Article by Floyd Taylor One of the easiest Words of God to understand is the Sacred Word of God “Stand”. It can also be discerned – and utilized – within the Scriptures as “Stands, Standing, Stood, Rise, Rises, Risen”, etc. “Stand” is used repeatedly by the Lord and testified to within the Scriptures. His Word […]Stand = Enabling the Judgment of the Lord for Good Works — 153wordsofgod
Luke 1:5-24, 57-66
Today, we are looking at the New Testament priest Zechariah. You may or may not remember him, but I bet you remember his son – John the Baptist!
The Bible begins by telling us that Zechariah was a priest of the division of Abijah. This division is not really significant for our purposes, but just by way of interest, back in the era of the monarchs, King David split the priesthood up into 24 divisions based on the names of the adult males descended from Aaron. He then created a rotating schedule, so that each division ended up serving in the temple for two weeks a year.
This continued until the people went into captivity. Upon their return, only four of the divisions remained; the rest died in captivity. As their numbers once again grew, they again divided themselves up into 24 divisions using the old names. So we know that Zechariah was, without question, a Levite and a priest, however, he may have been serving under the division of Abijah even though he was descended from another family member (you can read it for yourself in 1 Chronicles 24).
Anyway, in verse 5 Luke also reveals that Zechariah had a wife named Elizabeth, who was also a descendant of Aaron. So both of them were from the tribe of Levi. We are told that they both served God in righteousness:
Luke 1:6 – And they were both righteous before God walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.
The people who lived under the Old Testament law had a multitude of commandments to try and keep (seriously – have you read Exodus and Leviticus?). Keeping them all would be quite an accomplishment indeed!However, the overall meaning of the scripture is not that they were actually perfect people, but that they were faithfully observing both the moral and ceremonial institutions of the law. They were certainly making Jehovah the center of their lives and they were fair in their dealings with others.
Interestingly, we see that despite their service to God, they had some problems in life. I bet you can relate to that – I know I can.
Luke 1:7 – But they had no child because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years.
In our society, there is no shame or stigma attached to not having children. So it is sometimes hard for us to imagine that back in the days of Zechariah,there was a lot of shame and embarrassment associated with being childless. The couple without children were often considered as being under some judgment from God, leading to speculation that they had sinned in some way.
To add to their dilemma, they were both ‘advanced in years’. Every day that passed made it look less and less likely that they were ever going to have a child.
Luke tells us that Zechariah was serving out his week of temple service when he was chosen by lot to burn incense before the Lord in the Holy Place (since some of the priestly duties were better than others, they used lots to assign jobs).
Incense was burned twice daily. One priest would go into the Holy Place and remove the ashes from the altar. After he departed, another priest would bring a pan of fresh burning coals from the brazen altar. After he left, a third priest (in this case Zechariah) would come and burn the incense before God. As the smoke ascended, he would make intercession for the people, while at the same time, a whole crowd was outside praying.
So Zechariah is in the Holy Place about to offer the incense and prayers, when all of a sudden, he sees an angel.
Luke 1:11 – And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
The wording here is interesting. It does not say that the angle suddenly arrived; it says that Zechariah finally saw him. The angel may have been there for quite some time. How many times are we surrounded by God’s angels of protection but we don’t see it?
Anyway, Gabriel has a two part message for Zechariah. The first part is for him personally.
Luke 1:13-14 – …your prayer has been heard and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness…
How amazing is that? A personal notification that God was going to give Zechariah and Elizabeth the deepest desire of their hearts! Not only a child, a son! Their prayers have been answered! But wait – there’s more! Not only will Elizabeth and Zechariah be blessed, John will be a blessing to the whole Jewish nation! God is going to use him to prepare the hearts of the Jewish people for the soon coming Messiah, whom they have been waiting for, for literally hundreds of years.
Luke 1:14-17 – …and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord…and 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 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah…to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.
Now, stop and consider this scenario: if you saw an angel right this moment and he told you that God was giving you the deepest desire of your heart, what would your response be?
For most of us, the response would be unbounded excitement and gratitude, right? We would jump up and down and rejoice and burst out with audible thankfulness. We would already be making plans. We would definitely try to get a selfie with the angel. Then we would tell him to wait a minute, while we either send out a mass text or a tweet, letting everyone know that we were blessed!
