Life was a Rollercoaster Back Then Too!

The disciples were ‘UP’ on Palm Sunday when Jesus made his triumphant return to Jerusalem. They thought he was going to be the King of the Kingdom on Earth. They were wrong and were ‘DOWN’ when he was crucified and died on Good Friday.

Surely Judas was a disciple, one of the twelve called by Jesus, destined to be an Apostle and a Saint like the others. This was not the case. He betrayed Jesus, then repented and took his own life.

Surely the crowd would call for the release of Jesus, a just man, and not the release of Barabbas, a notorious prisoner. They did not.

Surely God would save Jesus from the humiliation, pain and suffering of the crucifixion but He did not.

Haven’t all our lives been a rollercoaster to some degree? Up and down and all over the place! Our relationships too! Sometimes jumping the track yet never fully crashing, somehow, some way, we seem to always get back on track. At least until the next peak, downfall and turn in the road. That’s life—unpredictable, unyielding and certainly uncontrollable although we try to perfect it, control it and live it to the fullest while we have the opportunity.

Our spiritual journey in life straightens the track, smooths out the ups and downs to a gradual incline to heaven, our eventual destination. For me this spiritual journey has been guided by TROML the last sixteen and one half years of my life. All the personal investigation, development and celebration has culminated in my Splendid Spiritual Self (SSS). A place within me where I can go and be fortified through God, Jesus and The Holy Spirit and come with faith and strength to others and the world from the inside-out.

We can’t dwell on the past or what might have been. We have to celebrate our past, extract the inspiration of the experience, forgive ourselves and others, if and when needed, for real or imagined missteps and move on in life.

We do this best by moving on with Jesus Christ in our hearts. Jesus frees us from fears, resentments, untruths, and most importantly from our self, our ego and our pride. We come out of denial, justifications, and rationalizations to find our True Self and Trusting Ego. We become childlike in our love affair with Christ and receive His love and the love of others in a different, more meaningful way. We find peace, joy and freedom to live our lives uniquely as ourselves.

The passion is the passion. Jesus’ resurrection is true, a historical fact, living in our hearts as He lives in us and we live in Him.

Do not be afraid!

Matthew, the tax collector was afraid at times. So too are we but not overwhelmingly so.

Matthew converted and changed his life and that of his descendants forever.

So too can we.

These were the last two chapters of The Gospel of Saint Matthew.  Apostle Matthew wrote his Gospel to prove to his readers that Christ was the Messiah foretold by God in the Old Testament. There are several references to prophets of the Old Testament and how their revelations became reality in Jesus’ time. Such as that what was spoken through Jeremias the prophet was fulfilled. “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of Him who was priced, upon whom the children of Israel set a price; and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.”

Can you become a prophet of your own life?

Can you foresee and foretell your own future?

I believe that if you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and become intimate with His word that your destiny will be divine for the rest of your life here on earth and more than divine in the afterlife in heaven.

Be consummated with Jesus and His last words in Matthew’s Gospel:

“All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you and behold, I am with you all days, even into the consummation of the world.”

Peace, joy and freedom to you!

Day 30: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Life was a Rollercoaster Back Then Too!

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Gospel of Saint Matthew Chapters 27-28.

Bible Notes:

The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew

Saint Matthew, also known as Levi, was a Galilean by birth.

Tax Collector at Capharnaum

Christ called him to become a disciple, and later an Apostle

After the Holy Ghost came down on the Apostles on Pentecost, Matthew preached the Gospel in Judea.

He wrote his Gospel to prove to his readers that Christ was the Messiah foretold by God in the Old Testament

 

Matthew Chapter 27:  Jesus led to Pilate; The end of Judas; The thirty pieces of silver; Jesus before Pilate; Crowd chooses Barabbas; Pilate washes his hands; The scourging and crowning; The way of the cross; The crucifixion; The two thieves; The death of Jesus; The effects of the passion; The burial; Precautions of the chief priests.

Took counsel together against Jesus in order to put him to death.

Delivered him to Pontius Pilate

Judas repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver, “I have sinned in betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to it thyself.” Withdrew and went away and hanged himself with a halter.

Then what was spoken through Jeremias the prophet was fulfilled. “and they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of Him who was priced, upon whom the children of Israel set a price; and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.”

Art thou the King of the Jews?

“Thou sayest it.”

So that the procurator wondered exceedingly.

Whom do you wish that I release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?

For he knew that they had delivered hi up out of envy.

Have nothing to do with that just man, for I have suffered many things in a dream today because of him.

Which of the two do you wish that I release to you?

Barabbas

What then am I to do with Jesus who is called Christ?

Let Him be crucified.

Why, what evil has he done?

Let Him be crucified!

I am innocent of the blood of this just man; see to it yourselves.

His blood be on us and on our children.

Then he released to them Barabbas; but Jesus he scourged and delivered to them to be crucified.

Scourged—to whip with a scourge; lash; to punish, chastise, or criticize severely.

Scourge—a whip or lash, especially for the infliction of punishment or torture.

The way of the cross.

Now as they went out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon; him they forced to take up the cross. And they came to the place called Golgotha, that is, the Place of the Skull.

To fulfill what was spoken through the prophet, “They divided my garments among them, and upon my vesture they cast lots.”

This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”

Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on His right hand and one on his left.

Thou destroyed the temple, and in three days buildest it up again, save thyself! If thou art the Son of God, come down from the cross!

He saved others, himself he cannot save!

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

“Eli, Eli, lema sabactthani,” that is, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

But Jesus again cried out with a loud voice, and gave up his spirit.

Many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep arose

Truly He was the Son of God

Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

There came a certain rich man of Arimathea, Joseph by name, who was himself a disciple of Jesus.

And laid it in his new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock

Sepulchre—a tomb, grave, or burial place; a structure or a recess in some old churches in which the Eucharist was deposited with due ceremonies on Good Friday and taken out at Easter in commemoration of Christ’s entombment and Resurrection.

Sir, remember how that deceiver said… and the last imposture will be worse than the first.

So they went and made the sepulcher secure, sealing the stone, and setting the guard.

Matthew Chapter 28:  The woman at the grave; The guards and the chief priests. Commission of the Apostles.

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary

An angel of the Lord came down from heaven, and drawing back the stone, and sat on it.

“Do not be afraid; He has risen; go quickly, tell His disciples; He goes before you into Galilee; there you shall see Him.”

“Hail, Do not be afraid; go, take word to my brethren that they are to set out for Galilee; there they shall see me.”

But the eleven disciples went into Galilee and when they saw Him they worshipped Him.

“All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you and behold, I am with you all days, even into the consummation of the world.”

Consummation—the act of consummating; completion; the state of being consummated; perfection; fulfillment.

Second Chances; If I Surrender to His Will…

It was a difficult time for the children of Israel having been freed from Egypt but transitioning to a new homeland but not yet there.

Fortunately they got a “redo” from Moses and God.

“I will make a covenant in sight of all. Adore not any strange god. The Lord his name is Jealous, he is a jealous God. Thou shall not make thyself any molten gods.”

“Write thee these words by which I have made a covenant both with thee and with Israel. And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water, and he wrote upon the tables the ten words of the covenant.”

Moses did another 40-day-and-night stint up on Mount Sinai and God reissued the tablets.

All the children of Israel dedicated voluntary offerings to the Lord.

And hath filled him with the spirit of God, with wisdom and understanding and knowledge and all learning.

Whatsoever can be devised artificially, he hath given in his heart.

