John 7:1-13 - Do not love the evil deeds of the world

At that time, Jesus went about in Galilee; he would not go about in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him. Now the Jews' feast of Tabernacles was at hand. So his brothers said to him, "Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples may see the works you are doing. For no man works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world." For even his brothers did not believe in him. Jesus said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify of it that its works are evil. Go to the feast yourselves; I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come." So saying, he remained in Galilee.

But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private. The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, "Where is he?" And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, "He is a good man," others said, "No, he is leading the people astray." Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.

Do NOT love evil deeds
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 O Lord, the world hated You because You spoke the truth about their deeds. Yes, their deeds were evil and You did not relent from proclaiming it. Help me, this day, O Lord, to boldly confess You, as Lord. Help me never to me in agreement with evil. Would that I would suffer with You then be loved by the world. For this, I need Your Holy Spirit's strength. Amen.

Luke 24:13-35 - A Bible Study, led by Jesus!

At that time, two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, "What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see." And he said to them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, but they constrained him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight. They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?" And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, who said, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

A well studied Bible!
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What a thing it must be to have a Bible study, led by Jesus Himself. Yet, that is exactly what happened as Cleopas and his companion were walking to Emmaus. Jesus appeared to them yet kept His identity from them. He noticed they were downcast and asked why. Cleopas answered Jesus, telling Him things He already knew. That He had been tried and crucified. Cleopas did mention the testimony of the myrrh-bearing women but, clearly, Cleopas and his companion did not believe it. Then Jesus. slowly and methodically, went through the Torah and all the prophets and He explained how He had to suffer first.  The hearts of Cleopas and his companion burned within them as they heard the Word of God.  Later, He broke bread with them and, as He did that, they realized it was Jesus! Then He disappeared and the two disciples returned to Jerusalem to add their testimony to that of the myrrh-bearing women. Christ is Risen, they proclaimed!

O Lord, make my heart open as I read the Scriptures. May Your Holy Spirit open up the Word to me so that I can see Your Passion and Resurrection in the Law and the Prophets.  How important it is to read Your Word yet, without Your Holy Spirit's guidance, then surely I will not understand.  And reveal Yourself to me, I pray, in the breaking of the Bread, in Your Holy Eucharist in which You said, "This is my Body."

Happy is the man to whom the Lord opens His Word and Happy is the man who knows communion with Christ in the breaking of the Bread. Amen.

John 6:48-54 - Jesus, the Bread of Life.

The Lord said to the Jews who believed in him: "I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh."

The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

Jesus -The Bread of Life
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O Lord, many of Your disciples, ceased to follow You when they heard you proclaim these words.  You let them go because, they did not misunderstand what You were saying. You were not speaking in metaphors but, truly, You offer to those who want it, Your body and Your blood in the Holy Eucharist.  Look with mercy upon me, O Lord, and grant that I, too, may partake so that I might have Your life within me. Amen.

John 4:46-54 - Jesus just speaks the Word

At that time, there was an official whose son was ill. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. Jesus therefore said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe." The official said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies." Jesus said to him, "Go; your son will live." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went his way. As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was living. So he asked them the hour when he began to mend, and they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live"; and he himself believed, and all his household. This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.

Laying on of hands is good but Jesus needs only speak His Word.
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O Lord, You looked with pity upon the official whose son was ill. He was at the point of death and the father of the child had no where else to go except to You.  The official begs You to come and heal his son but, You, O Lord, increase his faith by just speaking the word. You didn't even have to touch the child and the official, who at first thought You must place Your hands upon his son in order to heal him, learned that Your Word, O Lord, was enough. He departed in faith and his faith was rewarded. Your Word spoke healing and the boy was healed. Increase my faith, O Lord, in Your Word. When I read it in Sacred Scriptures, may my heart believe that which You have spoken shall come to pass. Say the Word, O Lord, and heal my soul. Amen.

John 6:14-27 - Walking on water and other signs.

At that time, when the people saw the sign which he had done, they said, "This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world!"

Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, entered a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea rose because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat. They were frightened, but he said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid." Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

On the next day the people who remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. However, boats from Tiberias came near the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the people saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves entered the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal."

Walking on water, non-divine syle
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O Lord, help me to labor for that which gives eternal life.  Your Father has placed upon You, His seal and You have shown Your works by healing the sick, walking on water, feeding the multitudes and raising people from the dead.  And You have raised Yourself from the dead and have conquered death.  This day, O Lord, help me to follow after You and to trust in Your power. You have shown many signs and by walking on water You reveal Your divinity. I worship You, this day, O Lord and I know that You are worthy of trust.

As You walk on water, bid me to follow. Amen. 

John 5:30-47; 6:1-2 - So many Witnesses yet some do not believe.

The Lord said to the Jews who came to him: "I can do nothing on my own authority; as I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of the Father who sent me. If I bear witness to myself, my testimony is not true; there is another who bears witness to me, and I know that the testimony which he bears to me is true. You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Not that the testimony which I receive is from man; but I say this that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father has granted me to accomplish, these very works which I am doing, bear me witness that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness to me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen; and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe him whom he has sent. You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to me; yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive glory from men. But I know that you have not the love of God within you. I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. How can you believe, who receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; it is Moses who accuses you, on whom you set your hope. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?"

