BROTHERLY AFFECTION

“How good, how delightful it is to live as brothers all together! It is like a fine oil on the bread, running down the beard, running down Aaron’s beard, onto the collar of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon falling on the heights of Zion; for there the Lord bestows his blessing, everlasting life” {Ps.133} 

When last did you experience that genuine smile from a brother/sister/mother/father/wife/husband/son/daughter/family relation?

In the physical realm, there is nothing in the world that can genuinely provide you this type of affection, warmth and company; once any of them is gone, his/her place in our hearts cannot be substituted anymore hence we need to do our best to take care of them in a Godly manner {‘seek peace with all people and the holiness without which no one can ever see the Lord. Be careful that no one is deprived of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness should begin to grow and make trouble; this can poison a large number. And be careful that there is no immoral person or anyone worldly minded like Esau, who sold his birthright for one single meal. As you know when he wanted to obtain the blessing afterwards, he was rejected and though he pleaded for it with tears, he could find no way of reversing the decision’ Heb.12:14-17}.

Behind every disunity in a family is always found this hidden/unnoticed/subtle/deceptive object ‘Pride’ which provides one with a thousand and one reasons both scriptural and otherwise why the other party in the family should not be forgiven whether the offender or the defender. Be it as it may, no matter how rich/spiritual/beautiful/talented/handsome/successful e.t.c you are, the brother of a mad-man is a mad-mans’ brother, the son of a prostitute is a prostitutes’ son hence ones inability to integrate his/her spiritual/temporal gifts from the nuclear family leaves the most important unattended to while pursuing shadows (‘what are your endless sacrifices to me? Says the Lord. I am sick of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of calves. I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. When you come and present yourselves before me, who has asked you to trample through my courts…when you stretch out your hands I turn my eyes away. You may multiply your prayers, I shall not be listening. Your hands are covered in blood’ Isaiah 1:11-15). The apostles of Jesus were instructed to proclaim the gospel not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judea and Sameria and indeed to earth’s remotest end {Acts.1:8} hence there country home should be a starting point for the mission then to other parts of the world.

For one to uproot pride from within, the fear of God as one of the seven spirit [Rev.4:5] of God dwelling in man must be activated fully without sentiments or bias (“my brothers, do not let class distinction enter into your faith in Jesus Christ, our glorified Lord” James 2:1, ‘do not be ashamed to correct a stupid person or a fool, or an old dotard who bickers with young people. Then you will show yourself really educated and win the approval of everyone’ Sirach 42:8) thus ‘In fear be submissive to the Lord; with trembling kiss his feet, lest he be angry and your way come to nothing, for his fury flares up in a moment. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!’ [Ps.2:11-12]. The fear of God in a man brings about the reverence and respect for every living creature {man} as an image of God [Gen.1:26-27] whether poor/rich/graceful/habitual-sinner e.t.c who has a soul that needs to be forgiven and saved (‘I take no pleasure in the death of anyone – declares the Lord God – so repent and live!’ Ezek.18:32). The  fear of God also helps us to know that whatever we do against another will be used to attend to us {“do not judge and you will not be judged; because the judgments you give are the judgments you will get and the standard you use will be the standard used for you” Mtt.7:1-2} hence openness to humility (“how blessed are the poor in spirit: the kingdom of heaven is theirs” Mtt.5:4), love {‘above all preserve an intense love for each other, since love covers over many a sin’ 1 Pet.4:8} and forgiveness [“any bitterness or bad temper or anger or shouting or abuse must be far removed from you – as must every kind of malice. Be generous to one another, sympathetic, forgiving each other as readily as God forgave you in Christ” Eph.4:31-32] towards our family relations is a strong foundation for Heavenly honor [‘…those who honor me I honor in my turn and those who despise me will be an object of contempt’ 1 Sam.2:30] and a better relationship with other members of the society (“you love uprightness and detest evil. This is why God, your God has anointed you with the oil of gladness as none of your rivals” Heb.1:9).

