Category Archives: creation

creation

1012. Much will be revealed to God’s children, before the Great Day of the Lord

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The Book of Truth:
“Friday, January 3rd, 2014, 21:45

 

My dearly beloved daughter, when the prophets of old were called upon by God to proclaim the Truth, they were not – any of them – overly enthusiastic with the Chalice of the True Word of God given to them. It was so overwhelming for each of them – most of whom were not learned in the Words of Scripture – much of what was given to them did not make sense to them. Yet the Power of the Holy Spirit drew them and this enabled them to speak the Word of God, exactly as it was given to them. Many cowered in fear. Some walked away. Those who walked away came back. When God sends a prophet, it means that something of great significance is planned by Him. Prophets, messengers from God, only reveal to the world that which is necessary for the salvation of souls.

My daughter, let it be known that this Mission will be the one when the Voice of God will be felt, as if it were like thunder, which will be felt in every part of the Earth. Much will be revealed to God’s children before the Great Day of the Lord dawns. It is necessary that this happens, for were He not to warn humanity, then He would not fulfill His Promise made to the prophets – Moses, Daniel and John. When God makes a Promise it is always fulfilled.

Never fear a true prophet, for they speak the Words put into their mouths by God for your sake.

To hear the Word of God spoken today can cause fear. It can be overwhelming and cause a certain amount of anxiety. Yet, without the Word being revived, made to breathe again and live amongst you, you would find the gap – the distance between you and God – too wide. The gap closes now, as My Words, brought to you by My Father, will bring you comfort – more joy than sorrow, more courage than fear and more solace than weeping.

Listen carefully to this, My daughter. You must never try to push Me away when all I want to do is wrap all of you within My Sacred Arms and draw you into My Heart. My Word can be somber, My prophecies difficult to hear and the wicked deeds of man upsetting to witness, but never forget that all these things will pass. They will be forgotten. They will be of little consequence. For the world, the life ahead of you, will bring with it great joy and laughter, as the Love of God will be felt in every place, every home, every soul and every heart.

This is the final part of My Plan to salvage the Earth and every living creature. It will present many difficulties and trials. Man’s cruelty will be the most distressing of all to withstand and the rejection of Me, Jesus Christ, the final straw in the Eyes of My Father. Yet this final confrontation will not take long before man will be relieved of the terrible hatred, which exists in the world.

The Power of Heaven is not to be underestimated, because My Father’s Intervention will be too powerful for His enemies to withstand. So be at peace. Accept God’s Intervention – His Great Act of Love, given to you by the Word, which comes from the mouth of His prophets. All these things are to protect you, bring you closer to Me and create a New Beginning where there will be no end.

Your Jesus”

 
 

” 6 But he gives all the more grace; therefore it says, “God opposes the proud,
    but gives grace to the humble.” …”

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+3-4&version=NRSVCE;NR2006;SCH2000;ERV-HU;BDS


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Roman Catholic:
“

Christmas Weekday
Lectionary: 206

Reading 1 1 Jn 2:29–3:6

If you consider that God is righteous,
you also know that everyone who acts in righteousness
is begotten by him.See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.
Yet so we are.
The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God’s children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.
Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure,
as he is pure.Everyone who commits sin commits lawlessness,
for sin is lawlessness.
You know that he was revealed to take away sins,
and in him there is no sin.
No one who remains in him sins;
no one who sins has seen him or known him.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 98:1, 3cd-4, 5-6

R. (3cd)  All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Alleluia Jn 1:14a, 12a

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us.
To those who accepted him
he gave power to become the children of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 1:29-34

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said,
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
He is the one of whom I said,
‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.’
I did not know him,
but the reason why I came baptizing with water
was that he might be made known to Israel.”
John testified further, saying,
“I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky
and remain upon him.
I did not know him,
but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me,
‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain,
he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

http://usccb.org/bible/readings/010219.cfm

 
—-
Orthodox (Greek Catholic):
“

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Warning against Judging Another

11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers and sisters.[c] Whoever speaks evil against another or judges another, speaks evil against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. So who, then, are you to judge your neighbor?

Boasting about Tomorrow

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town and spend a year there, doing business and making money.” 14 Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wishes, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. 17 Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, commits sin.

Warning to Rich Oppressors

5.1 Come now, you rich people, weep and wail for the miseries that are coming to you. 2 Your riches have rotted, and your clothes are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you, and it will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure[d] for the last days. 4 Listen! The wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous one, who does not resist you.

Patience in Suffering

7 Be patient, therefore, beloved,[e] until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.[f] 9 Beloved,[g] do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors!”