The tabernacle was to be built finally!

Talk about second chances!

We know not God’s ways or his timing. Another forty years is a lot to us, little to Him.

We, of course, have a limited lifespan. God does not.

This earth does not.

We control a lot less than we think.

We need to control a lot more than we think of our mind and emotions, coming from the inside-out to a spiritual solution for what we call life.

The end is near?

We do not live forever.

God grant me the serenity

To accept the things I cannot change;

Courage to change the things I can;

And wisdom to know the difference.

 

Living one day at a time;

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world

As it is, not as I would have it;

 

Trusting that He will make all things right

If I surrender to His Will;

So that I may be reasonably happy in this life

And supremely happy with Him

Forever and ever in the next.

Amen.

Reference: the Serenity Prayer (Full Version, Reinhold Neibuhr, early 1940s)

Day 31: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Second Chances; If I Surrender to His Will…

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Book of Exodus Chapters 33-37

Bible Notes:

This Book of Exodus is so called from the Greek word exodus, which means going out.

It recounts the persecution of the Jews in Egypt, the call of Moses, the ten plagues, the Jewish departure from Egypt, and the giving of the Mosaic Law on Mount Sinai.

The Book of Exodus closes with the consecration of the Tabernacle.

 

Exodus Chapter 33: God threatens to withdraw His grace; The people mourn for their sin; Moses places the tabernacle outside the camp; The Lord talks familiarly with Moses; Moses asks to see God’s glory.

For I will not go up with thee, because thou art a stiffnecked people: less I destroy thee in the way.

And the people hearing these very bad tidings, mourned: and no man put on his ornaments according to custom.

The tabernacle of the covenant, outside of camp.

And the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man is wont to speak to his friend.

I know thee by name, and thou hast found favor in my sight.

And may find grace before thy eyes

And I will give thee rest

Thou canst not see my face: for man shall not see me and live.

Exodus Chapter 34: Moses renews the tables; Moses asks God to forgive the people; Friendship with idolaters forbidden; Feast of unleavened bread; Law of firstborn males; Sabbath day and feasts; The tables are rewritten; Moses’ face is horned with rays of light.

Then he cut two tables of stone, such as had been before.

O the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, patient and of much compassion, and true, who keepest Mercy unto thousands; who takest away iniquity, and wickedness, and sin, and no man of himself is innocent before thee.

I will make a covenant in sight of all. Adore not any strange god. The Lord his name is Jealous, he is a jealous God. Thou shall not make thyself any molten gods.

Molten—produced by melting and casting: a molten image.

Thou shalt keep the feast of the unleavened bread.

Neither shalt thou appear before me empty.

Write thee these words by which I have made a covenant both with thee and with Israel. And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water, and he wrote upon the tables the ten words of the covenant.

And he knew not that his face was horned from the conversation of the Lord

And he gave them in commandment all that he had heard of the Lord in Mount Sinai.

And they saw that the face of Moses when he came out was horned, but he covered his face again, if at any time he spoke to them.

Exodus Chapter 35: The Sabbath; Offerings for making the tabernacle; Skillful workers called to build the tabernacle; Gifts to the Lord; Beseleel and Ooliab called to the work.

There are the things which the Lord hath commanded to be done.

Set aside your firstfruits to the Lord. Let every one that is willing and hath a ready heart…

Whosoever of you is wise, let him come, and make that which the Lord hath command…

… the vesture of Aaron the high priest, and of his sons, to do the office of priesthood to me.

… offered firstfruits to the Lord with a most ready and devout mind…

All the children of Israel dedicated voluntary offerings to the Lord.

And hath filled him with the spirit of God, with wisdom and understanding and knowledge and all learning.

Whatsoever can be devised artificially, he hath given in his heart.

Exodus Chapter 36: Offerings are delivered to the workmen; Ten curtains; Coverings for the tabernacle; Boards of the tabernacle; Bars for boards of the tabernacle; The veil; Hanging for the door of the tabernacle.

The people offered more than is necessary.

And all the men that were wise of heart…

Exodus Chapter 37: The ark; The propitiatory; Table and vessels; The candlestick; Altar of incense; Oil of sanctification and incense.

The propitiatory, that is the oracle,…

Setin wood.

Wherein the libations are to be offered.

Temptation, Repentance, Faith & Belief in the Gospel

I am excited to start the second gospel in the Bible—The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark. He was not a disciple of Christ like Matthew was but somewhere along the way, Peter, the disciple and apostle of Christ, encountered Mark and took him as travel companion and interpreter. Mark the Evangelist wrote down the sermons of Peter, thus composing this Gospel according to Mark.

I am interested to see how Mark’s Gospel differs from that of Matthew and later on in my studies of Luke, and John.

The central theme of the Gospels is that Christ was born, blessed, performed miracles, died and rose from the dead on the third day! He died for our sins and through His resurrection we have eternal life if only we believe and turn from our sins.

This Gospel begins with John the Baptist and then his baptism of Jesus

As it is written in Isaias the prophet: “Behold, I send my messenger before thee, who shall prepare thy way, the voice of one crying in the desert, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’”

“One mightier than I is coming after me,” John proclaims, “the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And the Spirit, as a dove, descending and remaining upon him:

“Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased, God shared with us.”

I remember how good it was when my mother or father praised me growing up. It was not that often and often quite subtle but I knew I was loved. Just think how Jesus felt, as he started His ministry, as God proclaimed his love for him and pleasure in what a great job Jesus was doing to the whole narrow world at that moment in time. Jesus was simply following His Will as a human being just like us, but in a more perfect, divine and sinless manner.

Then Jesus went out to the desert for forty days and forty nights to be tempted by the devil. When he came back he started calling disciples and started exorcising devils by declaring “Hold thy peace, and go out of the man.”

And rising up long before daybreak he told His disciples: “Let us go into the neighboring villages and towns, that there I may also preach. For this is why I have come.”

Long before daybreak… I am trying to get on an early to bed, early to rise schedule to enjoy the quiet time of a morning and the day of sunshine.

Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but remained outside in desert places. And they kept coming to him from every direction.

Why? To learn about temptation and repentance and how faith and belief in The Bible, including the Gospels, can dramatically change one’s life for now and all of eternity!

Day 32: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Temptation, Repentance, Faith & Belief in the Gospel

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark, Chapters 1.

Bible Notes:

The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark

Saint Mark, a convert of Saint Peter, was the son of a certain Mary, whose house in Jerusalem was a gathering place for Christians.

His Gospel, based on Saint Peter’s preaching, aims to prove to the Gentiles the divinity of Christ, be recounting His numerous miracles and examples of His power over devils.

Mark Chapter 1:  John the Baptist; The baptism of Jesus; The temptation; In Galilee; The first disciples called; In Capharnaum; The cure of a demoniac; Peter’s mother-in-law; Other miracles; Jesus’ preaching; A leper.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God

As it is written in Isaias the prophet:

“behold, I send my messenger before thee, who shall prepare thy way, the voice of one crying in the desert, ‘Make ready the  way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’”

Baptizing and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

They were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

“One mightier than I is coming after me, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

And the Spirit, as a dove, descending and remaining upon him.

“Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased.”

And immediately the Spirit drove him forth into the desert. And he was in the desert forty days and forty nights, being tempted the while by Satan…

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel.”

Simon and his brother Andrew (fisherman): “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

James, the son of Zebedee and his brother John; left their father in the boat with hired men and followed Jesus.

