Jan. 31, 2010 – Matthew 8

There at the end, I don’t understand why they would ask Him to leave.  He had just cured a demonic person.  It is also interesting the the demonics say that Jesus cannot destroy or stop them until the day of judgment.  The footnotes talk about this from Revelation where God allows the demons to dwell on earth deceiving people until the Day of Judgment.  I guess that is why it always says that Jesus drove out the demons from people, it never says He destroys them. 

The centurion servant healing is one of my favorites and we get one of my favorite lines in Mass from it.  “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.”  What great faith.  In the other miracles in this chapter, the point is made that Jesus made physical contact with them.  Yet because of the centurions faith He didn’t do that for him.   

Jan. 30, 2010 – Nahum 1 – 2:10

Here a peak at the judgment of God.  When looking at this type of talk from God, it is hard to see Him as a loving God.  But, although He is a God of perfect and infinite love, He is also a God of infinite and perfect justice.  Nineveh was the capitol city of a kingdom that had done many horrendous acts, not only against Judea, but many other places.  God’s justice on them is a perfect justice.  And don’t think God plays favorites.  Jerusalem will receive the Lord’s perfect justice for their deeds as well. 

We should remember this when we choose to do wrong.  Our God is a merciful God, but also a God of justice.  

Jan. 29, 2010 – Genesis 10

http://www.geni.com/share?t=6000000007361237897

Added this chapter’s names to the tree.  Check it out at the link above.  Looking back on the whole, living 900+ years, they would have had to live that long to have that many children. 

Here is a map that you can look at for some the the places they talk about.  It is suppose to be a map for Genesis, but I will try to find a better one.

Here is another.  This site looks like it might have some that may be better down the road.   

This might be the best one, at least so far.  It gives you the text of the Bible with links to a map so you can follow right along.  Until I find something better, this will be my go to map.  The only problem is that it is linked to a modern day map, so you won’t be able to see what it looked like during the time.  Guess you can go back to the other maps for that. 

Jan. 28, 2010 – Catechism 39-49

We can never understand God because we can only think and describe things in human terms.  Eye has not seen and ear has not heard.  I have heard some talk about if they could understand God, then we are all in trouble.  We are so much smaller and sinful, we only get brief taste of what God is all about. 

Without God, we cease to exist.  And that goes for all.  I smile at the idea or thought of what an atheist must think when he sees something grow or if he has a child born.  God let’s rain fall on the believers and non-believers.  Just because you may not believe, doesn’t mean it isn’t so.  If you strongly don’t believe in gravity and jump out a window, gravity will still bring you to the ground.     

Jan. 27, 2010 – Matthew 7

Verse 21  is one of the verses I have heard used to dispute the theology of faith alone.  The idea that by declaring Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior is enough and all you need does not seem to follow the verse saying not everyone that says Lord Lord will be saved, but those that do the will of the Father. 

I love the wooden beam analogy.  The part that I have never thought about is the fact that we are not called to judge.  It says not to, but we are called to help.  After you take the wooden beam out of your eye, you help take the splinter out of your brothers.  Not judging, but helping with love. 

The end of the chapter is a verse that I have heard when people are talking about the authority of the Church to teach.  Here, it is recognized that Jesus has authority, or teaches with authority.  Later it will be said that He has authority over nature.  Then, He sends out the apostles, giving them all His authority.  The Catholic Church teaches that this authority has been passed on through the bishops by the laying on of hands from Jesus and gives the Church the authority to teach. 

Jan. 26, 2010 – Sirach 27

You cannot judge someone until you hear them speak.  And when I think of this I think of Obama and what we mean by speaking.  I don’t think it means reading off of a teleprompter.  Same goes for anybody we listen to that just reads what someone else puts in front of them.  Good speech writing is a skill, but it doesn’t mean you get to know who the person is speaking is.  I have given enough talks to know when I speak from the heart and when I am just trying to get by.  It usually is based on how much I can read what is in front of me and how much I say without looking.  And I don’t mean memorizing something, but just talking. 