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+4-5&version=NRSVCE;NR2006;SCH2000;ERV-HU;BDS

—–
https://oca.org/readings/daily/2019/01/03
—–

creation

1006. All of God’s children are part of His extraordinary family

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The Book of Truth:
“Saturday, December 28th, 2013, 23:36

 

My dearly beloved daughter, many who believe in God, have only have a vague idea as to Who He is and why He created the world.

My Father is Love. All who surround Him love Him, just as you would imagine the love for a much-cherished father. Being with Him is the most natural feeling and everyone in Heaven is in complete union with Him. They feel cherished, much loved and this brings them a complete sense of belonging. When all those who are favoured in My Father’s Kingdom unite with Him, they experience an ecstasy like nothing you know on Earth. When those of you who follow Me, Jesus Christ, and join in union with Me, get to know My Father, you too will experience this sense of belonging.

All of God’s children are part of His extraordinary family and each one is loved by Him with an abiding passion. For those blessed with the Graces from Heaven, and who feel close to My Father, you must know that you will feel a sense of awe when you speak with Him in your heart – on the one hand. But, on the other hand, you will feel loved and with an instinct, which you will not understand, you will know that you are His child. This applies to all of God’s children, irrespective of age. For in God’s Kingdom age does not exist. All souls are elevated according to their status and how they fulfilled the Will of My Father.

Oh how My Father has been forgotten and how much He is misunderstood. He is not fearsome. Yet, His Justice is Finite. He is loving and fair and will do all He can to renew the world, so that it is prepared properly to receive Me, His beloved Son.

You must never feel that you cannot call on My Father, for He is your Father, the Almighty One, Who gave the Command for life to begin and Who gives the Command for life to be taken away. Follow My Father’s Commandments. Accept with gratitude His Gift of My birth, death and resurrection and Eternal Life will be yours.

Your Jesus”

 
 

The Return from Egypt

19 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 20 “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.” 21 Then Joseph[d] got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. 23 There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He will be called a Nazorean.””

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+2%3A13-23&version=NRSVCE;NR2006;SCH2000;ERV-HU;BDS

—–
https://oca.org/readings/daily/2018/12/26
—–

 
 
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Roman Catholic:
“

Feast of Saint John, Apostle and evangelist
Lectionary: 697

Reading 1 1 Jn 1:1-4

Beloved:
What was from the beginning,
what we have heard,
what we have seen with our eyes,
what we looked upon
and touched with our hands
concerns the Word of life —
for the life was made visible;
we have seen it and testify to it
and proclaim to you the eternal life
that was with the Father and was made visible to us—
what we have seen and heard
we proclaim now to you,
so that you too may have fellowship with us;
for our fellowship is with the Father
and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
We are writing this so that our joy may be complete.

Responsorial Psalm pS 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12

R. (12) Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many isles be glad.
Clouds and darkness are around him,
justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
Light dawns for the just;
and gladness, for the upright of heart.
Be glad in the LORD, you just,
and give thanks to his holy name.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

Alleluia See Te Deum

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We praise you, O God,
we acclaim you as Lord;
the glorious company of Apostles praise you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 20:1a and 2-8

On the first day of the week,
Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we do not know where they put him.”
So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.
They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter
and arrived at the tomb first;
he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.
When Simon Peter arrived after him,
he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,
and the cloth that had covered his head,
not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.
Then the other disciple also went in,
the one who had arrived at the tomb first,
and he saw and believed.“
http://usccb.org/bible/readings/122718.cfm
 
—
Orthodox (Greek Catholic):
“

The Arrest of Stephen

8 Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit[a] with which he spoke. 11 Then they secretly instigated some men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 They stirred up the people as well as the elders and the scribes (of the law * editor); then they suddenly confronted him, seized him, and brought him before the council.   13 They set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law; 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth[b] will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on (/ordered *editor) to us.”  15 And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.”

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+6%3A8-15&version=NRSVCE;NR2006;SCH2000;ERV-HU;BDS

“

Stephen’s Speech to the Council

7 Then the high priest asked him, “Are these things so?” 2 And Stephen replied:

“Brothers[a] and fathers, listen to me. The God of glory appeared to our ancestor Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3 and said to him, ‘Leave your country and your relatives and go to the land that I will show you.’ 4 Then he left the country of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After his father died, God had him move from there to this country in which you are now living. 5 He did not give him any of it as a heritage, not even a foot’s length, but promised to give it to him as his possession and to his descendants after him, even though he had no child.