Capharnaum; synagogue; and they were astonished at his teaching; for he was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the Scribes.

Here was a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out…

“Hold thy peace, and go out of the man.”

What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.

Came to the house of Simon and Andrew…

Simon’s mother-in-law was keeping her bed sick with a fever… he took her hand and raised her up; and the fever left her at once, and she began to wait on them.

They brought him to all that were ill and who were possessed.

Cast out many devils; and he did not permit them to speak, because they knew him.

And rising up long before daybreak…

“Let us go into the neighboring villages and towns, that there I may also preach. For this is why I have come.

If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

And Jesus, having compassion on him… “I will; be thou made clean.”

“See thou tell no one; but go, show thyself to the high priest, and offer for thy purification the things that Moses commanded, for a witness to them.”

Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but remained outside in desert places. And they kept coming to him from every direction.

The Old & The New; What’s in Your Heart Today?

All this talk of gold to build the Tabernacle to worship God in the days of Moses near Mount Sinai.

One estimate is that it costed $52 million in today’s dollar to build that Tabernacle.

That’s almost one hundred dollars in today’s currency and probably an insurmountable amount on an individual basis for those in the desert with Moses way back when.

What was the source of this wealth for the nomadic Israelites at the time? What they took from the Egyptians when they left Egypt?

I have to remember that this is Old Testament, the Old Covenant between God and the people living at that time. Only some of the hundred billion people that have lived on the earth. All trying or have tried to make sense of this thing we call life.

The New Testament, the New Covenant between God and us is to have Jesus in our hearts and try the best we can to be like him in our thoughts, words and behavior.

Yes, that can lead to a life of worldly prosperity but what is more important is whether or not God, Jesus and The Holy Spirit is the focus of our lives today.

Would you give yesterday’s hundred dollar equivalent in today’s value which is likely in the millions of dollars to build your own personal Tabernacle to God?

If you didn’t have millions of dollars to give, what does that say about you, God and the world we live in today?

What about our relationships?

Are they built on trust, honesty, and commitment?

Or success, control, and manipulation?

Are we at peace with joy in our hearts knowing that in God’s World we are truly free?

Is there love in your hearts right now as defined by 1 Corinthians 13:4?

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

 

The Tabernacle is built, it is finished and we have finished reading The Book of Exodus!

The Old & The New; What’s in Your Heart Today?

Day 33: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; The Old & The New; What’s in Your Heart Today?

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Book of Exodus Chapters 38-40

Bible Notes:

This Book of Exodus is so called from the Greek word exodus, which means going out.

It recounts the persecution of the Jews in Egypt, the call of Moses, the ten plagues, the Jewish departure from Egypt, and the giving of the Mosaic Law on Mount Sinai.

The Book of Exodus closes with the consecration of the Tabernacle.

 

Exodus Chapter 38   Altar of holocaust; The laver of brass; The court with its pillars and hangings; The value of the offerings.

Laver of brass

Laver—Old Testament. a large basin upon a foot or pedestal in the court of the Hebrew tabernacle and subsequently in the temple, containing water for the ablutions of the priests and for the washing of the sacrifices in the temple service; Ecclesiastical. the font or water of baptism; any spiritually cleansing agency.

The instruments of the tabernacle of testimony, which were counted according to the commandment of Moses, in the ceremonies of the Levites…

All the gold that was spent in the work of the sanctuary, and that was offered in gifts was nine and twenty talents, and seven hundred and thirty sicles according to the standard of the sanctuary.

And it was offered by them that went to be numbered, from twenty years old and upwards, of six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty men able to bear arms.

Some authorities say that the talent typically weighed about 33 kg (75 lb) varying from 20 to 40 kg. In February, 2016, the international price of gold was about US$1190 per troy ounce. One gram costs about $38. At this price, a talent (33 kg) would be worth about $1.25 million.

So 29 times $1.25 million is $36.25 million divided by 603,550 men is about $60 from each person—a little bit from a lot is a lot!

A hundred talents of silver.

In modern values a talent of silver would be reckoned at $6,606.00 and a talent of gold at $385,350.00 (versus $1.25 million above).

Seventy-two thousand talents of brass.

In my Google searches, I came across another fellow doing the same thing:

What would it cost to build the Tabernacle described in Exodus?

It would be a sacrifice for me to buy even an ounce of gold let alone the amounts that we are talking about here. A quick conversation from pounds to ounces:

35,276.73 Ounces of Gold X $1382.96 = $48,786,306.52

3,594,982.60 Ounces of Silver X $29.80 = $3,594,982.60

90,445.90 Ounces of Copper X $0.28 = $25,324.85

Total = $52,406,613.97

Now that was just for the metals. Now the next item of consideration is the amount of textiles used in the construction of the tabernacle cover.

Acacia wood must cost around the same as oak I imagine. Current price on the best stuff is $5.24 per board foot. Just accounting for the walls of the tabernacle and not the wood used in all the furniture and such – we would probably spend about $5000. Although this is already processed lumber – theirs would not have been.

Lastly there is the labor.

So by my estimates if the tabernacle were constructed today it would cost in the neighborhood of:

$57 Million Dollars. That is $57,000,000.00

Should we even stop to consider the relative cost 3000-4000 years ago? What is the inflation rate over 4 millennium? Probably astronomical.

I’m not sure if anyone else will find this interesting or not, but I spent the past 3 hours typing this up – I have to share it with someone.

LOL, back to Andy…

Exodus Chapter 39   Vestments for the priests; The ephod; Jewels for the ephod; The rational;

So all the work of the tabernacle and of the roof of the testimony was finished: and the children of Israel did all things which the Lord had commanded Moses.

Nothing was wanting of the vessels, that were commanded to be made for the ministry of the tabernacle, and for the roof of the covenant.

And when Moses saw all things finished, he blessed them.

Exodus Chapter 40   Moses commanded to set up the tabernacle; Command to anoint the tabernacle; Command to anoint Aaron and his sons; Moses sets up and arranges the tabernacle; The glory of the Lord fills the tabernacle.

And thou shalt take the oil of unction and anoint the tabernacle with its vessels, that they may be sanctified…

That they (Aaron and his sons) may minister to me, and that the unction of them may prosper to an everlasting priesthood.

After all things were perfected, the cloud covered the tabernacle of the testimony, and the glory of the Lord filled it.

For the cloud of the Lord hung over the tabernacle by day, and a fire by night, in the sight of all the children of Israel throughout their mansions.

Mansions– Oriental and Medieval Astronomy. Each of 28 divisions of the ecliptic occupied by the moon on successive days; Archaic. an abode or dwelling place.

Saint Mark, a convert of Saint Peter, is just beginning to capture Saint Peter’s preaching in his gospel. This is all really good food for thought!

And again he entered the synagogue. “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good, or to do evil? To save a life or destroy it?” And being grieved at the blindness of their hearts. “Stretch forth thy hand” And he stretched it forth, and his hand was restored. But the Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might do away with him.

Is it a sin to do a miracle on the Sabbath?

Which I think is sundown Friday to sundown Saturday for Jewish folks and Sunday for us Catholics or maybe Saturday evening or even now late afternoon for vigil masses? Seems all a bit confusing, aren’t we all just Christians?

Some of the Old Laws of the Old Testament didn’t make sense to Jesus. In fact, he was a law breaker, a bit of a rebel but a rebel with a heart.

I connected with Jesus grieving because of the “blindness of the heart” of the Pharisees.