Let us therefore use calmness (‘Keep sober and alert, because your enemy the devil is on the prowl like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand up to him, strong in faith and in the knowledge that it is the same kind of suffering that the community of your brothers throughout the world is undergoing’ 1 Pet.5:8-9) of the soul to observe our families in order to uproot the canker pride whether you are the offender or defender learn to say “I am sorry” it will not change your status/position/carrier/intelligence/spirituality to something lower, be mindful of your thoughts {‘More than else, keep watch over your heart, since here are the wellsprings of life’ Prov.4:23} and watch what you say as well as the type of advice you proffer in trying situations hence “guard your tongue from evil, your lips from any breath of deceit. Turn away from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it” [Ps.34:13-14].

This can be achieved via

Sending goodwill text messages at the beginning of the months to all concerned or the most important i.e those with whom there has been a big vacuum in communication.

Making calls to such people if your financial status permits.

 Above all beyond what is seen with the physical-eyes, continuous remembrance of all concerned in prayers {‘I urge then, first of all that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving should be offered for everyone’ 1 Tim.2:1, “for my part, far be it from me to sin against God by ceasing to pray for you or to instruct you in the good and right way” 1 Sam.12:23}

FASTING AND PRAYERS:

“They then said to him, John’s disciples are always fasting and saying prayers and the disciples of the Pharisees, too but yours go on eating and drinking. Jesus replied surely you cannot make the bridegroom’s attendants fast while the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them; then in those days they will fast” (Lk.5:33-35)

This does not mean that fasting and prayers is not important rather for different individuals it can be done in different ways, time and modes with regards to ones disposition towards the voice of God’s spirit in him/her [“instead, I tell you be guided by the Spirit and you will no longer yield to self-indulgence” Gal.5:16] as well as the directives of your spiritual director {‘the priest’s lips ought to safeguard knowledge; his mouth is where the law should be sought, since he is the Lord of sabaoth messenger’ Mal.2:7, “let no one disregard you because you are young but be an example to all the believers in the way you speak and behave and in your love, your faith and your purity” 1 Tim.4:12}.

But the highest, noble and awesome fasting as well as prayers you can do that will attract Divine approval is extrication from sinful habits like prayerlessness, smoking, lying-lips, exam-malpractices, forging-documents/results, anger, pride, unforgiving-spirit, buying and selling on Sundays, unworthy reception of Eucharist, drunkenness, masturbation, glutton, disobedience to parents/elders/clergy/constituted authority, stealing, abortion, fornication, adultery, depraved or corrupt friendships/relationships/discussions, pornography, lesbianism, homosexuality, back-biting, jealousy, injustice against the less-privileged/disabled/orphans/widows, neglect of the poor and our neighbors needs/plights, malice, envy, slander, heresy, apostasy, partying-spirit, idolatry, blasphemy, indecent dressing, upload and download of nude/half-nude pictures of ourselves or others from the internet to our phones/ipads/ipods/laptops e.t.c, keeping or hanging nude/half-nude pictures of ourselves or others on our wall-rooms/offices/shops/schools e.t.c thus “you love uprightness and detest evil. This is why God, your God has anointed you with the oil of gladness as none of your rivals” (Heb.1:9)

Hence replacing these bad habits in a world where it seems everybody is doing the wrong thing under the disguise of religiosity (“this people honors me only with lip-service while their hearts are far from me” [Mtt.15:8], ‘these people are counterfeit apostles of Christ. There is nothing astonishing in this: even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. It is nothing extraordinary, then when his servants disguise themselves as the servants of uprightness. They will come to the end appropriate to what they have done’ {2 Cor.11:13-15}) is much of an acceptable fasting and prayer to God who does not delight in sacrifice rather than obedience {1 Sam.15:22} with these good habits; joy, peace, patience, trustfulness, pray constantly (1 Thess.5:17), diligence to responsibilities, gentleness, kindness {‘refuse no kindness to those who have a right to it, if it is in your power to perform it. Do not say to your neighbor, go away! Come another time! I will give it to you tomorrow, if you can do it now’ Prov.3:27-28}, utterances that administer grace to the hearer, building up mutually as occasion offers [Eph.4:29], “with this in view, do your utmost to support your faith with goodness, goodness with understanding, understanding with self-control, self-control with perseverance, perseverance with devotion, devotion with kindness to brothers and kindness to brothers with love. The possession and growth of these qualities will prevent your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ from being ineffectual or unproductive. But without them, a person is blind or short-sighted, forgetting how the sins of the past were washed away. Instead of this, brothers, never allow your choice or calling to waver; then there will be no danger of your stumbling, for in this way you will given the generous gift of entry to the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet.1:5-11)