…

47 But it was Solomon who built a house for him. 48 Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made with human hands;[i] as the prophet says,

49 ‘Heaven is my throne,
    and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord,
    or what is the place of my rest?
50 Did not my hand make all these things?’

51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. 52 Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. 53 You are the ones that received the law as ordained by angels, and yet you have not kept it.”

The Stoning of Stephen

54 When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen.[j] 55 But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57 But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. 58 Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died.[k] …”

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+7%3A1-66&version=NRSVCE;NR2006;SCH2000;ERV-HU;BDS

—–
https://oca.org/readings/daily/2018/12/27
—–

creation

God, because He wanted to create man in His perfect Image, granted him many gifts and talents.

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The Book of Truth:
“ Sunday, December 15th, 2013, 16:45

My dearly beloved daughter, mankind is ignorant of the Divine Laws and the Divine Will of My Father. Man is a creature of God and, as such, has not been given the Gift of Knowledge in relation to many secrets known only to the angels and saints in Heaven. Therefore, one man cannot say he knows why My Father allows certain events to take place in the world, while another man claims that he is privy to the origin of the universe. Man is simply a servant of God, but God, because He wanted to create man in His perfect Image, granted him many gifts and talents. He never gave man the Knowledge of the Tree of Life and this was for a reason.  Man destroyed his standing in God’s Eyes, when Adam and Eve separated themselves from Him, because of the sin of pride. The sin of pride continues today and is the cause of much separation from God. Pride is a dangerous trait because it convinces man that he is greater than God. Pride tempts man to interfere with God’s Laws of Divinity. This includes the belief that man has the right to decide who is given the Gift of Life and who has the right to take it away.  ….”

 
 
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Roman Catholic:
“

Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent
Lectionary: 195

Reading 1 Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a

There was a certain man from Zorah, of the clan of the Danites,
whose name was Manoah.
His wife was barren and had borne no children.
An angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her,
“Though you are barren and have had no children,
yet you will conceive and bear a son.
Now, then, be careful to take no wine or strong drink
and to eat nothing unclean.
As for the son you will conceive and bear,
no razor shall touch his head,
for this boy is to be consecrated to God from the womb.
It is he who will begin the deliverance of Israel
from the power of the Philistines.”

The woman went and told her husband,
“A man of God came to me;
he had the appearance of an angel of God, terrible indeed.
I did not ask him where he came from, nor did he tell me his name.
But he said to me,
‘You will be with child and will bear a son.
So take neither wine nor strong drink, and eat nothing unclean.
For the boy shall be consecrated to God from the womb,
until the day of his death.'”

The woman bore a son and named him Samson.
The boy grew up and the LORD blessed him;
the Spirit of the LORD stirred him.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17

R. (see 8) My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.
R. My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!
For you are my hope, O LORD;
my trust, O God, from my youth.
On you I depend from birth;
from my mother’s womb you are my strength.
R. My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!
I will treat of the mighty works of the LORD;
O God, I will tell of your singular justice.
O God, you have taught me from my youth,
and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds.
R. My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
O Root of Jesse’s stem,
sign of God’s love for all his people:
come to save us without delay!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 1:5-25

In the days of Herod, King of Judea,
there was a priest named Zechariah
of the priestly division of Abijah;
his wife was from the daughters of Aaron,
and her name was Elizabeth.
Both were righteous in the eyes of God,
observing all the commandments
and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren
and both were advanced in years.

Once when he was serving as priest
in his division’s turn before God,
according to the practice of the priestly service,
he was chosen by lot
to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense.
Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside
at the hour of the incense offering,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him,
standing at the right of the altar of incense.
Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him.

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah,
because your prayer has been heard.
Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,
and you shall name him John.
And you will have joy and gladness,
and many will rejoice at his birth,
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.
He will drink neither wine nor strong drink.
He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb,
and he will turn many of the children of Israel
to the Lord their God.
He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah
to turn the hearts of fathers toward children
and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous,
to prepare a people fit for the Lord.”

Then Zechariah said to the angel,
“How shall I know this?
For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”
And the angel said to him in reply,
“I am Gabriel, who stand before God.
I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news.
But now you will be speechless and unable to talk
until the day these things take place,
because you did not believe my words,
which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”
Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah
and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary.
But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them,
and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary.
He was gesturing to them but remained mute.

Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home.

