FILIP MACUKIĆ - SVJEDOČANSTVO
reblog 11th dec
Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22
This is just a short post today because I feel like I received a warning. I was pondering the world, and how Maria Esperanza said of Venezuela, ”it will start here”. Knowing that Venezuela has been in the news of late I decided to pray.
I have told you that God has been relatively silent for awhile, but this day was different. I was praying a Rosary and I received a word in prayer. ”Pray it will not be winter.”
That was it. That was all that was said to me in my prayer. I recognized it from scripture.
The whole passage states;
So when you see the desolating sacrilege, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains; the one on the housetop must not go down to take things from the house; the one in the field must not turn back to get a coat. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For at that time there will be great suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved, but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look! Here is the Messiah!’ or ‘There he is!’—do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Take note, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look! He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the eagles will gather. Matthew 24:15-28
I don’t really know exactly what all this means, except I feel we must do as Jesus commanded in scripture. And I felt it important enough to tell you.
I am not an eschatologist, nor do I proport to know timelines of events. I only know what I heard in prayer and that it matches something in scripture that Jesus told us to do. So for me, I will pray that our flight may not be in winter or on a sabbath. Prayer changes things.
Mary Parsons13h sedanI’m currently doing a bible podcast and that was the reading for today from the Gospel of Mark.
William Tapley13h sedan”Corpse” is a bad translation. ”Body” is correct. In these End Times, the Body is Jesus Himself and the ”eagles” that join him are His 3 armies at Armageddon.
- veilofveronicaWilliam Tapley13h sedanThe translation I used was NRSV.
jeff14h sedanI forgot to make clear in my last post that the tribulation period before the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary will be from 2028 to 2031!!! Of course this is based on Venerable Bishop Fulton Sheen’s Prophecy!!Sorry about my spelling!
Maria Angélica de Albuquerque Santos17h sedanIn Venezuela is printemps now
Louis17h sedanYes It very well could be a personal message however what if it isn’t? Let’s prepare. In fact Jesus tells us to stay awake! In other words always be prepared. Let’s not be naive or like the ostrich with its head in the sand. If we truly the times we were living in and recognize them for what they are we will live with joy but prepared.
- Wendy1d sedanMaybe this is just a personal message for you and your family, not an end times warning.
- veilofveronicaWendy1d sedanCould be. Thanks for the insight, since I was praying about world events I didn’t think it was personal, but God does often work in layers. Since it is something that is in scripture that Christ asked us to pray I figured there was no harm in sharing it.
Lessons 4-6 from the Divine Office for The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary: On the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary from a Sermon by St. Jerome the Priest.
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Who and what was the blessed and glorious ever-Virgin Mary, hath been revealed by God by the message of an Angel, in these words: Hail, thou that art full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. It was fitting that a fulness of grace should be poured into that Virgin who hath given to God glory and to man a Saviour, who hath brought peace to earth, who hath given faith to the Gentiles, who hath killed sin, who hath given law to life, who hath made the crooked ways straight. Verily, she is full of grace. To others grace cometh measure by measure; in Mary grace dwelleth at once in all fulness. Verily, she is full of grace. We believe that the holy Fathers and Prophets had grace; but they were not full of grace. But into Mary came a fulness of all the grace which is in Christ, albeit otherwise than as it is in Him. Therefore is it said: Blessed art thou among women, that is, Blessed art thou above all women. The fulness of blessing in Mary utterly neutralized in her any effects of the curse of Eve. In her praise Solomon writeth in the Song of Songs, Rise up, my dove, my fair one, for the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. And again, Come from Lebanon, my Spouse, come, thou shalt be crowned.
Not unjustly then is she bidden to come from Lebanon, for Lebanon is so named on account of its stainless and glistening whiteness. The earthly Lebanon is white with snow, but the lonely heights of Mary’s holiness are white with purity and grace, brilliantly fair, whiter far than snow, sparkling with the gifts of the Holy Ghost―she is undefiled like a dove, all clean, all upright, full of grace and truth. She is full of mercy, and of the righteousness that hath looked down from heaven, and therefore is she without stain because in her hath never been any corruption. She hath compassed a man in her womb, saith holy Jeremiah, but she conceived not by the will of fallen man. The Lord, saith the Prophet, hath created a new thing in the earth: a woman shall compass a man. Verily, it is a new thing. Verily, it was a new work of power, greater than all other works, when God, Whom the world cannot bear, and Whom no man shall see and live, entered the lodging of her womb, breaking not the blissful cloister of her virgin flesh. And in her body He was borne, the Infinite inclosed within her womb. And from her womb He came forth, so that it was fulfilled which was spoken of the Prophet Ezekiel, saying: This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the Lord, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut. Hence also in the Song of Songs it is said of her, A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse, a garden enclosed, a fountain sealed, thy perfumes are a garden of delights. Verily a garden of delights, filled with the perfumes of all flowers, rich with the sweet savour of grace. And the most holy Virgin herself is a garden enclosed, whereinto sin and Satan have never entered to sully the blossoms, a fountain sealed, sealed with the seal of the Trinity.
