the abundance of many wicked.

For the arms of the wicked shall be broken

but the Lord upholds the righteous.

The Lord knows the days of the blameless

and their heritage will abide forever;

They are not put to shame in evil times,

in the days of famine they have abundance but the wicked perish

and the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures,

they vanish — like smoke they vanish away.

The wicked borrow and do not pay back

but the righteous are generous and keep giving;

For those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land

but those cursed by Him shall be cut off.

Our steps are made firm by the Lord,

when He delights in our way;

Though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong,

for the Lord holds us by the hand.

I have been young and now am old,

yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.

They are ever giving liberally and lending and their children become a blessing.

Depart from evil and do good,

so you shall abide forever.

For the Lord loves justice,

He will not forsake His faithful ones.

The righteous shall be kept safe forever

but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.

The righteous shall inherit the land and live in it forever.

The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom
and their tongues speak justice. (Psalm 37:30)

The Law of their God is in their hearts; Their steps do not slip.

The wicked watch for the righteous and seek to kill them.

The Lord will not abandon them to their power

or let them be condemned when they are brought to trial.

Wait for the Lord and keep to His way and He will exalt you to inherit the Land;

You will look on the destruction of the wicked.

I have seen the wicked oppressing and towering like a cedar of Lebanon.

Again I passed by and they were no more; Though I sought them, they could not be found.

Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for their is posterity for the peaceable

but transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; The posterity of the wicked shall be cut off. 

The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom
and their tongues speak justice. (Psalm 37:30)

The Salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;

He is their refuge in the time of trouble.

The Lord helps them and rescues them;

He rescues them from the wicked and saves them

because they take refuge in Him. –Psalm 37:1-40

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Blessed are they who when they hear the Word of the Lord, hold it fast in an honest
and good heart, bearing fruit with patient endurance. –cf. Luke 8:15 (NRSVCE)

I treasure Your Word in my heart,
so that I may not sin against You. –Psalm 119:11

Psalm of David – Thanksgiving For Victory

The Lord Lives! Blessed be My Rock and exalted be the God of My Salvation! (Psalm 18:46)

I love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is My Rock, my Fortress and My Deliverer, My God,

My Rock in whom I take refuge, My Shield and the horn of My Salvation, My Stronghold. I call

upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, so I shall be saved from my enemies. The cords of

death encompassed me; The torrents of perdition assailed me; The cords of Sheol (Hell)

entangled me; The snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the Lord; To My

God I cried for help. From His Temple He heard my voice and my cry to Him reached His ears.

Then the earth reeled and rocked; The foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked

because He was angry. Smoke went up from His nostrils and devouring fire from His mouth;

Glowing coals flamed forth from Him. He bowed the heavens and came down; Thick darkness

was under His feet. He rode the cherub (angel) and flew; He came swiftly upon the wings of the

wind. He made darkness His covering around Him, His canopy thick clouds dark with water.

Out of the brightness before Him there broke through His clouds hailstones and coals of fire.

The Lord also thundered in the heavens and the Most High uttered His voice and He sent out

His arrows and scattered them; He flashed forth lightnings and routed them. Then the

channels of the sea were seen and the foundations of the world were laid bare at Your rebuke,

O Lord, at the blast of the breath of His nostrils. He reached down from on high, He took me;

He drew me out of the mighty waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy and those who

hated me, for they were too mighty for me. They confronted me in the day of calamity but the

Lord was my support. He brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He

delighted in me. The Lord rewarded me according to His righteousness, according to the

cleanness of my hands He recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord and have not

wickedly departed from My God! For all His Ordinances were before me and His Statutes I did

not put away from me. I was blameless before Him and I kept myself from guilt. Therefore the

Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my

hands in His sight. With the loyal You show Yourself loyal; With the blameless You show

Yourself blameless; With the pure You show Yourself pure and with the crooked You show

Yourself perverse. For You deliver a humble people but the haughty eyes You bring down. It is

You who light my lamp; The Lord, My God lights up my darkness. By You I can crush a troop

and by My God I can leap over a wall. This God — His way is perfect! The promise of the Lord

proves true; He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him. For who is God except the Lord? Who

is a rock besides our God? — The God who girded me with strength and made my way safe. He

made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for

war so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.  You have given me the Shield of Your

Salvation and Your right hand has supported me; Your help has made me great. You gave me a

wide place for my steps under me and my feet did not slip. I pursued my enemies and overtook

them and did not turn back until they were consumed. I struck them down, so that they were

not able to rise, they fell under my feet. For You girded me with strength for the battle, You

made my assailants sink under me. You made my enemies turn their backs to me and those

who hated me I destroyed. They cried for help but there was no one to save them; They cried to

the Lord but He did not answer them. I beat them fine, like dust before the wind. I cast them

out like the mire of the streets. You delivered me from strife with the peoples; You made me

head of the nations; People whom I had not known served me; Foreigners came cringing to me.