After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived,
and she went into seclusion for five months, saying,
“So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit
to take away my disgrace before others.” “

http://usccb.org/bible/readings/121918.cfm

 
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Orthodox (Greek Catholic):
“

Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All

10 Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the true form of these realities, it[a] can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered year after year, make perfect those who approach. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased being offered, since the worshipers, cleansed once for all, would no longer have any consciousness of sin? 3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sin year after year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Consequently, when Christ[b] came into the world, he said,

“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
    but a body you have prepared for me;
6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings
    you have taken no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘See, God, I have come to do your will, O God’
    (in the scroll of the book[c] it is written of me).”

8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, “See, I have come to do your will.” He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. 10 And it is by God’s will[d] that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11 And every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ[e] had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, “he sat down at the right hand of God,” 13 and since then has been waiting “until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet.” 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. 15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying,

16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them
    after those days, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts,
    and I will write them on their minds,”

17 he also adds,

“I will remember[f] their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”

18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.”

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+10&version=NRSVCE;NR2006;SCH2000;ERV-HU;BDS

“… 11 He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; 12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

Jesus Blesses Little Children

13 People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. 14 But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. 15 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.”

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+10%3A11-16&version=NRSVCE;NR2006;SCH2000;ERV-HU;BDS

—–

https://oca.org/readings/daily/2018/12/19

creation

996. Pride is a dangerous trait because it convinces man that he is greater than God

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The Book of Truth:
“Sunday, December 15th, 2013, 16:45

 

My dearly beloved daughter, mankind is ignorant of the Divine Laws and the Divine Will of My Father. Man is a creature of God and, as such, has not been given the Gift of Knowledge in relation to many secrets known only to the angels and saints in Heaven. Therefore, one man cannot say he knows why My Father allows certain events to take place in the world, while another man claims that he is privy to the origin of the universe. Man is simply a servant of God, but God, because He wanted to create man in His perfect Image, granted him many gifts and talents. He never gave man the Knowledge of the Tree of Life and this was for a reason. Man destroyed his standing in God’s Eyes, when Adam and Eve separated themselves from Him, because of the sin of pride. The sin of pride continues today and is the cause of much separation from God. Pride is a dangerous trait because it convinces man that he is greater than God. Pride tempts man to interfere with God’s Laws of Divinity. This includes the belief that man has the right to decide who is given the Gift of Life and who has the right to take it away.

Pride also convinces man that he knows how the universe was created, when he is, in fact, ignorant of such a miracle. Only God has the Power to create anything. Only God can decide how much He will permit man to explore or tamper with His Creation. Yet, man believes that he knows all the answers. When man believes that he controls his own destiny, and the destiny of others, he falls into serious error because when he imitates the sin of Lucifer, he will be cast away. When man refuses to respond to his Creator, He will no longer be there to comfort him on the last day.

You must never allow pride to convince you that you know all things of this world and beyond it, for this is impossible. Instead you must listen, accept the instructions laid down in the Holy Gospels, so that you can live in peace and in accordance with My Father’s Will. For when you humble yourselves before Him, He will show you great glory and then you will understand the great mystery of His Glorious Kingdom on the last day.

Your Jesus”


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Roman Catholic:
“

Saturday of the Second Week of Advent
Lectionary: 186

Reading 1 Sir 48:1-4, 9-11

In those days,
like a fire there appeared the prophet Elijah
whose words were as a flaming furnace.
Their staff of bread he shattered,
in his zeal he reduced them to straits;
By the Lord’s word he shut up the heavens
and three times brought down fire.
How awesome are you, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds!
Whose glory is equal to yours?
You were taken aloft in a whirlwind of fire,
in a chariot with fiery horses.
You were destined, it is written, in time to come
to put an end to wrath before the day of the LORD,
To turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons,
and to re-establish the tribes of Jacob.
Blessed is he who shall have seen you
and who falls asleep in your friendship.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 80:2ac and 3b, 15-16, 18-19

R. (4) Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
O shepherd of Israel, hearken,
From your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth.
Rouse your power.
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
Once again, O LORD of hosts,
look down from heaven, and see;
Take care of this vine,
and protect what your right hand has planted
the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
May your help be with the man of your right hand,
with the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
Then we will no more withdraw from you;
give us new life, and we will call upon your name.
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

Alleluia Lk 3:4, 6

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths:
All flesh shall see the salvation of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mt 17:9a, 10-13

As they were coming down from the mountain,
the disciples asked Jesus,
“Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
He said in reply, “Elijah will indeed come and restore all things;
but I tell you that Elijah has already come,
and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased.
So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands.”
Then the disciples understood
that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.”

http://usccb.org/bible/readings/121518.cfm

 
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Orthodox (Greek Catholic):
“

Jesus Heals the Man with Dropsy

14 On one occasion when Jesus[a] was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely. 2 Just then, in front of him, there was a man who had dropsy. 3 And Jesus asked the lawyers and Pharisees, “Is it lawful to cure people on the sabbath, or not?” 4 But they were silent. So Jesus[b] took him and healed him, and sent him away. 5 Then he said to them, “If one of you has a child[c] or an ox that has fallen into a well, will you not immediately pull it out on a sabbath day?” 6 And they could not reply to this.