The fact that the Virgin Mother of God had at the moment of her Conception triumphed over the foul enemy of man, hath ever been borne out by the Holy Scriptures, by the venerable tradition of the Church, and by her unceasing belief, as well as by the common conviction of all Bishops and faithful Catholics, and by marked acts and constitutions of the Holy See. At length the Supreme Pontiff Pius IX, in compliance with the wishes of the Universal Church, determined to publish it as a truth of faith, on his own absolute and unerring authority, and accordingly, on the 8th day of December, 1854, in the Vatican Basilica, in presence of a great multitude composed of the Fathers Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, and Bishops from all parts of the earth, he, with the consent and jubilation of the whole world, declared and defined as follows: That doctrine which declareth that the most blessed Virgin Mary was in the first instant of her Conception preserved, by a special privilege granted unto her by God, from any stain of original sin, is a doctrine taught and revealed by God, and therefore is to be held by all faithful Christians firmly and constantly.
@anacubelic9814
Dear Fr. Chris, please accept my sincere condolences on passing of your father, RIP. I feel you like my countrymen because I live near Podlapaca. I was born and still live in Rijeka, Croatia where Nazareth house came carried by angels on 10 May 1291 on the hill of Trsat. 3 years and 7 months later, on 10 December 1294, angels moved it to Loreto. By God’s grace and intercession of Our Mother of grace and St. Joseph I pilgrimed to Nazareth and Loreto.Thank you for your teaching.
It’s easy to be grateful only when things go well. But when times are tough we tend to turn in on ourselves in self-pity. But you must learn to glorify the Lord in all things. There are countless blessings and graces that God gives you for which you must experience immense gratitude. Family blessings, spiritual consolations, fulfillment of duties, etc., must all be occasions of gratitude. But gratitude must permeate everything in life, even hardships. Seek to glorify the Lord not only because of the “good things of life,” but also throughout the difficult things. Everything can be used by God for His glory and we must rejoice in that fact day and night (See Diary #1661-1662). Reflect upon this “challenge.” Can you find joy in all things and offer praise and gratitude to God no matter what? God is worth it and He deserves your continual praise. He never leaves you and when you realize this it will be the source of unending praise and thanksgiving
Lord, I adore You, worship You, praise You and thank You for all things in my life. Thank You for the blessings and for always being there when life is hard. Help me to grow in my gratitude for You Amen .
Vittnesbörd & Tro
1012 – Bön till den saliga jungfru Maria av Loreto
Av Through the Desert den 10 december 2025.
Bön till den saliga jungfru Maria av Loreto
O Maria av Loreto, härliga Jungfru, vi närmar oss dig med förtroende: ta emot vår ödmjuka bön.
Mänskligheten skakars av allvarliga ondska som den själv vill bli av med. Den behöver fred, rättvisa, sanning, kärlek, och den är vilseledd av illusionen att den kan finna dessa gudomliga verkligheter långt från din Son.
Åh mamma! Du bar den gudomliga Frälsaren i din rena livmoder och levde med Honom i det heliga hus som vi vördar på denna Loreto-kulle, skaffa oss nåden att söka Honom och att efterlikna Hans exempel som leder till frälsning. Med tro och barnlig kärlek kommer vi i anden till ert välsignade hus
Genom er familjs närvaro är det det heliga huset par excellence, som vi önskar att alla kristna familjer ska efterlikna: från Jesus må varje son lära lydnad och arbete; av dig, o Maria, må varje kvinna lära ödmjukhet och offerets anda; från Josef, som levde för dig och för Jesus, må varje man lära sig tro på Gud och leva i familjen och samhället med trohet och kyskhet.
Många familjer, o Maria, är inte en fristad där Gud älskas och tjänas; så vi ber dig att be oss efterlikna din, känna igen varje dag och älska framför allt din gudomlige Son. Precis som han en dag, efter år av bön och arbete, kom ut ur detta heliga hus för att göra sitt ord, som är Ljus och Liv, så må han återigen från de heliga väggar som talar till oss om tro och kärlek, låta ekot av Hans allsmäktiga ord nå människor, vilket upplyser och omvänder.
Vi ber till dig, o Maria, för påven, för den universella kyrkan och för alla jordens folk, för kyrkliga och civila institutioner, och för dem som lider och för syndare, att alla må bli Guds lärjungar. O Maria, på denna nådens dag, förenad med de fromma som är andligt närvarande för att vörda det Heliga Huset där du har blivit överskuggad av den Helige Ande, med levande tro upprepar vi för dig ärkeängeln Gabriels ord: Hälsa, du nådiga, Herren är med dig!
Vi åkallar dig på nytt: Var hälsad, Maria, Jesu moder och kyrkans moder, syndarnas skydd, de sorgsnas tröstare, Kristnas hjälp.