Foreigners lost heart and came trembling out of their strongholds. The Lord lives! Blessed be

My Rock and exalted be the God of My Salvation! The God who gave me vengeance and subdued

peoples under me; Who delivered me from my enemies; Indeed, You exalted me above my

adversaries; You delivered me from the violent. For this I will extol You, O Lord, among the

nations and sing praises to Your name. Great triumphs He gives to His king and shows

steadfast love to His anointed, to David and his descendants forever! –Psalm 18:1-50

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Jesus said, “The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God has come near,
repent and believe in the Good News.” –Mark 1:15 (NRSVCE)

David’s Praise To God

Riches and honor come from You and You rule over all. In Your hand are power and might; It

is in Your hand to make great and to give strength to all. (1 Chronicles 29:12)

David Blessed The Lord in the presence of all the assembly; David said: “Blessed are You, O

Lord, the God of our ancestor Israel, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord are the greatness, the

power, the glory, the victory and the majesty; For all that is in the heavens and on earth is

Yours; Yours is the Kingdom, O Lord and You are exalted as head above all. Riches and honor

come from You and You rule over all. In Your hand are power and might; It is in Your hand to

make great and to give strength to all and now Our God, we give Thanks to You and praise Your

glorious name!”

“Who am I and what is my people, that we should be able to make this freewill offering? For all

things come from You and of Your own have we given You. For we are aliens and transients

before You, as were all our ancestors; Our days on the earth are like a shadow and there is no

hope.

O Lord Our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building You a House for Your

Holy Name comes from Your hand and is all Your own.

I know My God, that You search the heart and take pleasure in uprightness; In the uprightness

of my heart I have freely offered all these things and now, I have seen Your people who are

present here, offering freely and joyously to You.

O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel our ancestors keep forever such purposes and

thoughts in the hearts of Your people and direct their hearts toward You.

Grant to my son Solomon that with single mind he may keep Your Commandments, Your

Decrees and Your Statutes, performing all of them and that he may build the Temple for which

I have made provision.”

Then David said to the whole assembly, “Bless the Lord Your God!”

All the assembly Blessed the Lord, the God of their ancestors and bowed their heads and

prostrated themselves before the Lord and the King.

On the next day they offered sacrifices and burnt offerings to the Lord – a thousand bulls, a

thousand rams and a thousand lambs with their libations and sacrifices in abundance for all

Israel, they ate and drank before the Lord on that day with great joy. –1 Chronicles 29:10-22

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You O Lord, are indeed my Rock and my Fortress,
for Your name’s sake lead me and guide me. –Psalm 31:3 (NRSVCE)

Jesus Christ the Power and Wisdom of God

For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to us who are being

saved it is the power of God. For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” (See: Isaiah 29:14)

Where is the one who is wise? Where is the Scribe? Where is the Debater of this age? Has not

God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not

know God through wisdom, God decided who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks

desire wisdom but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to

Gentiles but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the

wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom and God’s weakness is

stronger than human strength.

Consider your own call Brothers and Sisters: Not many of you were wise by human standards,

not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth but God chose what is foolish in the

world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose

what is low and despised in the world, things that are not to reduce to nothing things that are,

so that no one might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus,

who became for us wisdom from God and righteousness, sanctification and redemption, in

order that as it is written: “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (See: Jeremiah 9:23-24)

–1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Prayer and Praise for Deliverance From Enemies

Into Your hand I commit my spirit;
You have redeemed me O Lord, faithful God. (Psalm 31:5)

In You, O Lord, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; In Your righteousness deliver

me. Incline Your ear to me, rescue me speedily. Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to

save me. You are indeed my Rock and my Fortress; For Your name’s sake lead me and guide

me, take me out of the net that is hidden for me, for You are my refuge.