This also goes to the whole idea of meeting and dating online.  It is so easy to come across as a different person when typing.  I know couples who have done this and it has worked, but to think you can really get to know someone without speaking to them and having a face to face conversation, I don’t agree with.  In this day in age we are losing that personal interaction. 

I just recently gave a talk about surrounding yourself with good people and how much people and our environment influence us.  Do people really think that in this day in age that with all the sex and junk that we surround young adults with on a daily basis they are going to grow to become adults that aren’t warped in their sense of what is morally acceptable.  It just boggles my mind what is seen as acceptable and what isn’t. 

It is true how hard it is to trust once you have been betrayed.  I have lost trust in people and betrayed trust.  It is something that no one should take lightly.  Remember that when we are casually gossiping about other people’s personal matters and think about how you would feel if others talked about you.  I have in my notes that this reading is set for today because the Gospel tomorrow talks about how you will know someone by their fruits.  The whole “actions speak louder than words”.  We can all think about that as we reflect on this reading and prepare for tomorrow.

Jan. 25, 2010 - Genesis 9

Kind of odd that Noah, being the only person God found worthy of staying could go and get passed out drunk after the flood. It just seems and odd story. But always remember God's promises when you see a rainbow in the sky.

Jan. 24, 2010 – Catechism 31-38

How new is the idea a atheist.  Like it talks about, even nature and the world around us would lead us to think that there is some type of creator or someone behind it all.  The beauty and uniqueness of the world has to make us wonder.  And maybe atheism isn’t the right thing to be asking about.  This whole notion that everything was all chance and there is nothing more than this life and everything was just thrown together from one giant blob.  How can you look at a sunset and think it is all just chance. 

We world must find that it was not around at the origin, we have no way to explain the origins of the universe scientifically, nor are we the end.  If humans stopped inhabiting the earth it would go on.  If Earth didn’t exist, it would still move on.  There is something before and after our existence, and that being is what humans have labeled God.  (I know that is really just a paraphrase of paragraph 34 but I was trying to get it in my own words so I could wrap my head around it.)

So, we have the capability of understanding God and proving His existence through reason.  We run into problems because of our Original Sin and human nature as a result of that sin.  We “persuade [ourselves] that what they would not like to be true is false or at least doubtful”.  When you think you are doubting about God’s existence, step back and ask yourself what it means to you if He does exist.  I guess a better way to put it, usually when you question God it is because you are placed with a choose in your life.  We convince ourselves that there is no God so that we can make the easier choose when to believe in a God means we must take the more difficult road.    

Jan. 23, 2010 – Matthew 6

This is really the first time that it has really worked out that the reading yesterday previews the reading for today.  I love verse 27.  Worrying can not add a single thing to our lives.  Worrying about something does not give us a better solution, does not slow down time so that something doesn’t come, and distracts from the present.  I do worry about things, but not as much as some.  I really try to live for the moment.  It is easier sometimes over others, but I strive to be in the moment. 

And what is probably the thing we worry about the most, money.  Where will it come from, will we have enough, and what happens if we don’t.  Jesus tells us we will be taken care of.  Not in a way we would prefer or choose, but if we trust in Him, He will provide. 

I guess I would encourage people that are struggling with money issues to go to their local priest or pastor.  You can go to a financial planner and figure out how to save or cut to get by, but even then, it will not help you with the constant nagging worry.  As we have already talked about, their is a hole there that can’t be filled with money.  We need to be more willing to take our problems to a spiritual helper before a material helper.  See if fixing our spiritual life can’t leak into fixing our normal everyday issues. 

Jan. 22, 2010 – Sirach 29

Economic advise from the Bible.  And great advice too.  Many would have benefitted a reading of this during much of the last decade when everyone was spending money they didn’t have and building up all this dept we are trying to deal with now.  Live within your means.  It is better to live in a small home that is yours than to live in a big one that belongs to another. 