The priest, however, does none of that. Apparently, he has a moment of weakness and unbelief, despite the heavenly message.
Luke 1:18 – And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”
For future reference, calling your wife “advanced in years” is a bad idea, but doubting a direct promise of God that comes straight from an angel who stands in His presence is an even worse idea! What was he thinking?
Luke 1:20 – And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.
So Zechariah is immediately unable to speak. Most scholars believe he was also struck deaf, based on Luke 1:62 which says that when the baby was born, they “made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him [the baby] to be called” (if he could hear, they could just ask him instead of making signs).
Meanwhile, as all this is taking place, the crowd outside is getting restless. Zechariah has been in the Holy place an unusually long time, and they are wondering what is going on.
Eventually he comes out, but obviously, he can’t tell them anything. They realize he had seen a vision of some kind, but that is about all they can determine. He ends up finishing his week of service, then going home.
Are you married? Imagine what it would be like to live with a spouse that could not speak or hear for the better part of a year. Be honest – Aren’t there times when that sounds like a desirable condition? But all joking aside, I bet it was frustrating.
Since communication was difficult, I wonder if Zechariah stopped communicating every little thought that popped into his mind. I think he began to really consider what he wanted to say before he made the effort to communicate. I bet that when he did make the effort, he had something meaningful to say. He sure had lots and lots of time to think about how his words affected his life.
Well, as we would expect, the words of the angel are indeed fulfilled in their time.
You already know the end of the story; Elizabeth gives birth to a son, Zechariah names him ‘John’ as instructed, and instantly the priest is once again able to speak and hear. Now he bursts out with vocal praise to God. People take note of John as a person of future interest; it is clear that the hand of the Lord was upon him.
So, what can we glean from the experience of Zechariah?
Answer: THE THINGS THAT YOU SPEAK MATTER TO GOD.
Let me say it again: Just as in the case of Zechariah, your words affect your life. God is listening and he wants you to pay attention to what you are saying.
Matthew 10:36 – I [Jesus] tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.
When Zechariah responded to the angelic messenger, he spoke words of unbelief, instead of faith and thanksgiving. Remember, he was living under the old covenant (not the age of grace), which means he spoke unbelief in the very presence of God. He deserved to be struck down and killed, but God did not do so. He showed mercy to Zechariah and used him to teach us this powerful lesson about our words at the same time.
The bible has much to say about what you speak. Here are two of many, many examples:
Proverbs 18:21 – Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
1 Peter 3:10 – For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile…
We live in an era where communication is astonishingly quick and easy. No other generation has ever had the potential to speak as we do. Not only do we speak to people in person, we can call, text, Snapchat, skype, instant message, tweet, Facebook, YouTube and on and on and on…
But I have to wonder – in this age of constant talking, are we saying things of value?
If our tongue really does have the power to give life and death, shouldn’t we pay attention to what we are saying? Is it really a good idea to just communicate anything and everything that pops into our minds? Have you ever said/posted/tweeted/shared something that you later regretted?
Do any of these things sound familiar:
- I’ll never get out of debt.
- It’s too late for me to find a spouse. I will always be alone.
- kids are addicted/living in sin/making wrong choices. I don’t think they will ever change.
- Nothing every goes right for me. I never get any good breaks.
- I’m losing my mind.
- I probably have Alzheimer’s. My memory is shot.
- I am so stupid.
- I’ll never have a son, I am too old (that one was from Zechariah)!
The good news is that we can learn from the lesson of Zechariah and going forward, we can change the way we speak.
First, let’s take a look at how our words function in the spiritual realm.
Joyce Meyer tells us in her book, “Power Words, What You Say can Change Your Life”, that words are like containers of power that you sow into your life. They can contain power to destroy or power to create, depending on what you speak.
When you speak words that destroy, such as ‘I give up, my marriage will never work’, you are sowing destruction in your life in the spiritual realm. If you speak words that are life-giving such as ‘I believe God is going to is going to heal my marriage’, you are sowing life and blessing into your situation in the spiritual realm.
Now that we have a better understanding of how our words affect ourselves and others, what can we do to ensure that we speak words of faith, encouragement and affirmation instead of unbelief and destruction?
Once again, the bible has the answer. Jesus tells us that the words we speak are a product of what we are thinking.
Matthew 12:34-35– You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.
Matthew 15:18-19 – But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts…
Our thoughts determine what we speak. The words we speak play a big role in what happens in our lives. The key, then, is to gain control over our mind and thoughts.