CONSIDER OTHERS SPIRITUAL WELFARE IN ALL YOU DO:

“Only be careful that this freedom of yours does not in any way turn into an obstacle to trip those who are vulnerable…and then it would be through your knowledge that this brother for whom Christ died, vulnerable as he is, has been lost. So sinning against your brothers and wounding their vulnerable consciences, you would be sinning against Christ…” (1 Cor.8:9-13)

Thus when as a woman/lady; you wear tight/fitted clothes like skirts, bomb-shots, pencil-skirts, tight-tops, trousers e.t.c transparent clothes like gowns, skirts, tops, trousers, e.t.c revealing clothes like mini/pencil/tight-skirts, hanging-gowns, sleeveless-tops e.t.c upload and download of nude/half-nude pictures/videos/comments/write-ups/links on social websites and other sinful inclinations of the internet bear in mind what you might be doing to several vulnerable souls (lesbians/porn-addicts/minors/frail-creatures) also men when you dress nude/half-nude with boxers, sagging, tight trousers/shorts/tops, sleeveless for others consumption within the house/streets environments as well as upload and download of such on the internet; this could be a clarion call to demonic wife/husband/homosexuals/frail-souls e.t.c as the Heavens takes note “His eyes are on those who fear him, he notes every human action” (Sirach 15:19)

However, whether frail or strong do not fail to correct with prudence these set of people thus ‘brothers, even if one of you is caught doing something wrong, those of you who are spiritual should set that person right in a spirit of gentleness and watch yourselves that you are not put to the test in the same way. Carry each other’s burdens; that is how to keep the law of Christ. Someone who thinks himself important when he is not, only deceives himself; but everyone is to examine his own achievements and then he will confine his boastings to his own achievements not comparing them with anybody else’s. Each one has his own load to carry’ {Gal.6:1-5}.

As we know every little thing matters “A drunken workman will never grow rich and one who makes light of small matters will gradually sink” {Sirach 19:1} bearing in mind that God takes note of all our endeavors thus ‘His eyes are on those who fear him, he notes every human action’ (Sirach 15:19) and by such engagements whether in thoughts {‘more than all else, keep watch over your heart, since here are the wellsprings of life’ Prov.4:23}, words (“since it is by your words you will be justified and by your words condemned” Mtt.12:37), habits {‘anyone who welcomes one little child like this in my name welcomes me. But anyone who is the downfall of one of these little ones who have faith in me would be better drowned in the depths of the sea with a great millstone round his neck’ Mtt.18:5-6} and deeds (“Don’t delude yourself: God is not to be fooled; whatever someone sows, that is what he will reap” Gal.6:7) shall we face the judgment on the last day [‘I saw the dead, great and small alike, standing in front of his throne while the books lay open. And another book was opened which is the book of life and the dead were judged from what was written in the books as their deeds deserved…and anyone whose name could not be found written in the book of life was hurled into the burning lake” Rev.20:12-15].