Humility and Hospitality

7 When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; 9 and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give this person your place,’ and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. 11 For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”“

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+14%3A1-11&version=NRSVCE;NR2006;SCH2000;ERV-HU;BDS

Torah:

“… 28 Jacob lived in Egypt seventeen years, and the years of his life were a hundred and forty-seven. 29 When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called for his son Joseph and said to him, ‘If I have found favour in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise that you will show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt, 30 but when I rest with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me where they are buried.’‘I will do as you say,’ he said.

31 ‘Swear to me,’ he said. Then Joseph swore to him, and Israel worshipped as he leaned on the top of his staff.[a] …”

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+47%3A28-44&version=NIVUK;NR2006;SCH2000;ERV-HU;BDS

”

Manasseh and Ephraim

48.1 Some time later Joseph was told, ‘Your father is ill.’ So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim along with him. 2 When Jacob was told, ‘Your son Joseph has come to you,’ Israel rallied his strength and sat up on the bed.

3 Jacob said to Joseph, ‘God Almighty[a] appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and there he blessed me 4 and said to me, “I am going to make you fruitful and increase your numbers. I will make you a community of peoples, and I will give this land as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.”

5 ‘Now then, your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here will be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine. 6 Any children born to you after them will be yours; in the territory they inherit they will be reckoned under the names of their brothers. 7 As I was returning from Paddan,[b] to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan while we were still on the way, a little distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath’ (that is, Bethlehem).

8 When Israel saw the sons of Joseph, he asked, ‘Who are these?’

9 ‘They are the sons God has given me here,’ Joseph said to his father.

Then Israel said, ‘Bring them to me so that I may bless them.’

10 Now Israel’s eyes were failing because of old age, and he could hardly see. So Joseph brought his sons close to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them.

11 Israel said to Joseph, ‘I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed me to see your children too.’

12 Then Joseph removed them from Israel’s knees and bowed down with his face to the ground. 13 And Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right towards Israel’s left hand and Manasseh on his left towards Israel’s right hand, and brought them close to him. 14 But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.

15 Then he blessed Joseph and said,

‘May the God before whom my fathers
    Abraham and Isaac walked faithfully,
the God who has been my shepherd
    all my life to this day,
16 the Angel who has delivered me from all harm
    – may he bless these boys.
May they be called by my name
    and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac,
and may they increase greatly
    on the earth.’

17 When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim’s head he was displeased; so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 Joseph said to him, ‘No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.’

19 But his father refused and said, ‘I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations.’ 20 He blessed them that day and said,

‘In your[c] name will Israel pronounce this blessing:
    “May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.”’

So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.

21 Then Israel said to Joseph, ‘I am about to die, but God will be with you[d] and take you[e] back to the land of your[f] fathers. 22 And to you I give one more ridge of land[g] than to your brothers, the ridge I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow.’”

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+48%3A1-44&version=NRSVCE;NR2006;SCH2000;ERV-HU;BDS

“

David’s Instruction to Solomon

2.1 When David’s time to die drew near, he charged his son Solomon, saying: 2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, be courageous, 3 and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his ordinances, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn. 4 Then the Lord will establish his word that he spoke concerning me: ‘If your heirs take heed to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail you a successor on the throne of Israel.’

5 “Moreover you know also what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner son of Ner, and Amasa son of Jether, whom he murdered, retaliating in time of peace for blood that had been shed in war, and putting the blood of war on the belt around his waist, and on the sandals on his feet. 6 Act therefore according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace. 7 Deal loyally, however, with the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table; for with such loyalty they met me when I fled from your brother Absalom. 8 There is also with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a terrible curse on the day when I went to Mahanaim; but when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’ 9 Therefore do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man; you will know what you ought to do to him, and you must bring his gray head down with blood to Sheol.”

Death of David

10 Then David slept with his ancestors, and was buried in the city of David. 11 The time that David reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. 12 So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David; and his kingdom was firmly established.”

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+2%3A1-12&version=NRSVCE;NR2006;SCH2000;ERV-HU;BDS

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https://www.hebcal.com/sedrot/vayechi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piELyx5gaUI