I am still not the best with money.  Michelle does a great job with our budget and keeps me in line.  I think are still both a little leery about giving money away or being too generous with it.  It is not about spending it now, but more about needing it for what if.  We still give our portion to the church and different fundraisers throughout the year, but whole idea of giving large chucks away and trusting that you will be provided for isn’t quite there yet.  It may have even gotten a little worse since Michelle is not working and we are down to one check.  But we did give to a candidate in the race for the first time.  It is a challenge to all of us that have what we need to help those that have not. 

Reading this and hearing about health care and the government trying to do everything they want to do makes me think about the welfare system.  This passage doesn’t say it is bad to borrow from a neighbor, it just says to do so cautiously because you do not want to make their life worse.  The way we have taught people to rely on government instead of trying to pull themselves up has caused a serious burden on the country.  The entire country should study this chapter on Biblical Financial Responsibility.  We should all be more responsible with the things we have been given and not take them for granted.

Jan. 21, 2010 – Genesis 7 – 8

Sad to say I never thought anything about the 7 days warning that God gave Noah until it was either in the TV movie about Noah or in Evan Almighty.  You had to know that people saw what Noah was doing and asking him about it.  They also probably thought he was crazy.  God left the ark open for 7 days so people had the opportunity to repent.  It doesn’t say that Noah was suppose to let them on or not, but nobody took it series.  Think if anyone has ever warned you about something in your life and you didn’t heed their warning. 

7 days aboard waiting.  40 days of rain.  150 days of the water cresting.  150 more days and you could see the top of the mountains again.  40 days and then he sent out a raven.  Then he sent out a dove.  Waited 7 days and sent the dove out again and it returned with an olive branch.  7 more days and the dove did not return on release.  401 days upon the ark.  Of course that doesn’t count the month and a half he waited after he took the cover off before God told him to leave the ark. 

What is up with the raven.  Is it suppose to mean something that it was first and that it didn’t come back. 

And I looked up Mt. Ararat.  Here are a few links from Wikipedia.    

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Themanin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Ararat

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Judi

Jan. 20, 2010 – 26-30 Catechism

I like this reminder that God never stops calling us.  There have been times when I didn’t hear Him or times when I wasn’t listening, but God never ceases calling us.  That is a reassuring thought. 

It also talks again about every person seeks God.  They may not seek God, but everyone has a hole in their life that God is suppose to fill.  They may try to fill it with something else, but they will not be at peace or truly satisfied until they plug God into that hole.   

Jan. 19, 2010 – Matthew 5

Look at the first few Beatitudes.  Remember that the Jews were waiting for someone to save them from the oppression of the Romans.  Blessed those who are poor, mourn, meek, and thirst for righteousness.  They will inherit, the kingdom is theirs, will be satisfied.  You listen and are waiting for the leader and you get pumped up and ready to follow Him anywhere.  Then the next half take you in a different direction.  Blessed are the merciful, peacemakers, insulted, and persecuted.  Your reward is great in heaven.  You can picture them with confused looks on their faces.  They thought they were going to war for their freedom and this guy is saying show mercy and blessed are the persecuted. 

Jesus’ teaching is a whole new way to look at life.  We are at a disadvantage because I think we take these for granted.  That doesn’t mean we live it out, but we know what we are suppose to be striving for.  This was completely foreign to them.  You can tell this more clearly when He begins to go through the laws of the Old Testament and deepen them. 

Divorce was allowed, it isn’t anymore.  The law said to hate your enemies, He says to love them.  If someone strikes you, turn the other cheek.  A complete expansion of the law to bring us back to where God intended it in the first place. 

I love the image of a light being put under a bushel basket.  So many times we are almost ashamed of our beliefs and afraid to show them in our everyday life.  That is our calling.  To let that light shine.  To make our faith so much apart of our life that it is impossible to hide it away.   