As we know death can come to us any day/hour/second/environment/positional status after which follows judgment (‘since human beings die only once, after which comes judgment’ Heb.9:27) which proceeds from the same giver of life “the Lord gives death and life brings down to sheol and draws up” {1 Sam.2:6} and he does not respect anybody [‘there is no favoritism with God’ Rom.2:11] even His only Son; Jesus had to carry out his earthly ministry in the right, hard and only way {‘after the ordeal he has endured he will see the light and be content. By his knowledge, the upright one my servant will justify many by taking their guilt on himself’ Isaiah 53:11} so what sinful habits and lifestyle are you managing with against the abundant life Christ gave us (“the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may life and have it to the full” Jn.10:10) with excuses on your lips and mind? {‘He never commanded anyone to be godless, he has given no one permission to sin’ Sirach 15:20}

So what happens to testing and trials? You can think about these “None of the trials which have come upon you is more than a human being can stand. You can trust that God will not let you be put to the test beyond your strength but with any trial will also provide a way out by enabling you to put up with it” (1 Cor.10:13) and ‘all this being so, let us rather give thanks to the Lord our God who as he tested our ancestors is now testing us. Remember how he treated Abraham, all the ordeals of Isaac, all that happened to Jacob in Syrian Mesopotamia while he kept the sheep of Laban, his mother’s brother. For as these ordeals were intended by him to search their hearts, so now this is not vengeance that God is exacting on us but a warning inflicted by the Lord on those who are near his heart’ {Judith 8:25-27} much more affirmed in the last book of the Holy Bible thus “I reprove and train those whom I love: so repent in real earnest” [Rev.3:19]

What of temptation? Temptation is not from God rather from our selfish desires; nurtured and nursed within the double faced {devious; “the heart is more devious than any other thing and is depraved; who can pierce its secrets?” Jer.17:9 / good; ‘God saw all he had made and indeed it was very good…’ Gen.1:31} platform that dwells in man thus “Never, when you are being put to the test say, God is tempting me; God cannot be tempted by evil and he does not put anybody to the test. Everyone is put to the test by being attracted and seduced by that person’s own wrong desire. Then the desire conceives and gives birth to sin and when sin reaches full growth, it gives birth to death” (James 1:13-15)

We are not to succumb to these trials and testing as well as the temptations that gush forth from the cravings our carnality but should make use of the sufficient Grace provided for us “but he has answered me, My grace is enough for you: for power is at full stretch in weakness…” (2 Cor.12:9) hence opening the windows of His blessings on us ‘blessed is anyone who preserves when trials come. Such a person is of proven worth and will win the prize of life, the crown that the Lord has promised to those who love him’ [James 1:12]

BIRTHDAY GIFTS FOR OUR LADY TODAY:

Attending Holy Mass (‘seeing his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, Woman this is your son. Then to the disciple he said, this is your mother…’ Jn.19:26)

Attaining perfect contrition via Sacrament of Reconciliation {“His mother said to the servants, Do whatever he tells you” Jn.2:5} by speaking the truth from your heart [Ps.15:2]

Dressing decently like Our Lady {‘only be careful that this freedom of yours does not in any way turn into an obstacle to trip those who are vulnerable’ 1Cor.8:9} today and always [‘if you come back, Israel, the Lord declares, if you come back to me, if you take your horrors out of my sight, if you go roving no more, if you swear, as the Lord lives! Truthfully, justly, uprightly, then the nations will bless themselves by him and glory in him’ Jer.4:1-2].

Promoting decency in dressing/pictures/videos/discussions/engagements/habits/jobs/feeding e.t.c amongst people we will encounter today and everyday whether on the internet or streets by taking the bold step of prudent corrections (‘To some you must be compassionate because they are wavering; others you must save by snatching them from the fire, to others again you must be compassionate but wary, hating even the tunic stained by their bodies’ Jude 1:22-23)

Try to say the Holy Rosary complete [20 decades with the litany] today while meditating on the biblical quote for each mystery as She always pondered on the word of God ‘…His mother stored up all these things in her heart’ {Lk.2:51}

Remember, you cannot choose her more than God did [“Hence the Lord will abandon them only until she who is in labor gives birth, and then those who survive of his race will be reunited to the Israelites” Micah 5:2] because ‘you did not choose me, no, I chose you; and I commissioned you to go out and bear fruit, fruit that will last; so that the Father will give you anything you ask him in my name’ {Jn.15:16}