The times in my past which I am most sad and regrettable about are those times when my heart was blinded, overcome by fear, resentments, untruths and my big selfish silly ego. I don’t want to be dead inside. I want to connect with other people in a real, meaningful, heartfelt way. I want to come completely out of denial, justification and rationalization. I want to be the true me, my Splendid Spiritual Self!

“The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

And as Jesus was passing along, he saw Levi, the son of Alpheus, sitting in the tax-collector’s place, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he arose and followed him.

“It is not the healthy who need a physician, but they who are sick. For I have not come to call the just, but sinners.”

Aren’t we all sinners? Isn’t Levi’s real name Matthew the Disciple and Apostle who wrote the first gospel of the New Testament of The Bible?

Probably not, my bad as Mark goes on to say that Jesus called The Twelve—Peter, brothers James and John—the son of Zebedee, Andrew, Phillip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, Thaddeus, Simon and Judas.

Back in Matthew (C4:18), he stated that Simon, who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew… think there were two sets of brothers among the Twelve Disciples.

As I am meandering a bit today I will meander a bit more through these two chapters of Mark:

“How can Satan cast out Satan?”

“And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.”

“But whosoever blasphemes against The Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but will be guilty of an everlasting sin.”

“Who are my mother and my brethren? Behold my mother and my brethren. For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

We can’t stand alone in this world, without God or a spouse or family or friends or other believers who do the will of God. Evil can’t get rid of evil. One addiction cannot be substituted for another addiction. Only God The Father, Jesus His Son and The Holy Spirit can do that!

Old Laws or our new heart?

What is the Destiny of Our Lives!

Day 34: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Old Laws or New Heart? The Destiny of Our Lives!

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Gospel of Saint Mark Chapters 2-3.

Bible Notes:

The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark

Saint Mark, a convert of Saint Peter, was the son of a certain Mary, whose house in Jerusalem was a gathering place for Christians.

His Gospel, based on Saint Peter’s preaching, aims to prove to the Gentiles the divinity of Christ, be recounting His numerous miracles and examples of His power over devils.

 

Matthew Chapter 2:  Jesus forgives the sins of a paralytic; He cures the paralytic; The call of Levi; The question of fasting; The disciples pluck grain on the Sabbath.

He again entered Capharuaum and it was reported that he was at home.

And he spoke the word to them.

Paralytic—a person affected with paralysis; a loss or impairment of voluntary movement in a body part, caused by injury or disease of the nerves, brain, or spinal cord.

They stripped off the roof where he was, and having made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying.

And Jesus , seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, thy sins are forgiven thee.”

Why does this man speak thus? He blasphemes. Who can forgive sins, but only God?

Why are you arguing these things in your hearts?

“But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins.”

“I say to thee, arise, take up thy pallet, and go to thy house.”

Never did we see the like!

And as he was passing along, he saw Levi, the son of Alpheus, sitting in the tax-collector’s place, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he arose and followed him.

“It is not the healthy who need a physician, but they who are sick. For I have not come to call the just, but sinners.”

“As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.”

Behold, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?

“The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.

Matthew Chapter 3:  A man with a withered hand; The mercy of Jesus; The choice of the Twelve; Blasphemy of the Scribes; Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit; Jesus and His brethren.

And again he entered the synagogue

“Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good, or to do evil? To save a life or destroy it?”

And being grieved at the blindness of their hearts

“Stretch forth thy hand” And he stretched it forth, and his hand was restored.

But the Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might do away with him.

And Jesus with his disciples withdrew to the sea…

A large crowd, hearing what he was doing, came to him…

And he appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them forth to preach. To them he gave power to cure sickness and to cast out devils.

There were Simon, to whom he gave the name Peter, and James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (these he surnamed Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); and  Andrew, and Phillip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alpheus, and Thaddeus, and Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot, he who betrayed him.

The Twelve—Peter, brothers James and John—the son of Zebedee, Andrew, Phillip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, Thaddeus, Simon and Judas.

Matthew C4:18 stated that Simon, who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew…

He has gone mad.

He has Beelzebub.

Beelzebub—is a name derived from a Philistine god, formerly worshipped in Ekron, and later adopted by Abrahamic religions as a given name to a supposed winged demon. The name Beelzebub is sometimes associated with the Canaanite god Baal.

In theological sources, predominately Christian, Beelzebub is another name for the devil similar to Satan. He is known by believers as one of the seven princes of Hell, according to Catholic views in terms of demonology. The Dictionnaire Infernal describes Beelzebub as a demonic fly, known as the “Lord of the Flies”.

“How can Satan cast out Satan?”

“And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.”

“But whosoever blasphemes against The Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but will be guilty of an everlasting sin.”

“Who are my mother and my brethren? Behold my mother and my brethren. For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

Imagine going to mass, service or whatever your church, congregation calls it way back when during the time of Moses. Right there at the first Tabernacle near Mount Sinai on the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. The Tabernacle was the portable earthly meeting place of God with the children of Israel from the time of the Exodus from Egypt through the conquering of the land of Canaan.

I never knew that about the tabernacle being portable. I wonder what happened to it eventually when they arrived in Canaan? I also wonder if reading the Bible will help me understand all the issues in the Middle East. It seems to me that people and their descendants who have been in a place a long time with good spiritual principles would have figured our peace and prosperity for all by now. Easy for an American to say as we were the ultimate example of a geographical cure—find a new place and build it from the ground up the way it needs to be built. We have our challenges in life too for sure.

Getting back to going to mass at the Tabernacle way back when with fire on the altar and burnt offerings and holocausts. Before Christ, the oblation was the act of making an offering, not the Eucharist, of herds, flocks, and fowl. I guess everything gets modernized, translated or what have you. It’s a big deal today if communion is a piece of real bread instead of the wafer. The wafer which did not taste good to me as a young boy. I would do the prayer with hands over the face and slip the soggy wafer out of my mouth and hide it under the pew. Bad sin I know. I often wondered if anybody wondered why there were dried out wafers under my seat.

Peace offerings to God so that they would be favored in future battles with their enemies? First make peace with God, then yourself and others. Peace, in the Scripture language, signifies happiness, welfare, or prosperity in a word, all kinds of blessings. I am surprised the word ‘happiness’ is used instead of ‘joy.’ Peace, joy and freedom, freedom from hurts, habits and hang-ups, freedom from addictions, freedom to wake up in the morning and say “this is the best day of my life, absolutely, positively, without a doubt, and they go live that one day in a clear, present, open-minded, open-hearted way—The Ultimate Love of God, Self, Others & Life!

Peace be with you, God and myself.

Sinners all are we!

The soul that sinneth through ignorance, and doth any thing concerning any of the commandments of the Lord, which he commanded not to be done.

And afterwards shall understand their sin; and afterwards shall come to know his sin

Sin, but know your sin; come out of denial, justification and rationalization. Come out of perfectionism, control, all-or-nothing thinking and judgmentalism. Speak to the Lord and confess your sins. Recommit to Jesus in your heart and live to be better for the next day.

Sinners all are we–the priest that is anointed; all the multitude of Israel; a prince; and a common person.

Yes even way back when the Bible was written in Chapter 4 of Leviticus, God’s Word accounted for the sins of a priest. Nobody, nobody on earth, of all the one hundred billion that have lived to date, except Jesus, was or is perfect. Get over yourself!

The priest shall pray for him and for his sin, and it shall be forgiven him. We are only as sick as our darkest secrets. Tell a priest, your rabbi, reverend or tell a trusted friend but first be honest with yourself and tell God. We can all come out of the shame, isolation and abandonment of dysfunctional childhoods. We are all valuable children of God.