Mitt i svårigheter och frekventa frestelser riskerar vi att gå vilse, men vi ser på dig och upprepar för dig: Hell dig, himmelporten; Hej, Havets Stjärna! Må vår bön stiga till dig, o Maria. Må hon berätta för dig om våra önskningar, vår kärlek till Jesus och vårt hopp i dig, o vår Moder. Må vår bön återvända till jorden med ett överflöd av himmelska nåder. Slut på historien.
Advent retreat through the words of Pope Francis
Christmas pudding
Reflection
If you haven’t started by now, you’re too late. Your Christmas Pudding journey – yes, the noun ‘journey’ is now applied even to a pudding! – should really begin in September, culinary expects say. This gives time for the flavours of the fruit and alcohol to intensify so that you get the optimal flavours on the big day!
If you were too busy in September, you should really have begun your Pudding on Stir-Up Sunday, the fifth Sunday before Christmas, the Sunday before the start of the Season of Advent. The name ‘Stir-Up Sunday’ came from the Church of England’s Book of Common Prayer, where the Collect for that day reads:
Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of these be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
In Victorian England, Stir-Up Sunday was an opportunity for the whole family to get involved in the kitchen, and the involvement of everyone would bring the family luck in the coming year.
Thirteen ingredients are required, representing Christ and the 12 apostles: raisins, currants, flour, suet, eggs, brown sugar, breadcrumbs, citron, lemon peel, orange peel, mixed spices, milk, and brandy. A wooden spoon is used to represent the wood of the manger where Jesus was laid; and stirring should be from east to west, to signify the journey of the Magi. And when you finally get round to eating it, the setting of the pudding alight symbolises Christ’s passion, with the holly on top serving as a reminder of the crown of thorns.
Of course, you might not like Christmas Pudding anyway, or you may be thinking that this author has run out of spiritual reflections to offer and is now scraping the pudding bowl.
But the Season of Advent is a call to action, starting from John the Baptist’s message to repent and prepare the way of the Lord. However, the temptation is simply to continue with the old traditions, so that we can celebrate Christmas as we always have. That is not what Advent is about:
Complacency is seductive; it tells us that there is no point in trying to change things, that there is nothing we can do, because this is the way things have always been and yet we always manage to survive. Yet let us allow the Lord to rouse us from our torpor, to free us from our inertia. Let us rethink our usual way of doing things; let us open our eyes and ears, and above all our hearts, so as not to be complacent about things as they are, but unsettled by the living and effective word of the risen Lord (Pope Francis)
An American Episcopal priest and author, Fleming Rutledge, said Advent is “not for the faint hearted”. It is a time to focus once again on the message of Christ.
To Ponder
Is my Advent preparation continuing with the old traditions?
Where is my Advent focus?
Pause for Thought
“‘Stir up we beseech thee O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people. It is a prayer asking God to stir us up! As such, the words now point me to something much deeper than stirring puddings.
To stir our hearts is like the promise of the Prophet Ezekiel that God will give us: ‘A new heart and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.’ [Ezekiel 36 v.26]
Let’s make the prayer that God will stir our hearts afresh a daily part of our keeping of Advent this year. So as we come again to celebrate the birth of Jesus, our hearts may be renewed in love and service of all his children. Stir up, O Lord, the hearts of your people this Advent time!” (David Newsome, International Office Volunteer (UK), Hands at Work Community)
And now I invite you to click on the ‘Prayed’ button to join the community in prayer
An Advent prayer
God of Love,
your son, Jesus, is your greatest gift to us.
He is a sign of your love.
Help us walk in that love during the weeks of Advent,
as we wait and prepare for his coming.
We pray in the name of Jesus, our Saviour.
Amen.
ANDRA VECKAN I ADVENT – ONSDAG DEN
2. DOŠ – Varje dag eller: Den saliga jungfru Maria av Loreto
BIBELNS TANKE PÅ DAGEN
, Matteus 11:28-30
Ok och börda
: Kom till mig, alla ni som är trötta och tungt tunga, så ska jag ge er vila. Ta mitt ok på er, lär av mig, ty jag är ödmjuk och låg i hjärtat, och ni ska finna vila för era själar. För mitt ok är lätt och min börda lätt.
Tänk på ögonblicket då Jesus tilltalar dessa ord till dig. Hans kallelse riktas inte till de perfekta, eller till dem som håller allt under kontroll, utan till dig, här och nu, med alla dina bekymmer, rädslor, trötthet och bördor.
Jesus känner igen ditt tillstånd: ”trött och belastad”. Han förstår vikten av livets skyldigheter, moraliska dilemman, skuld, oro eller orättvisa som du bär på dina axlar. Hans första ord är en kallelse: ”Kom till mig”. Han ger inga snabba råd på avstånd, utan ber om ett personligt möte.