You cannot honor/reverence/respect the Blessed Virgin Mary and other saints {‘He went down with them then and came to Nazareth and lived under their authority…’ Lk.2:51, “…those who honor me I honor in my turn and those who despise me will be an object of contempt” 1 Sam. 2:30} in Heaven (“…then he said, these are the people who have been through the great trial; they have washed their robes white again in the blood of the Lamb” Rev.7:14) than Jesus did, is doing and is always doing [‘Jesus Christ is the same today as he was yesterday and as he will be forever’ Heb.13:8]; an attitude which was approved by the Heavens with increase in wisdom, favor with God and people thus “And Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature and in favor with God and with people” (Lk.2:52) confirming this scriptural passage ‘you love uprightness and detest evil. This is why God, your God has anointed you with the oil of gladness as none of your rivals’ {Heb.1:9}

BIBLICAL LINKS TO THE HOLY ROSARY MYSTERIES:

THE FIVE JOYFUL MYSTERY_

The Annunciation {‘…he went in and said to her, Rejoice, you who enjoy God’s favor! The Lord is with you…’ Lk.1:26-38}

The Visitation [“…Now it happened that as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit…” Lk.1:39-45]

The Birth/Nativity (‘…and she gave birth to a son, her first-born. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the living-space…’ Lk.2:1-19)

The Presentation {“And when the day came for them to be purified in keeping with the Law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord…” Lk.2:22-38}

The Finding [‘…it happened that, three days later, they found him in the Temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions…’ Lk.2:41-50]

THE FIVE LUMINOUS MYSTERIES:

The Baptism (‘…And when Jesus had been baptized he at once came up from the water and suddenly the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him…’ Mtt.3:13-17)

The Manifestation {“…Jesus said to the servants fill the jars with water and they filled them to the brim…they did this; the president tasted the water and it had turned into wine…” Jn.2:1-12}

The Proclamation [‘from then onwards Jesus began his proclamation with the message, repent for the kingdom of Heaven is close at hand’ Mtt.4:17]

The Transfiguration (“…there in their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as dazzling as light. And suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him…” Mtt.17:1-8)

The Institution of the Holy Eucharist {‘then he took bread and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me. He did the same with the cup after supper and said, This cup is the new covenant in my blood poured out for you’ Lk.22:19-20}

THE FIVE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES:

The Prayer and Agony in the garden (‘then Jesus came with them to a plot of land called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, stay here while I go over there to pray…then he said to them, My soul is sorrowful to the point of death. Wait here and stay awake with me. And going on a little further he fell on his face and prayed. My Father, he said, if it is possible, let this cup pass me by. Nevertheless, let it be as you, not I, would have it…’ Mtt.26:36-46)

The Scourging at the pillar {“Pilate then had Jesus taken away and scourged” Jn.19:1}

The Crowning with thorns [‘and after this, the soldiers twisted some thorns into a crown and put it on his head and dressed him in a purple robe…’ Jn.19:2-3]

The Condemnation and Carrying of the Cross (“Pilate asked them, what harm has he done? But they shouted all the louder, crucify him! So Pilate, anxious to placate the crowd, released Barabbas for them and after having Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified…they led him out to crucify him. They enlisted a passer-by, Simon of Cyrene, father of Alexander and Rufus, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha, which means the place of the skull” Mk.15:14-22)

The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus {‘when they reached the place called The Skull, there they crucified him and the two criminals, one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, Father forgive them; they do not know what they are doing… Jesus cried out in a loud voice saying, Father into your hands I commit my spirit. With these words he breathed his last’ Lk.23:33-46}

THE FIVE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES:

 The Resurrection (‘After the Sabbath and towards dawn on the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala and the other Mary went to visit the sepulcher. And there was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descending from heaven, came and rolled away the stone and sat on it…He is not here, for he has risen as he said he would…’ Mtt.28:1-8)