Jan. 18, 2010 – Isaiah 10

Even when the prophecy is speaking of the terrible things that are going to happen to Israel the Lord still gives them hope.  Out of everything, a “remnant” will come forth.  And this remnant will be stronger and rely on the Lord.  The whole “if it doesn’t kill you it makes you stronger” strategy.  But that is what they needed and that is what we need a lot of the times.  It seems that we don’t make the right choice when we have options.  We are many times forced to make our decisions when other options are taken away.  How many times, when given options, do we choose poorly.  How many times do we freely choose sacrifice over pleasure.  Sacrifice and suffering are a vital part of life, but not something we seek out.  It has to be put there for us to grow.  What would we learn, who would we be, if life were all candy-canes and lollypops.  “Life is Pain”.  That is from a movie I can’t remember off the top of my head.  I think Kiss the Girls.  Yeah, it was the motivation when the mom was about to give up.  Pretty violent and crude movie.  Not the most cheerful way to look at things, but life is hard.  It was never meant to be easy.  Anyway, that thought came to me, thought I would throw it in.   

Jan. 17, 2010 - Genesis 6

The first 7 verses of this chapter just don't seem to fit. It is really bizarre to read about the sons of god taking women. It really sounds like it comes from Greek mythology. The footnotes talk about how this is believed to be talking about the Phillistines and their origins because they w...ere known to be large people. Hense, Goliath is always pictured as a giant.

The story of the flood is one of those stories that jsut seems too big. I think it helps to understand where the writer may be coming from. When they say the world was flooded, realize what the world was to them. For most of human history the "known" world has not been the entire world. And as the footnotes say there are a lot of stories of a great flood in other civilizations. I remember back in high school or college we read a story from Native American history about a great flood where the sole survivor climbed a mountain and then a tree on top of the mountain. So, somewhere along the lines of human history there must have been some natural disaster that this spawns from. If you listen to Al Gore, we are heading in that direction again.

Jan. 16, 2010 - Catechism 18-25

I like how they tell us that we are all coming from different places in our faith journey. Like snowflakes, which have finally begun to melt out there, we are all unique. It is the challenge of those that teach us to make their lessons both challenging to those more advanced and yet us...able for those that may be begining. I am somewhere in the middle. I know more than some, much less than others, so I hope my insights my give some or a different perspective to those who know more and help guide those who are starting their journey.

I also like that they remind us to do all this with love. It is a challenge to teach without sounding arrogant or disagree without letting emotions get us angry. I promise that I will always try to be loving and charitable to anyone's opinion on this page. I hope that everyone feels free to share what they may be thinking or reflecting upon during their readings.

Jan. 15, 2010 - Matthew 4

I am sure there is a lot to talk about. Jesus being tempted and the calling of the apostles are pretty big deals. Nothing is really popping out at me.

I am always amazed that the apostles, especially in this version, come right away. What magnetism Jeus must have had. This stranger comes up... and you leave everything to follow Him.

Always feel a little bad for Andrew. Of the 4 in this group he is always left out of the big experiences.

Jan. 14, 2010 - Isaiah 8 - 9

So with today’s reading we get the prophesy that Jesus would start His ministry in Galilee. It is a little obscure, but the footnotes talk about how the attacks from Assyria would start in the north, in Galilee, and that points to Jesus’ ministry starting there. I had to think about it for a little while, but here is a little connected timeline I came up with to help show this a little more. It is about the connection between Israel and Jesus.

Israel starts with a sacrifice. Abraham leaves his life behind to journey where God tells him to. Jesus begins with a sacrifice. Mary being totally obedient to the will of God at the Annunciation.

Abraham and Sarah have Isaac through the intercession of an angel. Mary’s conception of Jesus came through the intercession of an angel. Perhaps the same angel in both cases.

The Israelites go to Egypt following Joseph. Jesus goes to Egypt following Joseph. That one didn’t really pop out at me until I was typing it.

Israelites come out of Egypt. Jesus comes out of Egypt.

David is anointed as God’s chosen one to lead Israel. Jesus is announced as God’s chosen one in His Baptism.

The cleansing of Israel after they have turned their back on the Lord starts in Galilee with the invasion of the Assyrians and the beginning of the exiles. Jesus begins His mission of cleansing Israel and His ministry in Galilee. This is where today’s and I believe tomorrow’s readings fit in.