I’m sure you have already figured out that despite your salvation you may still have thoughts of lust, envy or (like Zechariah), unbelief. [Also, many times we speak destructive words out of pure habit]. That is because your mind/thought life is not instantly regenerated when you receive Christ as your savior. Rather, it is sanctified over time as you strive to control it. Gaining control over your thoughts is part of spiritual warfare.
2 Corinthians 10:5 – We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ
You can choose to fill your mind with the things of God like scripture or praises or testimonies of God’s grace and mercy. You can dwell on stories of triumph and love. When you dwell on those things, you will speak praise, thanksgiving and words of life to yourself and others.
Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Stop and do a quick inventory of what you are watching, what you are reading and what video games you are playing. Which of these things does your mind dwell on? Do they affect you positively, negatively or not at all? What is coming out of your mouth as a result of what your mind is dwelling on?
Obviously, this little lesson is not an exhaustive study of the power of words and the importance of our thoughts. It is up to you to look for good Christian sources to further assist you in making changes in your life. Please do so!
In the meantime, what choices can you make right now that would make your thoughts (and by default your words) more pleasing to God and more beneficial to yourself and others? Are you willing to take the first step? If you could ask Zechariah, I bet he would tell you to get started, because these issues are vitally important.
Let me offer you some words of ENCOURAGEMENT: You can do all things (including this) through Christ. With study and discipline, you can control your thoughts and bring them captive under Christ. You can speak blessing into your situation. It won’t happen overnight. There may be some struggles. You may make mistakes from time to time, but getting your thoughts and words under control is going to make a big difference in your life.
Proverbs 21:23 – Whosoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
Let me offer you some RELIEF: You don’t have to do this on your own! There are many, many good sources available to you from other believers who have taken control over this area of their lives. They can offer you advice and helpful insights. More importantly, the Holy Spirit is living right there inside your heart and it is his job to sanctify your life – including your thoughts and words! He is standing by right now to help.
Let me offer you some words of STRENGTH: Speaking words of faith can break bondages in your life. It can open the door for God to move in miraculous ways. Even though this may be a long term process, the rewards will be worth it. Take the first step today!
- Share
- 1Comment
- 1Like
MORE IN KIPTON COMMUNITY CHURCH
- ZerubbabelEzra 1-6, Zechariah 4 I suspect Zerubbabel is not on the short list of famous bible characters – but he should be! If you are not really sure who he was,…
- Forgiveness, Part IIColossians 3:12-14 Colossians 3:12-14 – Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility,…
Follow Conversation2 COMMENTS
- denadennis6498Jul 19, 2019Wow!! Great lesson, I do find myself from time to time not thinking and speaking the things of Christ. Thank you for the lesson, encouragement and the motivation to try harder.
DenaReplyLike - samo lucijajust nowThe Forge > Dazzled > Chap. 11
We are children of God. —Bearers of the only flame that can light up the paths of the earth for souls, of the only brightness which can never be darkened, dimmed or overshadowed.—The Lord uses us as torches, to make that light shine out… It depends on us that many should not remain in darkness, but walk instead along paths that lead to eternal life.2
—God is my Father! If you meditate on it, you will never let go of this consoling consideration.—Jesus is my intimate Friend (another re-discovery) who loves me with all the divine madness of his Heart.—The Holy Spirit is my Consoler, who guides my every step along the road.Consider this often: you are God’s… and God is yours.3
My Father — talk to him like that, confidently — who art in heaven, look upon me with compassionate Love, and make me respond to thy love.—Melt and enkindle my heart of bronze, burn and purify my unmortified flesh, fill my mind with supernatural light, make my tongue proclaim the Love and Glory of Christ.4
Christ, who went up to the Cross with his arms wide open, with the gesture of the Eternal Priest, wants to count on us — who are nothing! — to bring to all men the fruits of his Redemption.5
Lord, we are glad to find ourselves in your wounded palm. Grasp us tight, squeeze us hard, make us lose all our earthly wretchedness, purify us, set us on fire, make us feel drenched in your Blood.—And then, cast us far, far away, hungry for the harvest, to sow the seed more fruitfully each day, for Love of you.6