The Ascension {“then he took them out as far as the outskirts of Bethany and raising his hands he blessed them. Now as he blessed them, he withdrew from them and was carried up to heaven. They worshipped him and then went back to Jerusalem full of joy…” Lk.24:50-53}

The Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles [‘When Pentecost day came round, they had all met together when suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of a violent wind which filled the entire house in which they were sitting and there appeared to them tongues as of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak different languages as the Spirit gave them power to express themselves’ Acts 2:1-4]

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven (‘for you will not abandon me to Sheol, you cannot allow your faithful servant to see the abyss’ Ps.16:10)

The Coronation of Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth {“… the consort at your right hand in gold of Ophir” Ps.45:9, ‘Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman robed with the sun, standing on the moon and on her head a crown of twelve stars…’ Rev.12:1-17}

THEY ARE ON THE PROWL:

“Beware of false prophets who come to you disguised as sheep but underneath are ravenous wolves. You will be able to tell them by their fruits. Can people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, a sound tree produces good fruit but a rotten tree bad fruit. A sound tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor a rotten tree bear good fruit. Any tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown on the fire. I repeat, you will be able to tell them by their fruits” {Mtt.7:15-20}

They claim equality with priests; the oracle of God with their understanding of the scriptures just like the days of Our Lord Jesus and St.Paul thus

“You pore over the scriptures, believing that in them you can find eternal life; it is these scriptures that testify to me” [Jn.5:39]

‘I will go on acting as I do at present, to cut the ground from under the feet of those who are looking for a chance to be proved my equals in grounds for boasting. These people are counterfeit apostles, dishonest workers disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. There is nothing astonishing in this; even satan disguises himself as an angel of light. It is nothing extraordinary, then, when his servants disguise themselves as the servants of uprightness. They will come to the end appropriate to what they have done’ (2 Cor.11:12-15)

“People like this are dried-up springs, fogs swirling in the wind and the gloom of darkness is stored up for them. With their high-sounding but empty talk they tempt back people who have scarcely escaped from those who live in error, by playing on the disordered desires of their human nature and by debaucheries. They may promise freedom but are themselves slaves to corruption; because if anyone lets himself be dominated by anything, then he is a slave to it; and anyone who has escaped the pollution of the world by coming to know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and who then allows himself to be entangled and mastered by it a second, ends up by being worse than he was before. It would have been better for them never to have learnt the way of uprightness than to learn it and then desert the holy commandment that was entrusted to them. What they have done is exactly as the proverb rightly says: the dog goes back to its vomit and as soon as the sow has been washed, it wallows in the mud” {2 Pet.2:17-22}

Watch out; they are usually more “friendly” than any friend or relation you may have encountered in life thus “keep sober and alert because your enemy the devil is on the prowl like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Stand up to him, strong in faith and in the knowledge that it is the same kind of suffering that the community of your brothers throughout the world is undergoing” (1 Pet.5:8-9).

WHAT NOT TO BE ASHAMED OF:

“the following things you should not be ashamed of and do not sin from fear of what others think: of the law of the Most High or of the covenant, of a verdict that acquits the godless, of keeping accounts with a travelling companion, of settling property on your friends, of being accurate over scales and weights, of making small and large profits, of gaining from commercial transactions, of disciplining your children strictly, of lashing a wicked slave till you draw blood. With an interfering wife, it is as well to use your seal and where there are many hands, lock things up. Whatever stores you issue, do it by number and weight, spending and taking, put everything in writing. Do not be ashamed to correct a stupid person or a fool, or an old dotard who bickers with young people. Then you will show yourself really educated and win the approval of everyone” {Sirach 42:1-8}