The cleansing and invasion is complete with the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. Jesus mission is complete with the destruction of His temple, His body, on the cross in Jerusalem.

Anyway, some food for thought when we are reading these Old Testament prophets and you don’t know where the connections are. Sometimes it is easier to look at it all in the big picture to see where the smaller pieces fit in.

Jan. 13, 2010 - Genesis 5

Just one thought about this chapter. The ages of the men as you move throught the chapter. I have heard the explanation that the ages begin to decline because we are moving away from the initial creation. The further we move away, the more sin enters and multiplies in the world and so the ag...e a man can live to starts to decline. That seems to make some sense.

I guess another thought. The Bible concentrates on only certain men in the line. It says that each has other sons and daughters. And they have the named child usually well into their 100's so you can imagine how many children they might have in the child bearing years if that could last until you were 200.

Something I am doing that I have always wanted to is map out the family tree as we go along. I don't know how it will look or if it will work, much like this group, but thought since I was doing it I would let everyone see what it looks like. This is the first listing (there was the geneology in Matthew, but I am going to focus on the Old Testament line) I started it today. I don't know if you have to start an account to view this or not. Here is a link below

http://www.geni.com/share?t=6000000007361237897

Jan. 12, 2010 - Catechism 11-17

Here we pretty much get a table of contents of what we are about to go through. What each section is about and why it is made a part of this work. I have always found it interesting that prayer is last. The reasoning I don't know, but I would have thought that it would be in the front.... Someone going through this book would probably like some insight into prayer and that would help them through the rest of the book. Then again, your prayer will probably be more in depth and meaningful if you have the knowledge from the other 3 sections.

Jan. 11, 2010 - Matthew 3

Fitting that we have this chapter the day after we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord. So, did Jesus need to be baptised. Of course not. It was done as an example to us and because He wanted us to understand that He was going to humbly experience everything we experience.

The notes talk abou...t John being another Elijah, that is why he dressed the way he did. It was thought that Elijah would return before the Messiah. Jews would know this. Once again we see Matthew writing specifically to them in describing what John wore it is a another sign pointing to Jesus as the one they have been waiting for.

We also, in the Baptism scene, get our first sense of the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I am slways a little thrown off by the language used by God when talking about or to Jesus. If they are so connected, it seems unecessary. But it was not for Jesus. Like with everything, it was done for the people present and for us. Jesus didn't need anything. It was all for us.

Jan. 10, 2010 - Isaiah 11-12

Here we get a great description of what Jesus was going to look like. I love the image of striking the ruthless with the rod of his mouth. You can picture those times when Jesus is being questioned by the pharasies and defeats them by asking them questions they don't want to answer. Also, when He heals people just by saying "you are healed" or "you are forgiven". His words are so powerful y0u can see them as His best weapon.

On that day we will rejoice. This being the last day of the Christmas season, we should relflect on how we celebrate the fact the Jesus came. We should be confidant and unafraid. Yet, for the most part we hide our faith or let it be covered up with all our material things and other stuff in our life. Let's try to celebrate and rejoice in our lives more and not save it all for only certain days in the year.

Jan. 9, 2010 - Genesis 3:14-4:26

Verse 15 is known as the protoevangelium. Also called teh first gospel or the first prophecy about Christ. It reminds me of an image I saw in Rome a couple of years ago of Mary teaching a child Jesus to step on a snakes head.

The emnity between teh serpant and the woman is one of the ...things we point to as Catholics to show the Mary was born without original sin. Emnity means a complete seperation, and it would make sense that the woman God choose to bring Jesus in the world would have that kind of seperation from sin.

In chapter 4 we see selfishness and eny bare its head pretty early on. Also, we see that god is pleased when you give Him your best, not just your leftovers, a lesson I still am working on because I was a little lazy yesterday and am doing this this morning. I guess we need to always remember that God knows our thoughts. He knows what we are going to do and more importantly why we are doing it. He wants our best and so we should strive to give it, even when we are feeling like just watching TV all day instead.