After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a multitude followed him, because they saw the signs which he did on those who were diseased.

The Bible bears witness to Christ
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 The Father bears witness to the Son and by His works, we see that Jesus is from God. The Scriptures themselves point to Christ and, yet, there are those who claim to know and love the Scriptures and reject Christ and His work.  John the Forerunner bore witness of Christ but so does the Father and so does the Scripture.  All of these witness but still there are those who reject.

May my heart ever be faithful to the Lord and may I serve Him steadfastly May I listen to the witness of Scripture and see the works that Jesus did that show He is from the Father.  May my life be a witness of the workings of Jesus. Amen.

John 5:24-30 - Listen to His Voice

The Lord said to the Jews who came to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself, and has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment. I can do nothing on my own authority; as I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of the Father who sent me."

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 The Father has granted authority to the Son. The Father has granted that the Son should have Life in Himself. Thus, The Holy Trinity is eternal; the Holy Trinity is Equal. The time will come when those who are dead will hear the voice of Jesus and be raised. Those who have done good will inherit eternal life; those who have done evil will not have life.  

It is so important that I "do" and not just "believe" for at the last judgement, God will ask me what I have done.  Do I listen to the voice of the Son of God?  Do I hear Him call me and do I do the things He wants? Surely, I must love those around me with His love and, like Jesus, must do the will of the Father.

O Lord, strengthen me this day to do Your will.  Let me hear the voice of the Son of God and, by listening, let me gain eternal life. Amen.

John 3:16-21 - Jesus~ Light of my life!

The Lord said to his disciples: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that these deeds have been wrought in God."

Jesus; Light of the world!
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O Lord, let Your light, which has come into the world, shine in me.  For I, reacting to Your love, believe in You and have the hope of eternal life, knowing all who turn to You will not perish.  I believe in You, O Lord, let me not live in condemnation for I do not want to love darkness. Rather, may I live in the light. May my deeds not be evil but let them be unashamedly exposed in the Light of Your Presence. Draw me to Your truth, O Lord and let me live in Your light. Amen.

John 2:1-11 - The best Wine

At that time, there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; Jesus also was invited to the wedding, with his disciples. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast." So they took it. When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, "Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now." This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

Water into Wine!
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I thank You, O Lord, that You are the Lord of Quality. When You showed forth Your Glory by changing water into wine and saving the groom from embarrassment, You made sure that the wine was the best around. For anything You change and transform, You transform for the best. Transform me, O Savior, and may my life be poured out for You, as a drink offering, a wine, being made by You, brings You glory. Amen.

John 20:19-31 - Seeing is believing!

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them: "Peace be with you." When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him: "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them: "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in His side, I will not believe."

Eight days later, His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said: "Peace be with you." Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas answered Him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to Him: "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

"Eye" see you...lol
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O, the Graciousness of God! His apostle, Thomas, being absent when He appeared to the rest, was not heavily rebuked by Christ when, at last, he saw Him.  Instead, Christ invited Thomas to touch Him, to look upon His wounds and to realize that He truly is Risen!  Thomas response was to glorify Christ, calling Him his Lord and His God. How could he respond otherwise?

Christ called blessed those who have not seen and yet have faith. Would that not be me? And, yet, it is not. Have I not seen the workings of Christ in my life? Do I not sense His Holy Spirit nudging me towards Him?  And all about me, when I look, I see the Grace and Faithfulness of God.  All of this I see and I respond, "my Lord and my God!"

O Lord, I have not seen Your resurrected body yet I believe. I have seen Your mighty acts in my life and I thank You, that having conquered death, You can bestow upon me eternal life. Breathe on me, O Lord, so the Holy Spirit can reign in me. This day I call upon You, knowing Your resurrection is the beginning of all new life! May that life be in me today, amen.

John 2:12-22 - Take a whip to it!

 At that time, Jesus came to Capernaum with his mother and his brothers and his disciples; and there they stayed for a few days.The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers at their business. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all, with the sheep and oxen, out of the temple; and he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, "Take these things away; you shall not make my Father's house a house of trade." His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me." The Jews then said to him, "What sign have you to show us for doing this?" Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews then said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?" But he spoke of the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.

Crack the Whip!
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Jesus had every right to be mad. His Father's house, which was made as a place of prayer so that all people could commune with God, was turned into a money-making enterprise.Those who ran the temple completely missed the point of the Temple and the people suffered because of it.  Jesus sought to return the temple to its proper use and He did it in an extreme manner.  He purged out the money-changers and had no use for God other than as a way to get rich. He restored the Temple as a house of prayer.

What must I purge out of my life? Surely there are money-changers in my heart which displaces God. They should be driven out with a forceful hand.  Is it too much time on the internet when I should be praying or reading for spiritual enrichment? Then let me take a whip to the computer and leave the room where it sits in favor for a quiet corner.  Let me drive out all that would distract me from communing with God and may the Zeal of God's house consume me!

O Lord, I drive out all that would distract me from you! I restore the temple of my heart to its proper use. With the help of the Holy Spirit, Amen.