With regards to beating a slave till you draw blood, anyone who commits sin enslaves his/her personality “that is why you must not allow sin to reign over your mortal bodies and make you obey their desires; or give any parts of your bodies over to sin to be used as instruments of evil. Instead, give yourselves to God as people brought to life from the dead and give every part of your bodies to God to be instruments of uprightness; and then sin will no longer have any power over you – you are living not under law but under grace” (Rom.6:12-14) however, the Law of ten commandment is still important just that Grace was the fulfillment of its requirements in the life, death and resurrection of the Son of God (Jesus Christ) whose life we currently live thus ‘what the law could not do because of the weakness of human nature, God did, sending his own Son in the same human nature as any sinner to be a sacrifice for sin and condemning sin in that human nature. This was so that the law’s requirements might be fully satisfied in us as we direct our lives not by our natural inclinations but by the Spirit’ (Rom.8:3-4)

TRUE HAPPINESS

“Blessed is anyone who has not sinned in speech and who needs feel no remorse for sins. Blessed is anyone who conscience brings no reproach and who has never given up hope” (Sirach 14:1-2)

‘My child, treat yourself as well as you can afford and bring worthy offerings to the Lord’ {Sirach 14:11} i.e in treating yourself as well as you can afford let that lifestyle not make your offerings to the Lord unworthy having in mind that nothing unworthy will enter that city “nothing unclean may come into it: no one who does what is loathsome or false, but only those who are listed in the Lamb’s book of life” (Rev.21:27).

“Like clothes, everybody will wear out, the age-old law is, everyone must die. Like foliage growing on a bushy tree, some leaves falling, others growing, so are the generations of flesh and blood: one dies, another is born. Every achievement rots away and perishes and with it goes its author” [Sirach 14:17-19]

THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:

“And he taught them and said, does not the scripture say: my house will be called a house of prayer for all peoples? But you have turned it into a bandits den” (Mk.11:17)

This is clear definition of the fact that all we do in life [habits, career, vocation, thoughts, emotions, passions, visualizations, reading, hubbies e.t.c ] is a prayer to God said by you or others admiring or observing you (“only be careful that this freedom of yours does not in any way turn into an obstacle to trip those who are vulnerable” 1 Cor.8:9; ‘talk and behave like people who are going to be judged by the law of freedom. Whoever acts without mercy will be judged without mercy but mercy can afford to laugh at judgment’ James 2:12-13) either with pleasing fragrance that opens the flood windows of heaven for blessings {‘you love uprightness and detest evil. This is why God, your God has anointed you with the oil of gladness, as none of your rivals’ Heb.1:9} or abhorrent which marks us with signs of betrayal (‘…and those who despise me will be an object of contempt’ 1 Sam.2:30), rejection {“I regret having made Saul King, since he has broken his allegiance to me and not carried out my orders…”}, fear [‘that is why you must take up all God’s armor or you will not be able to put any resistance on the evil day or stand your ground even though you exert yourselves to the full’ Eph.6:13] and enmity with God (“Adulterers! Do you not realize that love for the world is hatred for God? Anyone who chooses the world for a friend is constituted an enemy of God” James 4:4) since we all have been confirmed as image of God (‘God created man in the image of himself, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them’ Gen.1:27) and the temple of the Holy Spirit {“do you not realize that you are a temple of God with the Holy Spirit of God living in you? If anyone should destroy the temple of God, God will destroy that person, because God’s temple is holy and you are that temple” 1 Cor.3:16-17}

He does not make empty treats [‘the Glory of Israel, however, does not lie or go back on his word, not being human and liable to go back on his word’ 1 Sam.15:29, Num.16:31-35, Mk.13:31, Heb.12:29 ‘for our God is a consuming fire’, “A third angel followed shouting aloud, all those who worship the beast and his statue or have had themselves branded on the hand or forehead will be made to drink the wine of God’s fury which is ready undiluted in his cup of retribution; in fire and brimstone they will be tortured in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb and the smoke of their torture will rise forever and ever. There will be no respite, night or day, for those who worship the beast or its statue or accept branding with its name” Rev.14:9-11] knowing full well that worshipping the beast and having its mark involves all disobedience to God’s law in thoughts, words, actions, dressing, negligence to the intuitions and counsel of the Holy Spirit e.t.c thus ‘there are six things that God hates, seven that he abhors: a haughty look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that weaves wicked plots, feet that hurry to do evil, a false witness who lies with every breath and one who sows dissension among brothers’ (Prov.6:16-19) i.e your dressing, pictures as well as videos on the internet or streets what does it portray {igniting desire for righteousness in you and on-lookers; Mtt.5:27-28} as well as your gaze on others body/parts of the body, pictures, videos e.t.c on the streets/phones/laptops what spirit is encouraged (1 Cor.10:31), is lying a hubby/mistake to you? {‘but the legacy for cowards, for those who break their word, or worship obscenities, for murderers and sexually immoral and for sorcerers, worshippers of false gods or any other sort of liars, is the second death in the burning lake of sulphur’ Rev.21:8}