Do not be afraid. Do not be alarmed or surprised. Do not allow yourself to be overcome by false prudence.The call to fulfil God’s will — this goes for vocation too — is sudden, as it was for the Apostles: a meeting with Christ and his call is followed…—None of them doubted. Meeting Christ and following him was all one.7
A day of salvation, of eternity, has come for us. Once again the call of the Divine Shepherd can be heard, those affectionate words: Vocavi te nomine tuo — I have called you by your name.Just like our mother, he calls us by our name, even by the name we were affectionately called at home. —There, in the depths of our soul, he calls us and we just have to answer: Ecce ego quia vocasti me —here I am, for you have called me, and this time I’m determined not to let time flow by like water over rounded stones, leaving no trace behind.8
Live close to Christ! You should be another character in the Gospel, side by side with Peter, and John, and Andrew. For Christ is also living now: Iesus Christus, heri et hodie, ipse et in saecula! — Jesus Christ lives! Today, as yesterday, he is the same, for ever and ever.9
Lord, may your children be like very well lit embers, showing no flames that would make the fire be seen from afar. Let them be embers that will set alight each heart they come into contact with.—You will make that first spark turn into a big fire, because your Angels are very skilled at blowing on embers in hearts… I know, I have seen it. And a heart cleared of dead ashes cannot but be yours.10
Think about what the Holy Spirit says, and let yourself be filled with awe and gratitude: Elegit nos ante mundi constitutionem — he chose us before the foundation of the world, ut essemus sancti in conspectu eius! — that we might be holy in his presence.—To be holy isn’t easy, but it isn’t difficult either. To be holy is to be a good Christian, to resemble Christ. The more closely a person resembles Christ, the more Christian he is, the more he belongs to Christ, the holier he is.—And what means do we have? The same means the early faithful had, when they saw Jesus directly or caught a glimpse of him in the accounts the Apostles and Evangelists gave of him.11
You owe such a great debt to your Father—God! He has given you life, intelligence, will… He has given you his grace: the Holy Spirit; Jesus, in the Sacred Host; divine sonship; the Blessed Virgin, the Mother of God and our Mother. He has given you the possibility of taking part in the Holy Mass; and he grants you forgiveness for your sins. He forgives you so many times! He has given you countless gifts, some of them quite extraordinary…Tell me, my son: how have you corresponded so far to this generosity? How are you corresponding now?12
I do not know how it strikes you…, but I feel I must tell you how moved I am whenever I read the words of the prophet Isaiah: Ego vocavi te nomine tuo, meus es tu! — I have called you, I have brought you into my Church, you are mine! God himself telling me I am his! It is enough to make one go mad with Love!13
Just think, there are so many men and women on earth, and the Master does not fail to call every single one.He calls them to a Christian life, to a life of holiness, to a chosen life, to life eternal.14
Christ suffered in your place and for your benefit, to tear you away from the slavery of sin and imperfection.15
In these times of violence and brutal, savage sexuality, we have to be rebels: we refuse point blank to go with the tide, and become beasts.We want to behave like children of God, like men and women who are on intimate terms with their Father, who is in Heaven and who wants to be very close to — inside! — each one of us.16
Meditate on this frequently: I am a Catholic, a child of Christ’s Church. He brought me to birth in a home that is his, without my doing anything to deserve it.—My God, how much I owe you.17
Remind everyone (and especially all those fathers and mothers, who call themselves Christians) that a vocation, a call from God, is a grace from the Lord, a choice made by the divine goodness, a reason for holy pride, a call to serve all joyously for the love of Jesus Christ.18
Please echo these words for me: it is no “sacrifice” for parents when God asks them for their children. Neither, for those he calls, is it a sacrifice to follow him.It is, on the contrary, an immense honour, a reason for a great and holy pride, a mark of predilection, a very special affection that God has shown at a particular time, but which has been in his mind from all eternity.19
Be grateful to your parents for bringing you into this world, thus enabling you to become a child of God. And be all the more grateful if it was they who placed in your soul the first seeds of faith and piety, of your Christian way, or of your vocation.20
There are many people around you, and you have no right to be an obstacle to their spiritual good, to their eternal happiness.—You are under an obligation to be a saint. You must not let God down for having chosen you. Neither must you let those around you down: they expect so much from your Christian life.21
The commandment to love our parents belongs to both natural law and to divine positive law, and I have always called it a “most sweet precept”.—Do not neglect your obligation to love your parents more each day, to mortify yourself for them, to pray for them and to be grateful to them for all the good you owe them.22