Into Your hand I commit my spirit;
You have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God. (Psalm 31:5)

You hate those who pay regard to worthless idols but I Trust in the Lord. I will exult and rejoice

in Your steadfast love because You have seen my affliction; You have taken heed of my

adversities and have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a

broad place. Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; My eye wastes away from grief, my

soul and body also. For my life is spent with sorrow and my years with sighing; My strength

fails because of my misery and my bones waste away. I am the scorn of all my adversaries, a

horror to my neighbors, an object of dread to my acquaintances; Those who see me in the

street flee from me. I have passed out of mind like one who is dead; I have become like a

broken vessel. For I hear the whispering of many — terror all around! — As they scheme

together against me, as they plot to take my life but I trust in You, O Lord! I say, ‘You are My

God!’ My times are in Your hand, deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors. Let

Your face shine upon Your servant; Save me in Your steadfast love. Do not let me be put to

shame, O Lord, for I call on You; Let the wicked be put to shame; Let them go dumbfounded to

Sheol (Hell). Let the lying lips be stilled that speak insolently against the righteous with pride

and contempt. O how abundant is Your goodness that You have laid up for those who fear You

and accomplished for those who take refuge in You, in the sight of everyone! In the shelter of

Your presence your hide them from human plots; You hold them safe under Your shelter from

contentious tongues. Blessed be the Lord, for He has wondrously shown His steadfast love to

me when I was beset as a city under siege. I had said in my alarm, ‘I am driven far from Your

sight’ but You heard my supplications when I cried out to you for help. Love the Lord, all you

His Saints. The Lord preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts haughtily.

Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord. –Psalm 31:1-24

If you are reviled for the Name of Christ, you are blessed
because the Spirit of Glory which is the Spirit of God is resting on you. –1 Peter 4:14

Jesus speaking to His Disciples said, “If any want to become My followers, leg them deny

themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me. For those who want to save their life

will lose it and those who lose their life for My sake will save it.

What does it profit them if they gain the whole world but lose or forfeit themselves? Those who

are ashamed of Me and of My Words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes

in His glory and the glory of the Father and of the Holy Angels. –Luke 9:23-26

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Our Savior Christ Jesus who abolished death brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.
2 Timothy 1:10 (NRSVCE)  Image Courtesy: Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word

Praises to God For His Covenant and Mercies to David

My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him. (Psalm 89:24)

I will sing of Your steadfast love O Lord, forever with my mouth I will proclaim Your

faithfulness to all generations. I declare that Your steadfast love is established forever; Your

faithfulness is as firm as the heavens. You said, “I have made a Covenant with My chosen one, I

have sworn to My servant David: I will establish your descendants forever and build your

throne for all generations.” Let the heavens praise Your wonders O Lord, Your faithfulness in

the assembly of the Holy ones. For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord? Who among

the heavenly beings is like the Lord, a God feared in the council of the Holy ones, great and

awesome above all that are around Him? O Lord God of hosts, who is as mighty as You, O Lord?

Your faithfulness surrounds You. You rule the raging sea when its waves rise, You still them.

You crushed Rahab like a carcass; You scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm. The

heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; The world and all that is in it — You have founded

them. The north and the south You created them; Tabor and Harmon joyously praise Your

Name. You have a mighty arm; Strong is Your hand, high Your right hand. Righteousness and

justice are the foundation of Your throne; Steadfast love and faithfulness go before You. Happy

are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord in the light of Your countenance;

They exult in Your name all day long and extol Your righteousness. For You are the glory of

their strength, by Your favor our horn is exalted. For our shield belongs to the Lord, our king to

the Holy One of Israel.

My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him. (Psalm 89:24)

Then You spoke in a vision to Your faithful one and said: “I have set the crown on one who is

mighty, I have exalted one chosen from the people. I have found My servant David with my

Holy oil I have anointed him; My hand shall always remain with him; My arm also shall

strengthen him.

My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him. (Psalm 89:24)

The enemy shall not outwit him, the wicked shall not humble him. I will crush his foes before

him and strike down those who hate him. My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him

and in My name his horn shall be exalted. I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on

the rivers.

My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him. (Psalm 89:24)

He shall cry to Me, ‘You are My Father, My God and the Rock of My Salvation!’ I will make him

the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. Forever I will keep My steadfast love for him

and My Covenant with him will stand firm. I will establish his line forever and his throne as

long as the heavens endure. If his children forsake My Law and do not walk according to My

Ordinances, if they violate My Statutes and do not keep My Commandments, then I will punish

their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with scourges but I will not remove him

from My steadfast love or be false to My faithfulness. I will not violate My Covenant or alter the

Word that went forth from My lips. Once and for all I have sworn by My Holiness; I will not lie

to David. His line shall continue forever and his throne endure before Me like the sun. It shall

be established forever like the moon, an enduring witness in the skies.” Now you have spurned

and rejected him, you are full of wrath against your anointed. You have renounced the

Covenant with your servant; You have defiled his crown in the dust. You have broken through

all his walls; You have laid his strongholds in ruins. All who pass by plunder him, he has

become the scorn of his neighbors. You have exalted the right hand of his foes, you have made

all his enemies rejoice. Moreover, you have turned back the edge og his sword and you have not

supported him in battle. You have removed the scepter from his hand and hurled his throne to

the ground. You have cut short the days of his youth, you have covered him with shame. How

long, O Lord? Will You hide Yourself forever? How long will Your wrath burn like fire?