He does not, has not and will never change (Mal.3:6, Heb.13:8)

Thus let those still indulging in sin/sinful desires and wicked impulses note “God made everything for its own purpose, yes even the wicked for the day of disaster” [Prov.16:4], ‘then he will say to those on his left hand, Go away from me, with your curse upon you, to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels’ Mtt.25:41, “then the devil, who led them astray, was hurled into the lake of fire and sulphur, where the beast and the false prophet are and their torture will not come to an end, day or night, forever and ever” Rev.20:10” then make amends thus ‘do not allow yourselves to be shaped by the passions of your old ignorance but as obedient children, be yourselves holy in all your activity after the model of the Holy One who calls us, since scripture says, Be holy for I am holy’ 1 Pet.1:14-16, “No foul word should ever cross your lips; let your words be for the improvement of the others, as occasion offers and do good to your listeners; do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God who has marked you with his seal, ready for the day when we shall be set free. Any bitterness or bad temper or anger or shouting or abuse must be far removed from you – as must every kind of malice. Be generous to one another, sympathetic, forgiving each other as readily as god forgave you in Christ” (Eph.4:29-32)

Those who are still yearning as well as standing on the truth “Everyone, no matter how firmly he thinks he is standing, must be careful he does not fall” [1 Cor.10:12], ‘My brothers, never slacken in doing what is right’ {2 Thess.3:13}, “I am coming soon: hold firmly to what you already have and let no one take your victor’s crown away from you” (Rev.3:11), ‘this is why there must be perseverance in the saints who keep the commandments of God and faith in Jesus’ {Rev.14:12}, because “nothing unclean may come into it: no one who does what is loathsome or false, but only those who are listed in the Lamb’s book of life’ (Rev.21:27)

For those hiding under the umbrella of religiosity and clauses like ‘nobody is seeing me’, “there is still time”, ‘I have got to live my life the way I want’, ‘I am rich I do not need God’, “I am Holy others are sinners and should go to hell” to commit heinous sins, abominations and wickedness remember ‘…I know about your behavior: how you are reputed to be alive and yet are dead’ (Rev.3:1), “I know about your activities: how you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were one or the other but since you are neither hot nor cold, but only lukewarm. I will spit you out of my mouth. You say to yourself: I am rich, I have made fortune and have everything I want, never realizing that you are wretchedly and pitiably poor and blind and naked too. I warn you, buy from me the gold that has been tested in the fire to make you truly rich and white robes to clothe you and hide your shameful nakedness and ointment to put on your eyes to enable you to see. I reprove and train those whom I love: so repent in real earnest…” {Rev.3:15-22}.

HAPPY NEW MONTH

Thank you Lord, for the gift of a new month, ushering all and sundry into the last quarter of the year 2012 {the year of the twelve tribes of Israel with regards to the old testament and the twelve apostles of the Lamb as we have in the new testament hence a confirmed year of masticating the Scriptures; THE WORD} as we pray Him to grant us mercies on the past mistakes (sins) “and it is for the Lord our God to have mercy and to pardon, since we have betrayed him” {Dan.9:9} also seeking his Grace, and the full activation of His seven Spirits [Rev.4:5] within us in order to desire and consistently bear witness to the truth in all our endeavors. Amen.