Consecration of Aaron and his sons. This is the oblation of Aaron, and of his sons, which they must offer to the Lord, in the day of their anointing. And you shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle for seven days, until the day wherein the time of your consecration shall be expired.

And when the eighth day was come, Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the ancients of Israel… for today the Lord will appear to you. This is the word, which the Lord hath commanded: do it, and his glory will appear to you.

And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of testimony, and afterwards came forth and blessed the people. And the glory of the Lord appeared to all the multitude… and behold a fire, coming forth from the Lord… which when the multitude saw, they praised the Lord, falling on their faces.

Well that was an awesome eight days… A Portable Tabernacle; God, Sinners and Priests!

Day 35: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; A Portable Tabernacle; God, Sinners and Priests.

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Book of Leviticus Chapters 1-9.

Bible Notes:

This Book of Leviticus is so called, because it treats chiefly of divine worship for which God had chosen the tribe of Levi.

After describing the ordination of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood, it records the Mosaic laws of sacrifice, of legal purity, of holiness, of vows, and of tithes.

 

Leviticus Chapter 1: Holocausts of the herds; Holocausts of the flocks; Holocausts of fowl.

And the Lord called Moses, and spoke to him from the tabernacle of the testimony, saying:

He shall offer a make without blemish, at the door of the testimony, to make the Lord favorable to him…

Expiation—the means by which atonement or reparation is made; the act of expiating; to atone for; make amends or reparation for: to expiate one’s crimes.

Immolate—to sacrifice; to kill as a sacrificial victim, as by fire; offer in sacrifice; to destroy by fire.

And shall put fire on the altar

And the priest shall burn them upon the altar for a holocaust, and a sweet savor to the Lord.

Savor—the quality in a substance that affects the sense of taste or of smell; a particular taste or smell.

And all that cleave to the liver.

Herds, flocks and fowl

Oblation—the offering to God of the elements of bread and wine in the Eucharist; the whole office of the Eucharist; the act of making an offering, especially to a deity.

Leviticus Chapter 2: Offerings of flour; Offerings of firstfruits.

His offering should be of fine flour

Shall put it a memorial upon the altar for a most sweet savor to the Lord

Aaron’s and his sons’ holy of holies of the offerings of the Lord.

Every oblation that is offered to the Lord shall be made without leaven

Leviticus Chapter 3: Peace offering of the herd; Peace offering of a lamb; Peace offering of a goat.

The sacrifice of peace offerings

They shall take of it for the food of the Lord’s fire

Peace, in the Scripture language signifies happiness, welfare, or prosperity in a word, all kinds of blessings.

Leviticus Chapter 4: Offerings for priests who sin; Offering for the multitude that sins; Offering for a prince who sins; Offering for a common person who sins.

The soul that sinneth through ignorance, and doth any thing concerning any of the commandments of the Lord, which he commanded not to be done.

If the priest that is anointed shall sin

And the dung

Shall be ignorant, and through ignorance shall do that which is against the commandment of the Lord, and afterwards shall understand their sin

All the multitude of Israel

Shall sin and through ignorance do any one of the things that the law of the Lord forbiddeth, and afterwards shall come to know his sin

A prince

Shall sin through ignorance, doing any of those things that by the law of the Lord are forbidden, and offending, and shall come to know his sin.

Common person

Leviticus Chapter 5: Offerings for various sins; Offering for the sin of sacrilege; Offering for violating the commandments.

If any one sin, and hear the voice of one swearing, and is a witness either because he himself hath seen, or is privy to it: if he do not utter it, he shall bear his iniquity.

Iniquity—gross injustice or wickedness; a violation of right or duty; wicked act; sin.

Whosoever toucheth any unclean thing

And having forgotten it, come afterwards to know it, he shall be guilty of an offence

The priest shall pray for him and for his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.

One for sin, and the other for a holocaust.

If any one shall sin through mistake, transgressing the ceremonies in those things that are sanctified to the Lord.

And the priest shall pray for him, because he did it ignorantly: and it shall be forgiven him because by mistake he trespassed against the Lord.

Leviticus Chapter 6: Atonement for sins of injustice; Law of a holocaust; Law of sacrifice and libations; Offering of a priest at his anointing; Law of the sin offering.

He shall restore all that he would have gotten by fraud.

And he shall have forgiveness for every thing in doing of which he hath sinned.

The is the law of the holocaust.

This is the perpetual fire which shall never go out on the altar.

It shall be most holy, as that which is offered for sin and for trespass.

This is the oblation of Aaron, and of his sons, which they must offer to the Lord, in the day of their anointing.

It is the holy of holies.

Every male of the priestly race shall eat of the flesh thereof, because it is holy of holies.

Leviticus Chapter 7: The sacrifice for a trespass; sacrifice of peace offerings; Fat and blood forbidden; The priest portions.

Moreover you shall not eat the blood of any creatures whatsoever, whether of birds or beasts. Every one that eateth blood, shall perish from among the people.

Leviticus Chapter 8: Consecration of Aaron and his sons; Offering of a calf for sin; Offering of a ram for a holocaust; The ram of consecration; Seven days for the consecration of priests.

Girding him with the girdle

Because it was a holocaust of most sweet odor (previously savor so sense is smell, not taste).

The basket of unleavened bread

Having lifted them up before the Lord

The oblation of consecration

Consecration—the act of consecrating; dedication to the service and worship of a deity; the act of giving the sacramental character to the Eucharistic elements of bread and wine, especially in the Roman Catholic Church; ordination to a sacred office, especially to the episcopate.

And you shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle for seven days, until the day wherein the time of your consecration shall be expired.

Observing the watches of the Lord.

Leviticus Chapter 9: Moses says the Lord will appear; Sacrifices for Aaron and the people; Moses and Aaron bless the people; Fire comes from the Lord.

And when the eighth day was come, Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the ancients of Israel… for today the Lord will appear to you.

This is the word, which the Lord hath commanded: do it, and his glory will appear to you.

Aaron: approach the altar, and offer sacrifice for thy sin.

And stretching forth his hands to the people, he blessed them.

And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of testimony, and afterwards came forth and blessed the people. And the glory of the Lord appeared to all the multitude… and behold a fire, coming forth from the Lord… which when the multitude saw, they praised the Lord, falling on their faces.

“To you is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those outside, all things are treated in parables, that ‘Seeing they may see, but not perceive; and hearing they may hear, but not understand; lest perhaps at any time they should be converted, and their sins be forgiven them.

Perceive, understand, be converted and your sins will be forgiven.

The sower sows The Word of God, the Scriptures, the Truth.

Is The Word of God buried securely deep in your heart?

“For there is nothing hidden that will not be made manifest; nor is anything concealed that will not come to light,” said Jesus as he taught His disciples the meaning of His parables.

This is the second time I have heard this, the first time in Mark,

Then comes the gospels of Luke and John so likely four times is the charm, not three!

I think about when we die, we might have a will and some control over what happens to our financial resources but we have no control over anything else. People, loved ones hopefully, will be going through my closets and uncovering all my secret stuff that really isn’t secret anymore. Our sense of control is truly an illusion!

 

In our worldly ongoing affairs, ones that progress smoothly and ones that seem to hit roadblocks at every turn, what then prevents all from being known to everybody?

Human will, rightly or sinfully applied to the situation.