Following the Master’s wishes, you are to be salt and light while being fully immersed in this world we were made to live in, sharing in all human activities. Light which illuminates the hearts and minds of men. Salt which gives flavour and preserves from corruption.That is why if you lack apostolic zeal you will become insipid and useless. You will be letting other people down and your life will be absurd.23
A red and blue wave of filth and corruption has set out to overcome the world, throwing its vile spittle over the Cross of the Redeemer.Now He wants another wave to issue out from our souls — a wave that’s white and powerful, like the Lord’s right hand — to overcome with its purity all the rottenness of materialism and undo the corruption that has flooded the world. It is for this, and more, that the children of God have come.24
Many people ask with an air of self—justification: Why should I get involved in the lives of others?—Because it is your Christian duty to get involved in their lives, in order to serve them!—Because Christ has got involved in your life and in mine!25
If you are another Christ, if you behave as a son of God, wherever you are you will set others alight. Christ burns with love, he does not leave hearts indifferent.26
It is painful to see that after two thousand years there are so few people in the world who call themselves Christians and that of those who do call themselves Christians, so few practise the true teaching of Jesus Christ.It is worth while putting our whole life at stake!: working and suffering for Love, to accomplish God’s plans and co—redeem.27
I look at your Cross, my Jesus, and I rejoice in your grace, because your Calvary has won for us the reward of the Holy Spirit. And you give yourself to me, each day, lovingly, madly, in the Sacred Host. And you have made me a son of God, and have given me your Mother to be mine.I can’t be satisfied with just giving thanks. My thoughts take flight: Lord, Lord, there are so many souls who are so far from you!Foster those yearnings for apostolate in your life, that many may get to know him…, and love him…, and come to feel loved by him!28
Sometimes we hear love described (you’ll have heard me mention this more than once) as if it were a movement towards self—satisfaction, or merely a means of selfishly fulfilling one’s own personality.—And I have always told you that it isn’t so. True love demands getting out of oneself, giving oneself. Genuine love brings joy in its wake, a joy that has its roots in the shape of the Cross.29
My God, how is it that I do not cry out in sorrow and love whenever I see a Crucifix?30
Marvel at God’s magnanimity: he has become Man to redeem us, so that you and I — who are absolutely worthless, admit it! — may come to know him and trust him.31
O Jesus…, strengthen our souls, open out the way for us, and, above all, intoxicate us with your Love! Make us into blazing fires to kindle the earth with the heavenly fire you brought us.32
Coming closer to God means being ready to be converted anew, to change direction again, to listen attentively to his inspirations — those holy desires he places in our souls — and to put them into practice.33
What are you so proud of? — Every impulse that moves you comes from Him. Act accordingly.34
What respect, veneration and affection we should feel for every single soul when we realise that God loves it as his very own!35
An aspiration: May we spend the days the Lord grants us only in pleasing him!36
I would like you to behave as Peter and John did — speaking to Jesus about the needs of your friends, colleagues… as you pray. And then with your example you will be able to say to them: Respice in nos! — look at me!37
When you love somebody very much, you want to know everything about him.—Meditate on this: Do you feel a hunger to know Christ? Because… that is the measure of your love for him.38
People who say that we priests are lonely are either lying or have got it all wrong. We are far less lonely than anyone else, for we can count on the constant company of the Lord, with whom we should be conversing without interruption.—We are in love with Love, with the Author of Love!39
I see myself like a poor little bird, accustomed only to making short flights from tree to tree, or, at most, up to a third floor balcony… One day in its life it succeeded in reaching the roof of a modest building, that you could hardly call a skyscraper.But suddenly our little bird is snatched up by an eagle, who mistakes the bird for one of its own brood. In its powerful talons the bird is borne higher and higher, above the mountains of the earth and the snow—capped peaks, above the white, blue and rose—pink clouds, and higher and higher until it can look right into the sun. And then the eagle lets go of the little bird and says: Off you go. Fly!—Lord, may I never flutter again close to the ground. May I always be enlightened by the rays of the divine sun — Christ — in the Eucharist. May my flight never be interrupted until I find repose in your Heart.40