Fråga dig själv: Vad är exakt min största arbetsbörda idag? Vad tröttar ut mig mest? Är jag redo att uppriktigt komma till Jesus med denna börda eller försöker jag fortfarande bära den ensam?
Jesus erbjuder inte att ta bort alla skyldigheter från våra liv. Han lovar inte ett liv utan utmaningar. Istället erbjuder den en ersättning. Han säger: ”Ta mitt ok på dig”.
Ett ok var ett jordbruksverktyg som förenade två oxar för att dra ihop en last. Jesus erbjuder oss att vara den ”andra” oxen, och Han är den som vägleder och bär det mesta av bördan. Hans ok är ”ljuvligt” och hans börda är ”lätt” inte för att skyldigheterna är små, utan för att vi bär dem med Honom och med Hans styrka, inte vår egen.
Det traditionella religiösa ”oket” av lag och regler var ofta tungt och betungande (som fariséerna lärde). Jesu ok är ett ok av kärlek, nåd och förtroende.
Funder: Vilken ”börda” försöker jag bära ensam, och tänker att jag måste förtjäna Guds kärlek eller att jag måste vara perfekt? Hur skulle det vara att lämna över den bördan till Jesus och låta Honom ta kontrollen?
Nyckeln till att finna sinnesro ligger i att lära sig av Mästaren: ”Lär känna mig, ty jag är ödmjuk och låg i hjärtat.”
Ödmjukhet är inte svaghet, utan styrka under kontroll. Ödmjukhet är inte att förminska sig själv, utan en realistisk syn på sig själv och Gud. Jesus, trots sin gudomliga kraft, är inte arrogant, otålig eller krävande. Han är mild. När vi lär oss av Honom lär vi oss att reagera på stress och påfrestningar med inre frid, snarare än med ångest och ilska.
Själens frid är inte resultatet av yttre omständigheter, utan av hjärtats inre tillstånd som är förent med Jesu hjärta.
Att fundera på: I vilka situationer förlorar jag min ödmjukhet och ödmjukhet? Hur kan jag bättre spegla Jesu frid i mina dagliga interaktioner och åtaganden?
Detta avsnitt är en uppmaning till kapitulation och tillit. Jesus vill befria oss från den utmattande bördan av vår egen ansträngning och kamp och ge oss sin frid.
Bön:
Herre Jesus, jag bekänner att jag ofta är trött och tyngd av världens bekymmer. Jag har försökt bära min ok ensam alldeles för länge. Jag svarar på din kallelse: Jag kommer till dig. Jag överlämnar mina bördor till Dig (nämn dem kort). Hjälp mig att ta Ditt ok på mig och att lära av Dig, ödmjuk och ödmjuk i hjärtat, så att jag kan finna sann frid i min själ. Amen !
Wednesday, December 10
Our Lady of Loreto
Prayer for the Morning
The Lord fulfills his promises:
let us place all our hope in him.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia!
HymnMeter: 76 76 D
This hymn can be sung to the tune used for
By All Your Saints Still Striving
I’ll sing a hymn to Mary
The Mother of my God,
The Virgin of all virgins,
Of David’s Royal blood.
O teach me, holy Mary,
A loving song to frame,
When wicked men blaspheme thee,
To love and bless thy name.
O Lily of the Valley,
O mystic Rose, what tree
Or flower, e’en the fairest,
Is half so fair as thee?
O let me, though so lowly,
Recite my Mother’s fame:
When wicked men blaspheme thee,
I’ll love and bless thy name.
O noble Tower of David,
Of gold and ivory,
The Ark of God’s own promise,
The Gate of Heaven to me;
To live, and not to love thee,
Would fill my soul with shame:
When wicked men blaspheme thee,
I’ll love and bless thy name.
When troubles dark afflict me,
In sorrow and in care,
Thy light doth ever guide me,
O beauteous Morning Star.
So I’ll be ever ready
Thy goodly help to claim,
When wicked men blaspheme thee,
I’ll love and bless thy name.
Psalm 842-6, 11
I am going to prepare a place for you. (Jn 14:2)
“Since the Middle Ages, veneration for the Holy House of Loreto has been the origin of that particular shrine which still today is visited by many faithful pilgrims in order to nourish their faith in the Word of God made flesh for us. This shrine recalls the mystery of the Incarnation, leading all those who visit it to consider ‘the fullness of time,’ when God sent his Son, born of a woman” (Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments).
How lovely is your dwelling place,
Lord, God of hosts.
My soul is longing and yearning,
is yearning for the courts of the Lord.
My heart and my soul ring out their joy
to God, the living God.
The sparrow herself finds a home
and the swallow a nest for her brood;
she lays her young by your altars,
Lord of hosts, my king and my God.
They are happy, who dwell in your house,
for ever singing your praise.
They are happy, whose strength is in you,
in whose hearts are the roads to Zion.
One day within your courts
is better than a thousand elsewhere.
The threshold of the house of God
I prefer to the dwellings of the wicked.