But eventually all becomes known to all people.

This takes patience, faith and a look inside to make sure you are on the right road especially if someone is battling against you.

Can you win if all facts are known and reasonable logic and law applied?

Do you have the patience and fortitude to see the issue through the very end which is likely the start of something else?

Perhaps a new relationship with another human being or a deeper relationship with Jesus centered in your heart?

Be that mustard seed, dream big and grow hard to move mountains or get your place on a mountain.

Be faithful to your True Self and your True Ego, not that Silly Ego that is tricked by the call for perfectionism, absolute control, all-or-nothing thinking or judgmentalism.

Ask God to free you of yourself, direct your thinking, inspire your decisions and show you the very next step to take all throughout this very day.

Keep your dream alive, see the hope, be fueled by The Holy Spirit and God’s absolute power to do His Will through you with your life.

Be Close to Heaven right here on earth. Be your Splendid Spiritual Self and make sure you are there in The Ultimate Love with one-way boundaries to your mind, emotions and body. Don’t short circuit anything. Be bold and daring but only from within, a solid base in The Word of God.

In this version of the storm on the sea, Jesus is in the boat with His disciples but asleep.

“Why are you fearful? Are you still without faith?

“Do not be afraid and have faith.”

Your dream is not dead, just quiet for a little bit.

Day 36: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; “Why are you fearful? Are you still without faith?

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Gospel of Saint Mark Chapters 4-5.

Bible Notes:

The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark

Saint Mark, a convert of Saint Peter, was the son of a certain Mary, whose house in Jerusalem was a gathering place for Christians.

His Gospel, based on Saint Peter’s preaching, aims to prove to the Gentiles the divinity of Christ, be recounting His numerous miracles and examples of His power over devils.

Matthew Chapter 4:  Parable of the sower; The Twelve ask about the parable; Jesus explains the parable; Purpose of this teaching; Seed grows of itself; The Mustard seed; The storm on the lake.

And he taught them many things in parables, and he said to them in his instruction…

Some seed fell by the wayside; other seed fell upon rocky ground; other seed fell among thorns; and other seed fell upon good ground…

“To you is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those outside, all things are treated in parables, that ‘Seeing they may see, but not perceive; and hearing they may hear, but not understand; lest perhaps at any time they should be converted, and their sins be forgiven them.

The sower sows The Word of God, the Scriptures, the Truth.

Satan at once comes and takes away the word that has been sown in their hearts.

Receive it immediately with joy and they have no root in themselves.

Are they who listen to the word… choke the word, and it is made fruitless.

Are they who hear the word and welcome it, and yield fruit.

For there is nothing hidden that will not be made manifest; nor is anything concealed that will not come to light.”

“To what shall we liken the Kingdom of God… it is like a mustard seed…”

But without a parable he did not speak to them. But privately he explained all things to his disciples.

In this version of the storm on the sea, Jesus is in the boat with His disciples but asleep.

“Why are you fearful? Are you still without faith?

Matthew Chapter 5:  A man with an unclean spirit; He worships Jesus; Jesus asks his name; The unclean spirits enter the swine; Jesus asked to leave; Jesus departs; Jairus asks Jesus to cure his daughter; The woman with a hemorrhage; Jesus cures her; Jairus’ daughter dies; Jesus restores her life.

There met him from the tombs a man with an unclean spirit

And no one was able to control him.

I adjure thee by God, do not torment me!

Adjure—to charge, bind, or command earnestly and solemnly, often under oath or the threat of a penalty; to entreat or request earnestly or solemnly.

My name is Legion, for we are many.

The man who had been afflicted by the devil

And they began to entreat him to depart from their district.

Tell them all that the Lord has done for thee, and how he has had mercy on thee.

One of the rulers of the synagogue named Jairus

Lay thy hands upon her, that she may be saved and live.

And found no benefit, but rather grew worse

Thy faith has saved thee.

“Do not be afraid and have faith.”

The girl is asleep, not dead.

In Leviticus, Animals that may and may not be eaten; Seafood that may or may not be eaten; Birds that may or may not be eaten; Insects that may or may not be eaten…

This is where I become a little bogged down reading The Bible and tempted to think that this has nothing to do with me and stop reading the Good Word.

Clean and unclean, way back in biblical times, what does it have to do with me and my life today?

That you may know the differences of the clean, and unclean, and know what you ought to eat, and what to refuse.

Do not defile your souls.

For I am the Lord your God: be holy because I am holy.

And then it hits me like a ton of bricks that my body, mind, voice and soul belong to God, not me. I am only here on earth for a short period of time in this human body called Andy Reistetter. My body is God’s Temple and not meant to be defiled in any manner, at any time. But, of course, I do so because of my sinful nature, Silly Ego and stupid ways of thinking.

Do I apply this same sort of biblical detailed analysis to what I eat and drink, to what my thoughts are, and the words that come out of my mouth? So much more than what they ate back in biblical times defiles my soul today. What do I see or watch on TV? What do I hear? What situations do I allow myself to be drawn into?

Ironically, this is all good food for thought, or clean food, as they said in The Bible.

Be aware: speak to yourself about these opportunities, and let God direct and power your ways to health and prosperity.

PS: I hope and pray that one day soon God will unlock the mysteries of cancer to us as he has for the leprosy of the biblical times.

Day 37: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Acts, Thoughts, & Words that may or may not be Lived…

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Book of Leviticus Chapters 10-14

Bible Notes:

This Book of Leviticus is so called, because it treats chiefly of divine worship for which God had chosen the tribe of Levi.

After describing the ordination of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood, it records the Mosaic laws of sacrifice, of legal purity, of holiness, of vows, and of tithes.

 

Leviticus Chapter 10: Destruction of Nadab and Abiu; Intoxicating drinks forbidden to priests; law of eating oblations; oblations not eaten by Aaron and his sons.

Nadab and Abiu, the sons of Aaron

Offering before the Lord strange fire: which was not commanded them, and fire coming out of the Lord destroyed them, and they died before the Lord.

I will be sanctified in them that approach to me, and I will be glorified in the sight of all the people.

And when Aaron heard this, he held his peace.

The Lord also said to Aaron: You shall not drink wine nor any thing that may make drunk, thou nor thy sons, when you enter into the tabernacle of testimony, lest you die…

Eleazar and Ithamar, his sons that were left.

How could I eat it, or please the Lord in the ceremonies, having a sorrowful heart?

Leviticus Chapter 11: Animals that may and may not be eaten; Seafood that may or may not be eaten; Birds that may or may not be eaten; Insects that may or may not be eaten; A law of uncleanness; Uncleanness of reptiles; The touching of dead beasts; Creeping things are abominable.

Say to the children of Israel:

Hoof divided and cheweth the cud, you shall eat.

Cheweth the cud—partially digested food regurgitated from the first stomach of cattle and other ruminants to the mouth for a second chewing. 2. chew the cud, to reflect or think over something.

Camel, you shall not eat, but reckon it among the unclean

Cherogrillus—the shãphãn is not the porcupine, but a very peculiar animal of about the same size, dwelling among the rocks, and in holes, and called in Israel “bear-rat”, on account of some resemblance with these two quadrupeds.

Has fins and scales, you shall eat; others unclean.

Eagle, osprey, vulture, heron shall not eat.

Hath the legs behind longer, wherewith it hoppeth upon the earth, that you shall eat.

Touch the carcasses of them… he shall wash his clothes, and shall be unclean until the sun set.

Do not defile your souls.

