Thursday of the Second Week of Easter
ISRAEL INDEPENDENCE DAY
Joshua, Chapter 4, Verse 14
That
day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel,
and so during his whole life they FEARED him as they had FEARED
Moses.
Sometimes
we are tempted to follow any leader who is popular. We forget God’s warning
about following the proud and evil hearted, for
lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven, when all the proud and all
evildoers will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,
leaving them neither root nor branch, says the LORD of hosts. (Mal 3: 19)
We may think that following the leadership of our
bishops is a waste of time. You have said, “It is useless to
serve God; what do we gain by observing God’s requirements, and by going about
as mourners-before the LORD of hosts? But we call the arrogant
blessed; for evildoers not only prosper but even test God and escape.” (Mal 3:14-15)
God
knows the heart of a man and if his heart be true God raises that man up as He
did Joshua and Moses. God is not a God of the past and continues to this day in
the action of raising a man up and He does so in our Priests and Bishops. Just
like an architect that uses rocks and sticks to become temples or bridges God
uses men to build his Kingdom. Strive therefore to be God’s man or women.
Emulate Joshua in proclaiming, if it is
displeasing to you to serve the LORD, choose today whom you will serve, the
gods your ancestors served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in
whose country you are dwelling. As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.
(Joshua 24:15).
We
should have a holy fear of our Priest and Bishops. We should follow their
guidance as we would a beloved father or brother. Like Joshua that led the
armies of God today the Bishop of Phoenix asks us men to enter into
the breach.[1]
Israel
Independence Day
Yom Haazmaut (Hebrew: יום העצמאות) is Israel's Independence Day. Israel declared independence on May 14th, 1948. This was only a few hours before the British Mandate of Palestine was to draw to an end. Yom Haazmaut is a public holiday in Israel. All commercial establishments are closed, apart from Restaurants, Cafes and Bars. Israelis celebrate Yom Haazmaut with an opening ceremony, comprising lighting of the Masuot (twelve torches, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel). The honor of lighting each torch is given to outstanding Israelis, such as brave soldiers and policemen, scientists, artists, senior citizens and the like. Yom Haazmaut always occurs the day after Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day to honor fallen soldiers and soldier victims of terrorists). There are typically firework displays at night, airplane displays and bands during the day. Israeli citizens spend Yom Haazmaut with family and friends, often in a Park, on a beach or at home. The Israel Prize is given in scientific fields to notable scientists, artists and people who made a lifetime contribution to the State of Israel.
Yom HaAtzma'ut (Israel) Facts & Quotes
·
Many
Jewish prophets in the Bible prophesied that the Children of Israel would
return to their land. Isaiah, Jeremiah and Zachariah made notable prophecies.
For example, Jeremiah 29:10. This is what the Lord says: 'When seventy
years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise
to bring you back to this place'.
·
In
the 19th century, Theodor (Benjamin Zeev) Herzl was the visionary of the State
of Israel in his book Altneuland, 'The Old New Land' in 1902.
Tel Aviv (old hill/ new spring) was established in 1909.
·
According
to Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Kook and many others in the Religious Zionist camp, the
founding of the State of Israel was considered to be Atchalta DeGeulah the
beginning of the final redemption.
·
In
the Talmud (Sanhedrin 98a) it is stated by Rav Aba Ein lecha meg'uleh mizu,
there is no greater indication of the end of days than that which the prophet
Ezekiel (Ezekiel 36:8) prophesizes, Now mountains of Israel, your branches
shall come forth and your fruit will be offered to my people Israel.
· The return of Jews to the Holy Land was also mentioned by Isaiah: On that day (the day of the redemption) a great shofar will be sounded, and those who are lost in the land of Ashur (Assyria) and those who are dispersed in the Land of Egypt will return to the Holy Land. (Isaiah 27:13).
Yom HaAtzma'ut
(Israel) Top Events and Things to Do
·
Attend
a Yom Haazmaut Party, held at many local Israeli/Jewish Communities on the Eve
of Yom Haazmaut. Typically, Israeli food is served, followed by a
fireworks display. A live broadcast of the Yom Haazmaut ceremony from Har
Herzl, Jerusalem may be watched and culminates in the singing of the Hatikvah,
the Israeli National Anthem.
·
Attend
a lecture on the connection between Jews, Israel and the Bible. Yeshivah
University holds many public lectures on this topic.
·
Attend
a Yom Haazmaut Concert. There are many venues for Yom Haazmaut concerts
including popular ones at New York City and Stamford (CT).
·
Take
part or view the Bible Quiz (Chidon Hatanach)
Novena for the Poor
Souls[2]
O Mother most
merciful, pray for the souls in Purgatory!
PRAYER OF ST.
GERTRUDE THE GREAT O Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy
Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today,
for all the holy souls in Purgatory and for sinners everywhere— for sinners in
the Universal Church, for those in my own home and for those within my family.
Amen.
PRAYER FOR THE
DYING O Most Merciful Jesus, lover of souls, I pray Thee, by the agony of Thy
most Sacred Heart, and by the sorrows of Thine Immaculate Mother, to wash in
Thy Most Precious Blood the sinners of the whole world who are now in their agony
and who will die today. Heart of Jesus, once in agony, have mercy on the dying!
Amen.
ON EVERY DAY OF
THE NOVENA V. O Lord, hear my prayer, R. And let my cry come unto Thee. O God,
the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant unto the souls of Thy
servants and handmaids the remission of all their sins, that through our devout
supplications they may obtain the pardon they have always desired, Who livest
and reignest world without end. Amen.
THURSDAY O Lord
God Almighty, I beseech Thee by the Precious Body and Blood of Thy divine Son
Jesus, which He Himself, on the night before His Passion, gave as meat and
drink to His beloved Apostles and bequeathed to His holy Church to be the
perpetual Sacrifice and life-giving nourishment of His faithful people, deliver
the souls in Purgatory, but most of all, that soul which was most devoted to
this Mystery of infinite love, in order that it may praise Thee therefore,
together with Thy divine Son and the Holy Spirit in Thy glory forever. Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.
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