Glory to the Father…
Word of GodLuke 2:51–52
He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced [in] wisdom and age and favor before God and man.
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God:
that we may be made worthy
of the promises of Christ.
Canticle of Zechariah
The virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall call him Immanuel. (Is 7:14)
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet
of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father…
Intercessions
Let us rely with great confidence on the intercession of the Mother of God:
R/Mother of fair love, help your children!
Mother of Christ, pray for all who seek to follow your Son,
– that they may be united with him for all eternity. R/
Mother of the Church, pray for all members of your Son’s Mystical Body,
– that they may be always united in charity and truth. R/
Mother of Divine Grace, pray for poor sinners,
– that divine assistance may lead them to true sanctity. R/
Personal intentions
Our Father…
Grant, we beseech you, O Lord God, that we, your servants, may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body; and by the intercession of Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, may be delivered from present sorrow, and obtain eternal joy. Through Christ our Lord.Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe 2 Day 8 Dec 10
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V. O Lady of Guadalupe,
R. With my heart full of the most sincere veneration, * I prostrate myself before thee, O Mother, * to ask thee to obtain for me the grace to fulfill the duties of my state in life * with faithfulness and constancy.
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V. (mention requests)
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Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
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Memorare to Our Lady of Guadalupe:
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V. Remember, O most gracious Virgin of Guadalupe,
R. That in thy heavenly apparitions on the mount of Tepeyac, *
thou promised to show thy compassion and pity towards all *
who, loving and trusting thee, * seek thy help and call upon
thee in their necessities and afflictions. * Thou promised to hear
our supplications, * to dry our tears, * and to give us
consolation and relief. * Never has it been known that anyone who fled to thy protection, * implored thy help, * or sought thy intercession, * was left unaided. * Inspired by this confidence, we fly to thee, * O Mary, ever-Virgin Mother of the true God! * Though grieving under the weight of our sins, * we come to prostrate ourselves before thy presence. * We fully trust that, standing beneath thy shadow and protection, * nothing will trouble or afflict us, * nor do we need to fear illness or misfortune, * or any other sorrow.
V. O Virgin of Guadalupe,
R. Thou wantest to remain with us through thine admirable Image, * thou who art our Mother, our health, and our life. * Placing ourselves beneath thy maternal gaze, * and having recourse to thee in all our necessities, * we need do nothing m
V. O Holy Mother of God, despise not our petitions,
R. But in thy mercy hear and answer us. Amen.Proverbs 10:23
“To do evil is like sport to a fool, but a man of understanding has wisdom.”
While Jesus hung on the cross paying for the sins of humanity, paving the way for man to have fellowship with God, and giving entrance to heaven, we are told a group of soldiers were gambling for His clothing. The most important event in the history of humanity is unfolding, and these men are playing games at the foot of the cross. Sadly, their behavior is all too common among people today. Many, instead of taking seriously their need for Christ, are playing around with sin and treating it like sport. Even among believers this behavior is all too familiar. There are many Christians who seem to live for the adrenaline rush they receive, by getting as close to sin as possible, while not falling completely into it. That, my friend, is a dangerous game. Solomon wrote,
Proverbs 6:27-28
“Can a man take fire to his bosom,
And his clothes not be burned?
Can one walk on hot coals, And his feet not be seared?”
Toying around with, and living on the edge of sin, is a very dangerous game. It will not be long before you find you have taken one step too many and fallen hard. For many, once that line is crossed, it is very difficult to be restored. Sin gets its teeth in us, and like a pit bull, is unwilling to let go. The secret to success, is to stay away from the fences. Don’t live as close to sinning as you can, but as far away as possible.
I had a good friend who had a substance abuse problem. He was doing his best to walk with the Lord, and stay away from former habits. He knew, he not only had to make investments in his walk with the Lord, but he also had to avoid his old stomping grounds. He even had to choose new routes home from work, because the way he traveled in the past took him right through the neighborhood where he would purchase drugs. After months of doing well, staying clean, and growing in Christ, he thought he was strong enough to handle it, and decided to take a short cut home. His path took him right by his dealers place. Before he knew it, he had parked the car, entered the home, purchased drugs, and fell hard. It was over a week later when I heard from him. He had been on a binge and had finally come down. Broken, hurting, filled with self-loathing, and fearing what was ahead, he told me the details of his story.
His story is not an isolated case. If we are honest, we all have stories of toying with sin and falling. Our landing may not have been as hard as his, but sin has had a devastating effect upon us, and those to whom we are seeking to be a godly witness. It is folly to think we can gamble with sin and not lose. If you have been treating sin like sport, it is time to retire. Whatever has been leading you to the edge, remove it from your life, and draw as close to Christ as you can. Paul told Timothy to flee youthful lusts (2 Timothy 2:22) and Joseph took this so seriously he ran from Potiphar’s house leaving his clothes behind (Genesis 39:12).