For I am the Lord your God: be holy because I am holy.

That you may know the differences of the clean, and unclean, and know what you ought to eat, and what to refuse.

Leviticus Chapter 12: Purification of women after childbirth; Offerings of women after childhood.

Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them:

Man child; She shall be unclean seven days, according to the days of separation of her flowers; three and thirty days in the blood of her purification.

Maid child, unclean two weeks, sixty-six days.

So she shall be cleansed…

Leviticus Chapter 13: Discerning leprosy; Diagnosis of leprosy; Studying an ulcer for signs of leprosy; Discerning leprosy in a burn; Discerning leprosy in the head or beard; Fate of lepers; Disposal of leprous garments.

The man in whose skin or flesh shall arise a different color or a blister…

The stroke of leprosy

And upon his (Aaron the priest) judgment he shall be separated

He shall declare him clean because it is but a scab.

Shall be judged an inveterate leprosy, and grown into the skin.

Whiteness

For the plague of leprosy is broken out in the ulcer.

Because the evil of leprosy is broken out in the scar.

The bald head or bald forehead

Shall have his clothes hanging loose.

Al the time that he is a leper and unclean, he shall dwell alone without camp.

He shall judge it (garment) unclean, and shall burn it with fire.

Leviticus Chapter 14: Law of cleansing the leper; Marking the cleansed leper; The cleansing of a leper who is poor; leprosy in a house; Cleansing leprosy from a house; If the Leprosy has spread; If the leprosy has not spread.

Per Wiki, leprosy is a long-term infection by bacteria. Initially, infections are without symptoms and typically remain this way for 5 to 20 years. Symptoms that develop include granulomas of the nerves, respiratory tract, skin, and eyes. This may result in a lack of ability to feel pain, thus loss of parts of extremities due to repeated injuries or infection due to unnoticed wounds. Weakness and poor eyesight may also be present.

Leprosy is spread between people. This is thought to occur through a cough or contact with fluid from the nose of an infected person. Leprosy occurs more commonly among those living in poverty. Contrary to popular belief, it is not highly contagious.

Leprosy is curable with a treatment known as multidrug therapy. These treatments are provided free of charge by the World Health Organization. Globally in 2012, the number of chronic cases of leprosy was 189,000, down from some 5.2 million in the 1980s. The number of new cases was 230,000. Most new cases occur in 16 countries, with India accounting for more than half. In the past 20 years, 16 million people worldwide have been cured of leprosy. About 200 cases are reported per year in the United States.

 

Growing up at 2 Florence Street, I felt we were somewhere between riff raff and hifalutin.

We weren’t poor but we weren’t rich.

There was a sense of community with a willingness to help those willing to be helped and accept and respect those that didn’t want to be helped.

On both ends of the spectrum and for us in the middle we had a good, meaningful and fun life most of the time.

I love that Binghamton, New York is my hometown, sort of a Mayberry, or better yet Raleigh of the North!

Don’t we all think we are a prophet, especially in our personal lives and career disciplines? If we have done something for so many years, aren’t we the expert?

“A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, and among his own kindred, and in his own house,” mused Jesus. He could not work any miracles in his hometown of Nazareth except a few by laying hands upon them.

And he marveled at their unbelief.

Jesus was astonished, surprised that his own neighbors did not honor him or give him his credit due. So much so his MOJO was impacted and he could not work any miracles.

Don’t get so hifalutin’ with me, may have been the attitude of the Nazarenes. You are the same as me as we were both born here in Nazareth!

Maybe they were riff raff and missed an opportunity to become saved?

Who knows what belies a person that returns to his or her hometown. For what purpose? For what motive?

Aren’t we all prophets that predict our future and that of the world from our heart-based thoughts and prayers?

Looks like the disciples had an internship to test the waters to see if they liked the work and if Jesus liked them.

And he summoned the Twelve (disciples) and began to send them forth two by two; and he gave them power over the unclean spirits.

Two by two; I wonder what the pairings were.

And the apostles came together to meet Jesus and reported to him all that they had done and taught.

Mission accomplished. Internship completed and successful Full time job may be available after graduation. Stay close. Stay tuned in.

From Riff Raff to Hifalutin; Prophets to Disciples to Apostles…

There is no Riff Raff or Hifalutin or in-between as we are all same-level Children of God!

And each one of us is a Prophet, Disciple, and Apostle too!

Who are You?

Past, present, future?

For all of Eternity, be like Jesus!

Day 38: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; From Riff Raff to Hifalutin; Prophets to Disciples to Apostles; Who are You?

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Gospel of Saint Mark Chapter 6.

Bible Notes:

The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark

Saint Mark, a convert of Saint Peter, was the son of a certain Mary, whose house in Jerusalem was a gathering place for Christians.

His Gospel, based on Saint Peter’s preaching, aims to prove to the Gentiles the divinity of Christ, be recounting His numerous miracles and examples of His power over devils.

 

Matthew Chapter 6: Jesus of Nazareth; The mission of the Apostles; Herod hears of Christ; John the Baptist imprisoned by Herod; John the Baptist beheaded by Herod; Return of the disciples; Jesus preaches to a large crowd; He desires to feed them; Jesus feeds five thousand; Jesus walks o water; Other miracles

He went into his own country…

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, Joseph, Jude, and Simon? And are not also his sisters here with us?

“A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, and among his own kindred, and in his own house?”

And he marvelled because of their unbelief.

Marvelled—to wonder at (usually followed by a clause as object): I marvel that you were able to succeed against such odds; to wonder or be curious about (usually followed by a clause as object): A child marvels that the stars can be. Noun: something that causes wonder, admiration, or astonishment; a wonderful thing; a wonder or prodigy: The new bridge is an engineering marvel.

And he summoned the Twelve and began to send them forth two by two; and he gave them power over the unclean spirits.

And he instructed them to take nothing for their journey, but a staff only… but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics.

“Wherever you enter into a house, stay there until you leave the place. And whoever does not receive you, or listen to you go forth from there, and shake off the dust from your feet for a witness against them.”

And going forth, they preached that men should repent, and they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many sick people, and healed them.

It is John whom I (Herod) beheaded; he has risen from the dead.”

Because of Herodius, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married.

“It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.”

For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and protected him…

When Herod on his birthday…

Herodius’ own daughter having come in and danced, she pleased Herod…

Ask of me what thou willest, and I will give it to thee.

To her mother, What am I to ask for?

“I want thee right away to give me on a dish the head of John the Baptist.”

And the apostles came together to meet Jesus and reported to him all that they had done and taught.

Hifalutin’—pompous; bombastic; haughty; pretentious.

Alteration of high-fluting. In his book, The Adventure of English, Melvyn Bragg records that in a nascent America, when the well-to-do travelled by steamboat, said passengers were referred to as highfalutin due to the high fluted funnels on the boats. Compare riffraff.

Riffraff—people, or a group of people, regarded as disreputable or worthless: a pack of riffraff; the lowest classes; rabble: the riffraff of the city; trash; rubbish.

To trace this one, we have to start in medieval French. There was then a set expression rifle et rafle. These words are from the verbs rifler, to spoil or strip, and raffler, to carry off. The phrase referred to the plundering of the bodies of the dead on the battlefield and the carrying off of the booty.

And they had no leisure even to eat.

And had compassion on them for they were like sheep without a shepherd

“You yourselves five them some food.”

And they reclined in groups of hundreds and fifties.

Now those who had eaten were five thousand men.