Jan. 8, 2010 - Catechism 1-10

So we begin our actual sections of the Catechism. It begins with the mission of man, to know God. Regardless of when in the history of man you look, we have always been seeking the something above us that created us or made us the way we are. All great civilizations had their God or gods.... The spread of atheism or agnostic ideas in our day in age is really a great departure for human history. One constant has always been the idea that we are not the top of the food chain, something was always above us. This whole idea of evolution alone and humans coming about with out any creator takes away that responsibilty to look at what things might mean in a larger scope. The idea that if it feels good it is right is something new. Not new as in an action because that has been around since sin was introduced. But the idea that it can be a way of life is something I believe is new and dangerous. Man is meant to seek, know and love God. Without that, man loses any moral compass.

Jan. 7, 2010 - Matthew 2

We always see the magi coming to the baby Jesus. Why then the 2 year time frame for Herod. It says that it is based on the magi's time frame. I have heard different people say that Jesus and the Holy Family were in Bethlehem for 2 years before leaving to Egypt. That seems to make more sense from this narrative. I would take a while for the Magi to make it there.

The massacre of the babies I have also heard explained so that it is more "realistic". Bethlehem was not a very big town so there would only have been between 5-10 boys of that age. Still brutal but not a mass slaughter. And Herod was known for being vicious, killing family members because he was paranoid about losing power.

And we don't hear anthing about Joseph being from Nazarath to begin with, that is where they end up. They are in Bethlehem for the birth. Matthew was writing to the Jews of his time and so we will find that he hits upon the phophetic parts more than the others but some of the narrative is missing. But none of the gospels tells the whole story. They are all to be looked at as complimanary pieces, each telling a version, so that as a whole he get the story.

Jan. 6, 2010 - Wisdom 11

The main part of this chapter referenses back to the Exodus and some of the plagues that fell upon the Eygptians. It talks about the slaying of infants, which Moses escaped, by the Eygptians of the Hebrews because their numbers became too high. This will relate to our reading tomorrow about He...rod slaying the innocents to try and kill Jesus. Funny how Jesus escapes to Eygpt.

The last few verses give a great sense of the power of God and how nothing happens without His knowing and purpose in mind. It is impossible for us to phathom our universe is as a grain of sand to Him. We spend so much time believing the world revolves around us. We need to contol as much as we can. It is always both frightening and peaceful to have a moment where you understand you are not in control. I say a moment because we always fall back into control mode eventually.

Jan. 5, 2010 - Genesis 2 - 3:13

First, this is the "second" story of creation. I bring this up for all the literal people that say it was seven days and man created last and all. If they would go a few more verses then you will see a creation story where man is created first and no mention of 7 days. Especially for a...ll thoughs faiths that preach the Bible Alone, how do they mesh the contradicting creation stories in the first 2 Chapters.

God resting the 7th day is a mystery. Obviously, God wouldn't have to rest. He does it to teach us that we need rest. The day to set aside for Him is not for Him. God does not need anything for us. It would help us all if we really looked at it this way. What God does is for us. God resting is teaching us that we must rest.

God took Adam's rib. He didn't need to. He had created everything out of nothing. Why take the rib. I think it was for the benefit of Adam, so that he would accept the mate. "bone of my bone".

So many things we could talk about with the fall. Did Adam or Eve fall first. Obviously Eve picked the fruit, but where was Adam when she did. Where was he when she was being attacked by the serpant. He was there to protect her and didn't do his job against the one thing in the garden he needed to. The story doesn't really tell us where he was.

How quick we are to blame others. What did you do? The woman made me do it. The serpant tricked me. It is always someone elses fault.

Jan. 4, 2010 - Catechism Intro.

This comes in two parts.
APOSTOLIC LETTER LAETAMUR MAGNOPERE and
APOSTOLIC LETTER FIDEI DEPOSITUM

This is probably the longest reading we will have. It is pretty much a description of the process and readoning behind the writing of the Catechism that we will be going through. It was a long process that stemmed from Vatican II and the desire to further implement that.