Pastor Jim
Questions for Proverbs 10
Up until this point in the book of Proverbs, there has been a theme to the early chapters: God’s Wisdom is painted in a beautiful light, and the person who pursues wisdom is viewed with great favor by God. From this chapter forward the book changes, as most of the book is comprised of short proverbs that are often unrelated to the one before or after. Also, each proverb tends to say two things that illustrate one another. These proverbs can cover a very wide range of application even from verse to verse.
1. Righteousness is contrasted with wickedness in many of these verses (2, 3, 6, 7, 11, 16, 20, 21, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30, 31, and 32). Read through these verses. Make a list of all of the advantages of the righteous. Now make a list of all of the consequences that the wicked must face. Which list do you want for yourself?
2. Verses 1 and 5 mention a “wise son”. What impact does the wise son have on his parents? How is your relationship with your parents? Pursuing God and following His instructions for loving them is the greatest things that you can do to honor them.
3. Look at verse 8. We are naturally prone to not want to have others tell us what to do. The problem is that it is right for us to submit to the authorities that God has put over us. Do you have a good attitude toward the authorities in your life?
4. Look at verse 11, 13, 19, 20, 21, 31, 32. What is the speech of a righteous person likened to? How does it contrast with the words of the wicked? Take time to consider your own words. Is your mouth a blessing?
5. Verse 12 reveals a wonderful truth. This verse is later quoted in 1 Peter 4:8. Think about the people you love: do you seek to cover/forgive/show grace concerning their sin? Or are you quick to fight? Ask God to pour His love into your heart to help you.
6. Look at verse 22. When the Lord blesses a person’s life, there is no hidden cost to the blessing. Certainly we must count the cost in following Jesus, but that is all in the open and Jesus has been plain about it. The devil on the other hand, never tells what the cost will be for doing things his way. Consider this verse carefully. There is no downside! Pursue the blessing of the Lord in your own life!
Old Testament:
Amos 1- Shepherd Or Butcher
Amos 3- Walking Together
Jag hade nyligen äran att tala med Adeline Khouri om påve Leo XIV:s besök i Libanon och hennes upplevelse när hon bevittnade andligt hopp och läkning för sitt land. Adeline är en franko-libanesisk kvinna dedikerad till att dela den djupa skönheten i påve Johannes Paulus II:s Theology of the Body (TOB), är certifierad medlem i World Youth Alliance och undervisar i TOB internationellt.
Jenny: Jag hörde dig tala om din otroliga upplevelse av att bevittna påve Leo XIV:s historiska besök i ditt hemland Libanon, och glädjen i dina ögon när du talade var fullständigt inspirerande. Vi skulle gärna vilja höra mer.
Adeline: Tack för att du bjöd in mig att dela mina reflektioner. Påve Leo XIV:s besök i Libanon var inget mindre än ett hoppets besök, en nådens intervention i ett sargat land som längtade efter förnyelse. För oss libaneser kändes den Helige Faderns närvaro som ett himlens andetag när vi trängde in i en nation utmattad av ekonomisk kollaps, politisk oro, massutvandring och den kvarvarande traumat från explosionen i Beiruts hamn, en av de största icke-kärnvapenexplosionerna i historien. Hans besök kom vid en timme då många hade slutat tro att något kunde förändras.
Jenny: Vad betydde detta besök för Libanon som land?
Adeline: Påve Leo anlände inte som en avlägsen ledare, utan som en fredslärjunge, fullt medveten om det djupa behovet av försoning i vår region. Hans upprepade vädjanden om enhet, dialog och läkning berörde varje samhälle. I sina tal påminde han oss:
”Libanon, du är kallad att vara en fyr för samexistens och fred för världen.”
Och till ungdomen förklarade han med faderlig iver:
”Unga människor i Libanon, bli starka som cederträden och låt världen blomstra med hopp!”
Hans ord återställde värdigheten åt ett folk som tystats, avskräckts och glömts bort.
Jenny: Hur var din personliga upplevelse på Youth Gathering?
Adeline: Jag hade förmånen att delta i Youth Gathering med den Helige Fadern – en upplevelse jag kommer att bära med mig för alltid. Tusentals unga människor stod tillsammans, sjöng, grät, bad… och ändå utstrålar han en oförklarlig glädje. Detta är ungdomar som har uthärdat krig, ekonomisk kollaps, fördrivning, katastrofala explosioner, förlust av familjemedlemmar och djup osäkerhet om framtiden – men de kom med mod, musik och firande.
Vid ett tillfälle, när de unga började sjunga sin kärlek till Kristus och till kyrkan, började påven gråta. Att se den Helige Fadern gråta fick mig också att gråta. Det var som om han plötsligt såg, med förvåning och ömhet, vår ungdoms trofasthet och heroiska motståndskraft. Vi var inte en trasig generation, vi var en återuppstånden.
I det ögonblicket mindes jag orden från Höga visan:
”Kom från Libanon, min brud… kom” (Höga Visan 4:8).