That friend of ours would finish his prayer in this way: “I love the Will of my God and that is why, abandoning myself completely into his hands, I pray that he may lead me however and wherever he likes.”41
Ask the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and your Mother, to make you know yourself and weep for all those foul things that have passed through you, and which, alas, have left such dregs behind… — And at the same time, without wishing to stop considering all that, say to him: Jesus, give me a Love that will act like a purifying fire in which my miserable flesh, my miserable heart, my miserable soul, my miserable body may be consumed and cleansed of all earthly wretchedness. And when I have been completely emptied of myself, fill me with yourself. May I never become attached to anything here below. May Love always sustain me.42
Desire nothing for yourself, either good or bad. For yourself, want only what God wants.Whatever it may be, if it comes from his hand, from God, however bad it may appear in the eyes of men, with God’s help it will appear good, yes very good!, to you. And with an ever—increasing conviction you will say: Et in tribulatione mea dilatasti me… et calix tuus inebrians, quam praeclarus est! — I have rejoiced in tribulation…, how marvellous is your chalice. It inebriates my whole being!43
We should offer the Lord the sacrifice of Abel. A sacrifice of young unblemished flesh, the best of the flock; of healthy and holy flesh; a sacrifice of hearts that have one love alone — you, my God. A sacrifice of minds, which have been shaped through deep study and will surrender to your Wisdom; of childlike souls who will think only of pleasing you.—Lord, receive even now this sweet and fragrant sacrifice.44
We have to learn how to give ourselves, to burn before God like the lamp placed on a lampstand to give light to those who walk in darkness; like the sanctuary lamps that burn by the altar, giving off light till they are consumed.45
The Lord, the teacher of Love, is a jealous lover who asks for all we possess, for all our love. He expects us to offer him whatever we have, and to follow the path he has marked out for each one of us.46
My God, I see I shall never accept you as my Saviour unless I acknowledge you as my Model at the same time.—Since you yourself chose to be poor, make me love holy poverty. I resolve, with your grace, to live and die in poverty, even though I may have millions at my disposal.47
You became very thoughtful when I told you: “The way I see it, everything seems too little when it is for Our Lord.”48
It would be good if it could be said of you that the distinguishing feature of your life was “loving God’s Will”.49
Any job, no matter how hidden, no matter how insignificant, when offered to the Lord, is charged with the strength of God’s life!50
Feel the responsibility of your mission: the whole of Heaven is looking down on you.51
God awaits you! — So, wherever you are, you must commit yourself to imitating him and uniting yourself to him, cheerfully, lovingly, keenly, though circumstances might require you — even permanently — to go against the grain.God awaits you!… and needs you to be faithful!52
You wrote: “My King, I hear you proclaiming in a loud voice that still resounds: Ignem veni mittere in terram, et quid volo nisi ut accendatur? — I have come to cast fire upon the earth, and would that it were already kindled!”Then you added: “Lord, it is me — all of me — who answers with all my senses and faculties: Ecce ego quia vocasti me! — here I am because you have called me.”—May this answer of yours be a daily reality.53
You should show the moderation, fortitude and sense of responsibility that many people acquire after many long years, in their old age. You will achieve all this, while you are still young, if you do not — I beg you — lose the supernatural outlook of a son of God. For he will give you, more than to the old, those qualities you need for your apostle’s work.54
You enjoy an interior happiness and peace that you would not exchange for anything in the world. God is here. There is no better way than telling him our woes for them to cease being such.55
Is it possible, you asked me, that Christ should have spent so many years — twenty centuries — acting on earth, and the world should be now what it is? Is it possible, you went on, that there should still be people who do not know Our Lord?—And I answered you with conviction: It is our fault. For we have been called to be co—redeemers, and at times, perhaps often!, we do not follow the Will of God.56
How humble Jesus is. What a shame, in contrast, that I who am nothing but dust from a dung—heap should so often have disguised my pride under the cloak of dignity, or justice. — And as a result, how many opportunities to follow the Master I have missed or wasted, by failing to supernaturalise them.57
Sweet Mother…, lead us to that madness that will make others fall madly in love with our Christ.Sweet Lady Mary, may Love not be in us a flash in the pan, or a will—o’—the—wisp, such as decomposing corpses sometimes produce. May it be a true devouring fire, which sets alight and burns everything it touches.[Print][Send][Palm][Save]Translate into:Previous NextI. TJEDAN DOŠAŠĆA – NEDJELJA
