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Showing posts from April, 2017

Monday, May 1, 2017

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2 Samuel, Chapter 3, Verse 11 Ishbaal was no longer able to say a word to Abner, he feared him so.
This is a twisted tale of the leaders of Israel that are being divided in loyalties to either David or the son of Saul “Ishbaal”. Money, Power, Sex and Violence are involved. Hmmm sounds like this could be America splitting between Hillary and the Donald. Do not trust in these things but in He that is.
Aspire to live a tranquil life, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your [own] hands, as we instructed you, that you may conduct yourselves properly toward outsiders and not depend on anyone. 1 Thessaonians 4:11-12
Ishbaal[1] was one of the four sons of King Saul, born c. 1047 BC. He was chosen as the second king over the Kingdom of Israel, which then consisted of all the twelve tribes of the Israelites, after the death of his father and three brothers at the Battle of Mount Gilboa. He was proclaimed king over Israel by Abner, the captain of Saul's army after his father and broth…
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Sunday, April 30, 2017

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Today the church gives us an exhortation on how Christ's flock is to conduct itself and an oblique allusion to the Ascension.
2 Samuel, Chapter 1, Verse 14 David said to him, “How is it that you were not afraid to put forth your hand to desecrate the LORD’s anointed?
The lesson here is, do not be a person who seeks to gain from another’s misfortune.
Cue up the Sad Violins[1]

·As 2 Samuel begins, Saul and Jonathan have just died fighting the Philistines—David almost fought for the Philistines, but ended up getting excused at the last second, and headed off to fight the Amalekites. ·Saul had committed suicide after seeing his defeat was inevitable (with, as it turns out, a little help), and Jonathan was killed in the battle. ·A survivor from Saul's army finds David and tells him the news. It turns out the survivor was an Amalekite who (at Saul's request) helped Saul finish dying, giving him a fatal sword thrust, before bringing Saul's crown and armlet to David. ·However, David…
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Saturday, April 29, 2017

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1 Samuel, Chapter 28, Verse 20 Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, in great fear because of Samuel’s message. He had no strength left, since he had eaten nothing all that day and night.
Christ is the strength of the weak and the humble and the confidence of those who trust in him. Christ says to us, “My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me. (Jn. 10:27) Saul was in great fear because the spirit of God had long ago left him and he no longer heard the voice of God. In desperation now that Samuel had died was to have the witch of Endor act as a medium to conjure up the spirit of Samuel to help save him from the Philistines. Saul broke his own laws by seeking the aid of a sorcerer. The Israelites were a Holy people and Saul could not understand the Ends never justify the means. No we must be calm and listen to the voice of he that was the epitome of fairness and justice that took upon Himself our sins to the cross and thus bearing our guilt to mak…
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Friday, April 28, 2017

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The LORD is my life's refuge; of whom should I be afraid?
1 Samuel, Chapter 28, Verse 5 When Saul saw the Philistine camp, he grew afraid and lost heart completely.
Are we like Saul? Have we lost heart completely? Have we seen the camps of our enemies and come to despair. God will not abandon us like we have abandoned him. Do not despair but call out to the Lord and listen. Pay attention and if today you hear His voice harden not your hearts.
Comparing David with Saul the one thing that distinguished them from each other was David’s humility and confidence in the Lord. This we can see in David’s Psalm 23.
The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. In green pastures he makes me lie down; to still waters he leads me; he restores my soul. He guides me along right paths for the sake of his name. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me. You set a table before me in front of my enemi…
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Thursday, April 27, 2017

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I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
1 Samuel, Chapter 23, Verse 17 He said to him: “Have no fear, my father Saul shall not lay a hand to you. You shall be king of Israel and I shall be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.”
This is the last statement of Jonathan to David where he openly acknowledges that David will be king. Jonathan does not live to see David made king. Jonathan’s visit strengthens David and attests to the hidden care of the Lord for him. During this time David is in his wilderness strongholds. 
Q: There are those who say that David and Jonathan had a homosexual relationship to justify the modern homosexual agenda.

Father Edart[1]: The account in 1 Samuel 18:1-5 shows gestures and words that express a profound attachment between Jonathan and David. Although the terms used describe a real affective bond, their usual use in the Old Testament in no way allows for seeing a homosexual relationship there. For an example you can see …
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Wednesday, April 26, 2017

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I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
1 Samuel, Chapter 23, Verse 15 While David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh he was afraid that Saul had come out to seek his life.
David trusted his life to God and did what was righteous.
David a.k.a. Robin Hood[1]
·The Philistines are robbing grain at Keilah, so David and his men go attack them. ·Even though Saul is after them, David still knows he needs to protect the people for God. ·After David defeats the Philistines, Saul learns of David's whereabouts (1-8). ·David learns that Saul is coming for him and he starts freaking out. ·God informs David that the people will turn him over to Saul this time, which is a hard lesson for David because even though he was acting on the people's behalf, they were willing to stab him in the back (9-13). ·Even though Saul is unable to find David, Jonathan finds him no problem. BFFs can be like that. Jonathan encourages David to keep fighting the good fight becaus…
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Tuesday, April 25, 2017 Feast of St. Mark

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1 Samuel, Chapter 23, Verse 1-4 1 David was informed that the Philistines were attacking Keilah and plundering the threshing floors.2 So he consulted the LORD, asking, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” The LORD answered, Go, attack them, and free Keilah.3 But David’s men said to him: “Even in Judah we have reason to fear. How much more so if we go to Keilah against the forces of the Philistines!” 4 Again David consulted the LORD, who answered: Go down to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your power.
Again we see David protecting the people; even the people who are the friends of Saul. The same Saul who; out of his envy, is seeking David and his follower’s deaths. David’s faith makes his actions beyond those of rational fairness; and David’s action show the very mercy of God.
St. Mark[1]

John Mark, later known simply as Mark, was a Jew by birth. He was the son of that Mary who was proprietress of the Cenacle or "upper room" which served as the meeting pl…
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Monday, April 24, 2017 Feast of St. George

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1 SAMUEL, Chapter 22, Verse 23 Stay with me. Do not be afraid; whoever seeks your life must seek my life also. You are under my protection.”
David said this to Abiathar: the sole survivor of Eli’s household which Saul killed for giving aid to David. David now has in his service the only priest of the Lord left in the land and exclusive access to the ephod for consulting the Lord. David later appoints Abiathar co-high priest with Zadok in Jerusalem.
Yet, when I read this verse I hear the Lord saying this to us all-Stay with me-do not be afraid. Today go to the Blessed Sacrament and spend some time with the Lord. There our Lord will pull us to Himself and transform us into warriors and conquerors. Draw near to Him and He will transform your disenchantment with the world and help you along the road to holiness and sainthood.
Our lives are songs; God writes the words and we set them to music at pleasure; and the song grows glad, or sweet or sad, as we choose to fashion the measure. Ella W…
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