Vatican II can be seen in a few differnt ways. For those of us that came after it, we don't really know any different. For those that have seen both the Church before and after, I am sure they have a better feeling for it. Many believe it made the Church more liberal. I don't think this is correct. I believe it may have been used by some as an excuse to lead the Church in a liberal way. They say it was going to take a long time to actually see results that were hoped for when it was implemented. Maybe some of the strong orthodox views that have started coming back is a sign of that. I don't know. What the Catechism does do is give its reader a very good sense of what the Church teaches and where it stands on almost any topic, why it stands there, and where those beliefs have their foundation.

Jan. 3, 2010 - Matthew 1

The genealogy is always a part that is genereally kind of glossed over, but to those first Jews reading Matthew's gospel, this would have meant a great deal to them. Imagine being a jew waiting for the Messiah. A Jew would have known their history enough to know what line the Messiah was to come from and what blood would run through his viens. This intro helps set that stage.

This story of Joseph is about the most we see of him. The quite strong protector. I always wish we knew more about what he did. As a fatherly guide, I wish there were more on him. Maybe that is the point. Protect your family, let them flourish, humbly stand in the background supporting them in what they do. That is not always and easy thing to do.

Jan. 2, 2010 - Jeremiah 31

Even before I have read the chapter I read the intro to Jeremiah. Chapter 31:31-34 is sometimes referred to as the "Gospel before the Gospel" and is one of the most important things written by the prophet.

This is a very hopeful chapter. Full of "you may be suffering now but great things are coming" type theme. 31-34 talks about the "New Covenant" that will last forever. I is neat to think that it is written on our hearts. Regardless of what you may believe, Christ is in your heart. 2 things come to mind. First, to go against our good moral judgment is always a choice. Whenever I do something bad, I know it was me choosing that. Christ is there for all of us, showing us the right way, we only have to choose it. Second, everyone has Christ in them. We are called to love everyone because they are our brothers and part of the same body of Christ. We are all challenged to view others in that light. Now that Christmas Day has past we are all drawn back into that world not so full of "Christmas Cheer". Let us remember everyone has Christ inside them.

Jan. 1st, 2010 - Genesis 1

The first six days of creation. There is a lot in this chapter to write about and there are some things it made me think about, so I will just list a couple of things to think about.

Look at the connection between the days.
1-4 both dealing with light and dark. 1-Creation of night and day.... 4-Creation of sun and Moon. 2-5 Sea and sky. 2 Is the seperating of sea and sky. 5 Filling the sea and sky with life. 3-6 Land 3 Making the dry land 6 Putting living creatures on the dry land.

Man's dominiun over all the creatures. I am a person who had pets growing up. I loved them very much and I think pets are great companions, but I also took part in butchering pigs and chickens and love to eat meat. I think sometimes we can get things a little out of wack when we talk about animals rights and what we need to do for them. I am not for being cruel to animals, but they have a place and they are not on the same level as us in that they should have similar rights as we do.

I have been thinking about dinosaurs lately. (Paul just got up-Pause in thought) I don't know where they fit in. The Bible is not a science book and is not meant to explain science related questions. Dinosaurs weren't discovered until the 1800's, so those the wrote the Bible would have no idea about them. What I was thinking is that they were created for us. The earth wasn't ready for humans way back when and dinosaurs were created to roam the earth. God also knew that humans would not have survived with them, so they were taken away before we were created. Anyway, it was just something I was thinking about.

Maybe this would be a good time to let everyone know I have no theological training. Whatever I write are usually just thoughts from someone on a journey. I am Catholic and probably some of what I write will be biased in that way, but I encourage everyone to share there thoughts.

So there is day one. I will be posting this on my blog as well. I am planning on whenever I finish a relfection or setting up a day I will click on the "Message all Members". Let me know what you think, any suggestions and please share your own thoughts on the readings.