Det kändes som om Kristus Brudgummen själv kallade sin libanesiska ungdom att resa sig, att träda fram, att sjunga Kärlekens Sång som är starkare än döden.
Jenny: Kan du förklara för oss vilken betydelse detta besök hade för din tjänst: Brudgummens sång
Adeline: För mig personligen var detta besök en gudomlig bekräftelse på mitt uppdrag och kall. Min tjänst, Brudgummens sång, syftar till att väcka i varje person törsten efter Jesu kärlek, som sjunger sin kärlek om kärlek till världen från Libanon.
Det är ett uppdrag som har sin rött i Höga visan—Skriftens stora kärleksdikt—som i århundraden har vävts in i Libanons kultur, andlighet och östliga liturgiska tradition. Libanon är, i mycket verklig mening, ”Sångens land”: en plats där den gudomlige brudgummens röst ekar genom våra sånger, vår poesi, våra berg och vårt folks kallelse till gemenskap och skönhet.
Påvens närvaro bekräftade att Libanon är menat att sjunga denna sång till världen, och att Brudgummens sång är en del av detta profetiska uppdrag. Hans närvaro bekräftade att Libanon fortfarande har en profetisk kallelse: att vara en plats där brudgummens röst hörs… där försoning blir möjlig… där såren orsakade av arvssynden—splittring, rädsla, misstänksamhet—läks av kärlek.
Hans besök återupplivade min övertygelse om att brudgummen kommer, och Han önskar att Hans brud kyrkan ska lära sig sjunga Hans Sång igen. När vi sjunger med Honom blir vi ett med Gud, och fred, enhet och harmoni flödar åter in i vårt land.
Ett tecken från himlen: regnbågen
På besökets sista dag dök en regnbåge upp ovanför Vår Fru av Libanons helgedom i Harissa—bruden från Libanon. Senare dök en regnbåge upp ovanför mässan i Beirut – precis där världens tredje största explosion hade ödelagt staden. Det var som om skapelsen själv svarade på påvens närvaro.
För oss var denna regnbåge omisskännlig. Gud skrev under ett nytt förbund med Libanon: ett förbund om förnyad fred, överflöd, försoning, enhet och hopp.
Det kändes som om Fadern sa: ”Jag har inte övergivit dig. Mitt löfte står fortfarande.”
Jenny: Vilken påverkan hade besöket på Libanons medborgare?
Adeline: Människor som förlorat allt förtroende för institutioner återupptäckte plötsligt förtroendet för Gud. Hjärtan öppnades. Många återvände till bikt och bön. Andra som planerade att lämna Libanon bestämde sig för att stanna. Familjer vittnade om att de kände sig ”besökta” och ”sedda” av kyrkan.
Besöket förvandlade förtvivlan till förväntan.
Sammanfattningsvis var påve Leos pilgrimsfärd en vändpunkt för Libanon och för mig. Den väckte vår nationella kallelse på nytt och bekräftade personligen min tjänsts kallelse att sprida Brudgummens sång från Libanon till världen, och bjuda in varje människa, särskilt de sårade, de bortglömda och andligt törstiga, att möta Jesu helande kärlek genom Höga visan. ”Fred är mycket mer än bara en balans… Fred är att veta hur man lever tillsammans, i gemenskap, som försonade människor… En försoning … Det kommer att lära oss att arbeta tillsammans för en gemensam framtid sida vid sida.” År 2025 kallade påve Leo XIV, i sitt tal till de östliga kyrkorna, dem för en ”Hoppets sång” för en värld i andlig kris, och ekade sitt budskap under sitt pastorala besök i Libanon, där han uppmanade oss att bevara vår identitet, återuppväcka vårt kulturella och andliga arv och åter erbjuda det till världen som ett levande vittnesbörd om hopp. Påven sade också: ”Ditt hemland, Libanon, kommer återigen att blomstra vackert och starkt som cederträ.”
Som maronitisk katolik och fransk-libanesisk kvinna är mitt uppdrag att föra detta budskap till det latinska väst: att bygga broar, förena, hela och förnya den tysta ”skilsmässan” mellan öst och väst genom att presentera Kroppens teologi genom båda traditionernas integrerade lins.
Den östliga traditionen erbjuder TOB en lysande vision rotad i:
• mystik och skönhet
• begärets
språk• liturgi som möte
• kroppen som ikon
• hjärtat som fristad•
helande som förening med brudgummen
Påven sade under sitt besök:
”Jag tänker på doften som stiger från libanesiska bord, kända för sitt stora utbud av mat och den starka gemensamma dimensionen av delning. Det är en doft bestående av tusen dofter som slår ifrån genom sin mångfald och ibland genom sin harmoni tillsammans. Sådan är Kristi doft.”
I årtionden har den latinska kyrkan längtat efter att återupptäcka den östkatolska traditionens livfullhet, mystik och bibliska fantasi.