01. DOŠ – PRVA NEDJELJA DOŠAŠĆAI. VEČERNJAR. Bože, u pomoć mi priteci.
O. Gospodine, pohiti da mi pomogneš.Slava Ocu i Sinu i Duhu Svetomu.
Kako bijaše na početku, tako i sada i vazda i u vijeke vjekova. Amen. AlelujaHIMANNebesa Stvorče zvjezdanih,
Svog puka vječna svjetlosti,
O Spasitelju ljudi svih:
Usliši naše molitve.Kad imao svijet je propasti
Od prijevara sotoninih,
Ti sam si, dirnut ljubavlju,
Lijek postao bolesnicima.Da grijeh nam opći okaješ,
Izišao na križ gorki si
Iz Djevičina svetišta
Kao bijelo janje žrtveno.Pred tvojom moći preslavnom,
Pred samim tvojim imenom
I Nebo kao i Podzemlje
Od strave drščuć klanja se.Čuj molbu našu, Gospode,
Ti Suče suda strašnoga:
Dušmani ljuti nasrću,
Oružaj puk svoj milošću!Gospodstvo, slava, hvala, čast
Sa Ocem Sinu višnjemu
I s njima Duhu Svetomu
Nek bude u sve vjekove. Amen.1^ Antifona
Objavite narodima:
Evo Bog, Spasitelj naš, dolazi.PSALAM 141(140) 1 – 9 Molitva u kušnji i progonstvu
I vinu se dim kadioni s molitvama svetih iz ruke anđeoske pred lice Božje (Otk, 8, 4)Prizivljem te Gospodine, k meni pohitaj!
Slušaj glas moj kojim tebi vapijem!
Neka mi se uzdigne molitva
kao kad pred lice tvoje,
neka bude kao prinos večernji!Na usta mi Gospodine, stražu postavi,
i stražare na vrata usana mojih!
Ne daj da mi se srce zlu prikloni,
da bezbožno počinim djela opaka;
i u društvu zlotvora*
da ne blagujem poslastica njihovih!
Neka me samo udari pravednik,
ljubav je što me kara,+
ali ulje grešničko neće mi glavu pomazat; *
zloći njihovoj oprijet ću se uvijek
svojom molitvom.Kad strovale niz hridinu suce njihove,
razumjet će kako blage bijahu riječi moje.
Kao kad orač ore i para zemlju,
tako će im se na rubu podzemlja kosti rasuti.
Ta u te su, Gospodine, uprte oči moje,
k tebi se utječem,
ne daj da mi duša propadne!
Čuvaj me od stupice koju postaviše meni,
od zamki zločinaca!Slava Ocu i Sinu *
i Duhu Svetomu.
Kako bijaše na početku, tako i sada i vazda *
i u vijeke vjekova. Amen1^ Antifona
Objavite narodima:
Evo Bog, Spasitelj naš, dolazi.2^ Antifona
Evo Gospodin dolazi
i svi sveti njegovi s njime,
bit će u onaj dan svjetlo veliko, aleluja.PSALAM 142 (141) Ti si mi utočište
Krist u tjeskobi moli Oca »Oče moj! Ako je moguće, neka me mimoiđe ova čaša…» (Mk 14, 33) i traži uskrsnuće na kojem Crkva svetaca temelji svoju vjeru (Usp Kasiodor).Iz svega glasa vapijem Gospodinu,
iz svega glasa Gospodina zaklinjem.
Pred njim svoju izlijevam tužaljku,
tjeskobu svoju pred njim razastirem.Ako duh moj i klone u meni,
ti put moj poznaješ.
Na putu kojim prolazim
potajnu mi zamku staviše.
Obazrem li se na desno i pogledam :*
nitko ne zna za mene.
Nemam kamo pobjeći,
nitko za moj život ne mari.K tebi Gospodine vapijem; +
govorim: ti si moje utočište,*
ti si dio moj u zemlji živih.Poslušaj moje vapaje,
jer sam veoma nevoljan.
Izbavi me od gonitelja mojih,
jer od mene oni su moćniji.Izbavi iz tamnice dušu moju
da zahvaljujem imenu tvojemu.
Oko mene će se okupiti pravednici
zbog dobra što si ga iskazao meni.Slava Ocu i Sinu *
i Duhu Svetomu.
