Presenting the Thirty ninth edition for 2019 of the WEEKLY DEVOTIONS:
Keep on praying, this world is in great need of it. "Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
This edition is dedicated to: The Resurrection is the Center of our Faith!!!
Believe in the Resurrection!!!
2nd book of Maccabees 7:1-2.9-14
It happened that seven brothers with their mother were arrested and tortured with whips and scourges by the king, to force them to eat pork in violation of God's law.
One of the brothers, speaking for the others, said: "What do you expect to achieve by questioning us? We are ready to die rather than transgress the laws of our ancestors."
At the point of death he said: "You accursed fiend, you are depriving us of this present life, but the King of the world will raise us up to live again forever. It is for his laws that we are dying."
After him the third suffered their cruel sport. He put out his tongue at once when told to do so, and bravely held out his hands,
as he spoke these noble words: "It was from Heaven that I received these; for the sake of his laws I disdain them; from him I hope to receive them again."
Even the king and his attendants marveled at the young man's courage, because he regarded his sufferings as nothing.
After he had died, they tortured and maltreated the fourth brother in the same way.
When he was near death, he said, "It is my choice to die at the hands of men with the God-given hope of being restored to life by him; but for you, there will be no resurrection to life."
Psalms 17(16):1.5-6.8.15
Hear, O LORD, a just suit;
attend to my outcry;
hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit.
My steps have been steadfast in your paths,
my feet have not faltered.
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my word.
Keep me as the apple of your eye,
hide me in the shadow of your wings.
But I in justice shall behold your face;
on waking I shall be content in your presence.
But the Lord is Faithful; He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one !!!!
Second Letter to the Thessalonians 2:16-17.3:1-5
Brothers and sisters: May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word.
Finally, brothers, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may speed forward and be glorified, as it did among you, and that we may be delivered from perverse and wicked people, for not all have faith.
But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.
We are confident of you in the Lord that what we instruct you, you (both) are doing and will continue to do.
May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the endurance of Christ.
The God of Jacob, He is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to Him all are alive!!!
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 20:27-38
Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, came forward and put this question to Jesus,
saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us, 'If someone's brother dies leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother.'
Now there were seven brothers; the first married a woman but died childless.
Then the second
and the third married her, and likewise all the seven died childless.
Finally the woman also died.
Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be? For all seven had been married to her."
Jesus said to them, "The children of this age marry and remarry;
but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage.
They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise.
That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called 'Lord' the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob;
and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive."
Conclusion:
Give Thanks to God for all the Graces and Blessings He gives us!!! THANK YOU!!!! THANK YOU!!!! THANK YOU!!!!
On Sundays as we gather to celebrate the Eucharist (Greek for thanksgiving) the heart of our gathering we declare it is right to give God thanks and praise, it is a prayer of thanks at the banquet table of our Great and Glorious Lord. Let us also pause and ponder on our own needs. May we give thanks for those needs and for the opportunity they offer us to discover that, in God"s Love, we truly have all we need.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. He waters the mountains from His upper chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of His work. He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate— bringing forth food from the earth: Let them give thanks to the LORD for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men. Amen, Alleluia!!!!!!!
Salvation is for everyone and it is free for Jesus Christ paid the price!!!!!!!
So Love and Serve God and Neighbor with all of your Heart.
The Word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart —that is, the word of faith that we preach—, for, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.
Romans 10:8-10
Be vigilant and ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Amen, Alleluia!!!!!!!
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."
Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
As the Body without the Spirit is Dead, So Faith without Deeds is Dead.
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. Romans 8:11
Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior!!!!!!! What are you waiting for??? Do it Now, Today!!!
Jesus Christ died for you and me and we are now free from sin and death and can now enjoy and have an eternal relationship with the Father.
Let us all proclaim the Gospel to all our Brothers and Sisters in the entire world and be witnesses, ready to testify of our Faith in Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior!!!!!!!
Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? Ezekiel 18:31
The Good News is Jesus Christ Our Lord and Savior!!! Amen, Alleluia!!!! Trust and have Faith in Him!!!
Glory and Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
We are all His witnesses and messengers let us continue proclaiming His message of the Good News to the entire world!!!!!!! God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and Truth.
This is My beloved Son, Listen to Him!!!
Open our hearts, O Lord, to listen eagerly to the words of your Son, Jesus Christ.
Help us to Live by Your Word Lord!!!
Your Word, Lord, is Truth and Your Law Deliverance!!!
We have been given a second chance, let us not waste it !!!!!!!
As we listen to the voice of Your Son, help us to become heirs to eternal life with Him.
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. John 15:16
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:8
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12
Thus says the LORD: Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations, not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street. a bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench, until he establishes justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait for his teaching.
I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness. Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7
In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. Hebrews 1:1-4
Let us all rejoice in the Lord, for our Savior is born to the world. True Peace has descended from Heaven.
Lord, free us from our sins and make us whole. Hear our prayer, and prepare us to celebrate the incarnation of your Son, Jesus Christ Our Lord and Savior. Amen, Alleluia!!!
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John14:6
Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Let us all proclaim the Gospel to all our Brothers and Sisters in the entire world and be witnesses, ready to testify of our Faith in Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior!!!!!!!
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Matthew 28:19-20
Jesus Christ is Our Lord and Savior. Trust and have Faith in Him, today Amen, Alleluia!!!
Go and proclaim to the whole world the awesomeness and greatness of God!!!
I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life!!!!!!!
Glory and Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