Walking upon the sea, and he would have passed them by

“Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid.”

And they were utterly beside themselves with astonishment, for they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was blinded.

And as many that touched him were saved.

Prophet—a person who speaks for God or a deity, or by divine inspiration.

Disciple—one of the 12 personal followers of Christ; one of the 70 followers sent forth by Christ. Luke 10:1; .any other professed follower of Christ in His lifetime; any follower of Christ;  (initial capital letter) a member of the Disciples of Christ; a person who is a pupil or an adherent of the doctrines of another; follower: a disciple of Freud.

Apostle—any of the early followers of Jesus who carried the Christian message into the world; (sometimes initial capital letter) any of the original 12 disciples called by Jesus to preach the gospel: Simon Peter, the brothers James and John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas Iscariot; the first or the best-known Christian missionary in any region or country; Eastern Church. one of the 70 disciples of Jesus; the title of the highest ecclesiastical official in certain Protestant sects; (among the Jews of the Christian epoch) a title borne by persons sent on foreign missions; one of the 12 administrative officials of the Mormon Church.

The Dynamics of Our Life Prevent Us from Going Back, Only Forward…

But which way is forward

Trying to understand all the men and women sexual uncleanness in Leviticus Chapter 15 took me back to my early high school years going to the library and sneaking a look at a certain book in hopes of figuring out the birds and the bees. Years later I would find the little red book that my Dad gave me in that regard. When I opened it to read it, the first thing it said was to not just give this to your son!

The mystery of life unravels naturally when we follow our natural instincts and let nature take its natural course hopefully without any excesses of those natural instincts and with love for God, self and neighbor as so well stated in the Big Bible Book.

I am the Lord your God. Keep my laws and my judgments, which if a man do, he shall live in them.

Speaking to the children of Israel, God said through Moses that you shall not do according to the custom of the land of Egypt, in which you dwelt: neither shall you act according to the manner of the country of Chanaan, into which I will bring you, nor shall you walk in their ordinances.

Wait a minute, Israel was Jacob and Jacob was the son of Isaac who I think was from Chanaan. It strikes me odd at first that everything didn’t just fall into place when the Israelites returned home from Egypt. There is no back to the future or back to the past in life. Everything is dynamic and ever changing. God returned a new people with a new but old covenant to their land of origin.

So to be it with the dynamics of the Old Testament and the Old Covenant and the New Testament and the New Covenant.

No man shall approach to her that is near of kin to him, to uncover her nakedness.

 

Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father, thy mother, thy father’s wife; thy sister by father or mother; thy son’s daughter; thy father’s wife’s daughter; thy father’s sister; thy mother’s sister; thy father’s brother: neither shalt thou approach to his wife, who is joined by to thee by affinity; thy daughter in law: because she is thy son’s wife, neither shalt thou discover her shame; thy brother’s wife; thy wife and her daughter; her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter, to discover her shame: because they are her flesh and such copulation is incest.

Thou shall not approach to a woman having her flowers, neither shalt thou uncover her nakedness.

Thou shalt not lie with thy neighbor’s wife.

Thou shall not lie with mankind as with womankind, because it is an abomination.

Thou shall not copulate with any beast, neither shalt thou de defiled with it.

Some things explicitly stated in the Old Testament are trumped by the two Golden Commandments to love God and love your neighbor. Not to judge so that we are not judged.

I don’t think anything in the Old Testament trumps anything in the New Testament.

Who am I to judge what two human beings consent to behind closed doors?

The Dynamics of Our Life Prevent Us from Going Back, Only Forward…

Day 39: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; The Dynamics of Our Life Prevent Us from Going Back, Only Forward…

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Book of Leviticus Chapters 15-18

Bible Notes:

This Book of Leviticus is so called, because it treats chiefly of divine worship for which God had chosen the tribe of Levi.

After describing the ordination of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood, it records the Mosaic laws of sacrifice, of legal purity, of holiness, of vows, and of tithes.

 

Leviticus Chapter 15: Uncleanness of men in their issues; Offerings of men cleansed of their issues; Uncleanness of women in their issues; Offerings of women cleansed of issues; Warning against uncleanness.

And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, saying: Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: The man that hath an issue of seed, shall be unclean. And then shall he be judged subject to this evil.

‘When any man has an unusual bodily discharge, such a discharge is unclean.’

If he who suffereth this disease be healed…

The man from whom the seed of copulation goeth out.

The woman, with whom he copulateth, shall be washed with water, and shall be unclean until the evening.

The women, who at the return of the month…

In the days of her separation

If a man copulateth with her in the time of her flowers…

To take heed of uncleanness, that they may not die in their filth…

The law of him that hath the issue of seed, and that defiled by copulation

And of the man that sleepeth with her.

Leviticus Chapter 16: The Day of Atonement; Vesting of the high priest; Casting lots for the two goats; Entry into the Holy of Holies; The emissary goat; The date of the feast.

When they were slain upon their offering strange fire…

The emissary goat…

Emissary—a representative sent on a mission or errand: emissaries to negotiate a peace; an agent sent on a mission of a secret nature, as a spy.

That he may pour out prayers upon him, and let him go into the wilderness.

And may expiate the sanctuary from the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and from their transgressions, and all their sins.

And when the goat hath carried all their iniquities into an uninhabited land, and shall be let go into the desert…

Accomplish the atonement

And this shall be to you an everlasting ordinance: The seventh month, the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls and do no work…

Afflict—to distress with mental or bodily pain; trouble greatly or grievously: to be afflicted with arthritis; Obsolete:  to overthrow; defeat; to humble.

You shall humble your souls…

Leviticus Chapter 17: Laws for slaying of animals; Sacrifices to devils forbidden; Eating of blood forgiven.

Shall be guilty of blood: as if he had shed blood, so shall he perish from the midst of his people.

And they shall no more sacrifice their victims to devils, with whom they have committed fornication.

If any man… eat blood, I will set my face against his soul, and will cut him off from among his people.

Let him poor out its blood, and cover it with earth.

You shall not eat the blood of any flesh at all, because the life of the flesh is in the blood, and whosoever eateth it, shall be cut off.

Leviticus Chapter 18: Imitation of Gentiles forbidden; Prohibited marriages; Unlawful lusts; Punishment for unlawful lusts.

You shall not do according to the custom of the land of Egypt, in which you dwelt: neither shall you act according to the manner of the country of Chanaan, into which I will bring you, nor shall you walk in their ordinances. You shall do my judgments, and shall observe my precepts, and shall walk in them. I am the Lord your God. Keep my laws and my judgments, which if a man do, he shall live in them. I am the Lord.

No man shall approach to her that is near of kin to him, to uncover her nakedness.

Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father, thy mother, thy father’s wife; thy sister by father or mother; thy son’s daughter; thy father’s wife’s daughter; thy father’s sister; thy mother’s sister; thy father’s brother: neither shalt thou approach to his wife, who is joined by to thee by affinity; thy daughter in law: because she is thy son’s wife, neither shalt thou discover her shame; thy brother’s wife; thy wife and her daughter; her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter, to discover her shame: because they are her flesh and such copulation is incest.

Thou shall not approach to a woman having her flowers, neither shalt thou uncover her nakedness.

Thou shalt not lie with thy neighbor’s wife.

Thou shall not lie with mankind as with womankind, because it is an abomination.

Thou shall not copulate with any beast, neither shalt thou de defiled with it.

A woman shall not lie down to a beast; nor copulate with it: it is a heinous crime.