Med tacksamhet och hopp,
Adeline Khouri
Adeline Khouri, Libanon – Konsult och styrelseledamot
Adeline Khouri är en fransk-libanesisk Theology of the Body (TOB)-pedagog, coach och förespråkare för människovärdighet och liv. Hon undervisar i TOB internationellt, erbjuder personlig coachning och samarbetar med Bureau Pastoral de la Famille Bkerke för att leda initiativ i Libanon, de Heliga Landen och Mellanöstern. Som konsult och styrelseledamot på TOB Educators utvecklar hon innehåll, organiserar webbinarier och pilgrimsfärder samt leder kurser och retreater.
Som medlem i World Youth Alliance och en Pro-Life-aktivist är Adeline engagerad i att främja andlig och emotionell läkning genom brudgummens förvandlande kärlek (hon är medlem i Hope’s Garden). Hon är också en skicklig livscoach, traumaläkningsfacilitator och flerspråkig talare flytande i engelska, franska och arabiska.
Med en bakgrund inom civilingenjörskonst och erfarenhet av ledarskapscoaching, ungdomsmentorskap och internationell påverkansarbete bygger Adeline broar mellan teologi, personlig utveckling och mission, och utvecklar initiativ som Höga Sjöns pilgrimsfärd i Libanon för att inspirera till förnyelse och hopp.Little Chaplet in Honour of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Raccolta 95
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V. Deus in adjutorium meum intendo.
R. Domine ad adjuvandum me festina.
V. Gloria Patri, &c.
R. Sicut erat, &c.
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i. Immaculate Virgin, who, being conceived without sin, didst direct every movement of thy pure heart to God, ever the object of thy love, and who wast ever most submissive to His will; obtain for me the grace to hate sin with my whole heart, and to learn of thee to live in perfect resignation to the will of God.
One Pater noster, seven Ave Maria’s.
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Heart of Mary, pierced with grief, set my heart on fire with the love of God.
Or else,
My heart, O heart of Mary,
Sore pierced for me with pain,
With burning fire of charity,
Cleanse thou from sinful stain.
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ii. Mary, I wonder at thy deep humility, troubling thy blessed heart at the gracious message brought thee by Gabriel the Archangel, how that thou wast chosen to be Mother of the Son of God Most High, and making thee proclaim thyself His humble handmaid; and, in great confusion at my pride, I ask thee for the grace of a contrite humbled heart, that, knowing my own misery, I may obtain that crown of glory promised to those who are truly humble of heart.
One Pater, &c.; Heart of Mary, &c.
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iii. Sweetest Heart of Mary, precious treasury, wherein the Blessed Virgin kept the words of Jesus whilst she thought upon the high mysteries which she had heard from the lips of her Son, and whereby she learned to live for God alone; how does the coldness of my heart confound me! Dearest Mother, obtain for me grace so to meditate within my heart upon the holy law of God, that I may strive to follow thee in the fervent practice of every Christian virtue.
One Pater, &c.; Heart of Mary, &c.
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iv. Glorious Queen of Martyrs, whose sacred heart was cruelly transfixed in the bitter Passion of thy Son by the sword foretold by the holy old man Simeon, obtain for my heart true courage and a holy patience to bear well the troubles and adversities of this miserable life, and, by crucifying my flesh with its desires in following the mortification of the cross, to show myself truly thy son.
One Pater, &c.; Heart of Mary, &c.
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v. O Mary, Mystic Rose, whose loving heart, burning with the living fire of charity, accepted us for thy sons at the foot of the cross, whereby thou didst become our most tender Mother; make me feel the sweetness of thy maternal heart, and thy power with Jesus in all the perils of this mortal life, and especially in the terrible hour of death, that so my heart, united with thine, may love Jesus now and throughout all ages. Amen.
One Pater, &c.; Heart of Mary, &c.
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Let us entreat the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus to inflame us with His holy love.
O Divine Heart of Jesus, I consecrate myself to Thee, full of deep gratitude for the many blessings I have received, and daily receive, from Thy infinite charity. I thank Thee with my whole heart for having also vouchsafed to give me thine own Mother to be my Mother, consigning me to her as son in the person of the beloved disciple. Grant unto me that my heart may be ever ardently inflamed with this love of Thee, and that it may ever find in Thy most sweet Heart its peace, its refuge, and its happiness.
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His Holiness Pope Pius IX., in order that the fervour of the devotion of the faithful might be the more inflamed towards the Sacred and Immaculate Heart of Mary, granted at the prayer of the Bishop of Verona:
i. An Indulgence of 300 days, once a day, to every one who should say with contrite heart the following little chaplet.
ii. A plenary indulgence to all who have the devout custom of saying it once a day; to be gained once a month, on the day when, after Confession and Communion, they shall visit a church or public oratory, and play there for a while according to the mind of his Holiness. See decree of the S. Congr. of Indulgences, Dec. 11, 1854.
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