Kako bijaše na početku, tako i sada i vazda *
i u vijeke vjekova. Amen2^ Antifona
Evo Gospodin dolazi
i svi sveti njegovi s njime,
bit će u onaj dan svjetlo veliko, aleluja.3^ Antifona
Doći će Gospodin s vlašću velikom
i vidjet će ga svaki čovjek.Hvalospjev ( Fil 2, 6-11). Krist, sluga BožjiIsus Krist,trajni lik Božji.
nije se kao plijena držao
svoje jednakosti s Bogom,
nego sam sebe oplijeni
uzevši lik sluge +
postavši ljudima sličan:
obličjem čovjeku nalik,
ponizi sam sebe,+
poslušan do smrti,*
smrti na križu.Zato ga Bog preuzvisi +
i darova mu ime,
ime nad svakim imenom,
da se na ime Isusovo
prigne svako koljeno
nebesnika, zemnika i podzemnika,
i svaki će jezik priznati: *
Isus Krist jest Gospodin!
na slavu Boga Oca.Slava Ocu i Sinu *
i Duhu Svetomu.
Kako bijaše na početku, tako i sada i vazda *
i u vijeke vjekova. Amen3^ Antifona
Doći će Gospodin s vlašću velikom
i vidjet će ga svaki čovjek.Kratko čitanje 1 Sol 5, 23-24
Sam Bog mira neka vas posvema posveti i cijelo vaše biće – duh vaš i duša i tijelo – neka se besprijekornim, savršenim sačuva za Dolazak Gospodina našega Isusa Krista. Vjeran je Onaj tko vas poziva: on će to i učiniti.Kratki otpjev
R. Pokaži nam, Gospodine, * milosrđe svoje!
Pokaži nam, Gospodine, milosrđe svoje!
O. I daj nam svoje spasenje!
Slava Ocu i Sinu i Duhu Svetomu.
Pokaži nam, Gospodine, milosrđe svoje!Antifona uz Veliča
Evo ime Gospodnje dolazi izdaleka
i svjetlost njegova ispunja krug zemaljski.EVANĐEOSKI HVALOSPJEV Lk 1, 46-5
Kliktaj duše u GospodinuVeliča * duša moja Gospodina
i klikće duh moj *
u Bogu mome Spasitelju,
što pogleda na neznatnost službenice svoje: *
odsad će me, evo, svi naraštaji zvati blaženom.
Jer velika mi djela učini Svesilni, *
sveto je ime njegovo.
Od koljena do koljena dobrota je njegova *
nad onima što se njega boje.Iskaza snagu mišice svoje, *
rasprši oholice umišljene.
Silne zbaci s prijestolja, *
a uzvisi neznatne.
Gladne napuni dobrima, *
a bogate otpusti prazne.Prihvati Izraela, slugu svoga, *
kako obeća ocima našim:
spomenuti se dobrote svoje *
prema Abrahamu i potomstvu njegovu dovijeka.Slava Ocu i Sinu *
i Duhu Svetomu.
Kako bijaše na početku, tako i sada i vazda *
i u vijeke vjekova. Amen.Antifona uz Veliča
Evo ime Gospodnje dolazi izdaleka
i svjetlost njegova ispunja krug zemaljski.Prošnje
Krist je radost i veselje svih koji ga iščekuju. Zavapijmo stoga njemu riječima:Dođi, Gospodine i nemoj kasniti!Radosno iščekujemo tvoj dolazak:
– dođi, Gospodine Isuse.
Ti si prije svih vjekova:
– dođi i spasi nas koji živimo u ovome vijeku!
Ti si stvorio svijet i sve što na njem boravi:
– dođi i otkupi djelo ruku svojih!
Nisi se strašio uzeti našu smrtnu narav:
– dođi i oslobodi nas od vlasti smrti!
Došao si da imamo život u izobilju:
– dođi i daruj nam svoj vječni život!
Htio si sve ljude sabrati u svome kraljevstvu:
– dođi i saberi sve koji iščekuju da tvoje lice ugledaju!Oče naš…Molitva
Svemogući Bože, mi s vjerom iščekujemo Kristov dolazak. Udijeli, molimo te, da mu idemo u susret pravednim životom te nas, kad dođe, postavi sebi s desne i uvede u kraljevstvo nebesko. Po Gospodinu.Blagoslovio nas svemogući Bog, sačuvao nas od svakoga zla i priveo nas u život vječni.
O. Amen. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gKzGrQ45rU
Kommentarer
Skicka en kommentar