Remember how short my time is, for what vanity You have created all mortals! Who can live

and never see death? Who can escape the power of Sheol? (Hell) Lord, where is Your steadfast

love of old, which by Your faithfulness you swore to David? Remember, O Lord, how Your

servant is taunted; How I bear in my bosom the insults of the peoples, with which Your

enemies taunt, O Lord, with which they taunted the footsteps of Your anointed. Blessed be the

Lord forever! Amen and Amen! –Psalm 89:1-52

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In Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them
and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. –2 Corinthians 5:19 (NRSVCE)
Image Courtesy: Share Catholic

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; In the shadow of

Your wings I will take refuge until the destroying storms pass by.

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me. (Psalm 57:1A)

I cry to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me. He will send from Heaven and

save me, He will put to shame those who trample on me. God will send forth His steadfast love

and His faithfulness.

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me. (Psalm 57:1A)

I lie down among lions that greedily devour human prey; their teeth are spears and arrows,

their tongues sharp swords.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. Let Your glory be over all the earth.

They set a net for my steps, my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my path but they have

fallen into it themselves. My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast. I will sing and

make melody. Awake, my soul! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn. I will give

thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For

Your steadfast love is as high as the heavens, Your faithfulness extends to the clouds.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. Let Your glory be over all the earth. –Psalm 57:1-11

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Jesus said, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” –Matthew 4:17

Praise For God’s Goodness To Israel

The Lord takes pleasure in His people; He adorns the humble with victory. (Psalm 149:4)

Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of the faithful.

Let Israel be glad in its Maker; Let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.

The Lord takes pleasure in His people; He adorns the humble with victory. (Psalm 149:4)

Let them praise His name with dancing, making melody to Him with tambourine and lyre.

For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He adorns the humble with victory.

The Lord takes pleasure in His people; He adorns the humble with victory. (Psalm 149:4)

Let the faithful exult in glory; Let them sing for joy on their couches. Let the high praises of God

be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands, to execute vengeance on the nations

and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with fetters (shackles) and their nobles

with chains of iron, to execute on them the judgment decreed. This is glory for all His faithful

ones. Praise the Lord! –Psalm 149:1-9

The Lord takes pleasure in His people; He adorns the humble with victory. (Psalm 149:4)

Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee

Jesus left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun

and Naphtli, so that what had been spoken through the Prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

“Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles — the peoples who sat in darkness have seen a great light and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” (Isaiah 9:1-2)

From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near.” –Matthew 4:13-17

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“Knell each day in Adoration of Jesus — Ask the Blessed Mother and Queen Mary
to teach you to adore Jesus.” –Image Courtesy: Apostolate of Sacred Hearts

Faith Conquers The World

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God and everyone who loves

the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the Children of God, when we love God

and obey His Commandments. For the love of God is this, the we obey His Commandments and

His Commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world and

this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the

one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Testimony Concerning the Son of God

This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with

water and the blood and the Spirit is the one who testifies, for the Spirit is the truth. There are

three that testify: The Spirit and the water and the blood and these agree. If we receive human

testimony, the testimony of God is greater; For this is the testimony of God that He testified to

His Son. Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do

not believe in God have made Him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given

concerning His Son and this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life and this life is in His Son.

Whoever has the Son has life; Whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Epilogue

I write these things to you who believe in the Name of the Son of God, so that you may know

that you have eternal life and this is the boldness we have in Him, that if we ask anything

according to His will, He hears us and if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know

that we have obtained the requests made of Him. If you see your brother or sister committing

what is not a mortal sin, you will ask and God will give life to such a one — to those whose sin is

not mortal. There is a sin that is mortal; I do not say that you should pray about that. All

wrongdoing is sin but there is a sin that is not mortal. We know that those who are born of God

do not sin but the One who was born of God protects them and the evil does not touch them. We

know that we are God’s children and that the whole world lies under the power of the evil one

and we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may

know Him who is true and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true

God and eternal life. Little children keep yourselves from idols. Amen! –1 John 5:1-21

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