25 IMPECCABLE LESSONS FROM "ROMANS CH 12"

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It was in the month of November 2011, when I started to write on a  piece of paper the impeccable lessons I learned from reading the "Letters of St. Paul to the Romans." The following are the "25 Impeccable Lessons" I learned from the Letters of St. Paul to the Romans, Chapter 12 (some insights were added as inspired by the "Lectio Divina":

 

1)*Do not be blinded by worldly delights. Do not let yourself be shaped or influenced by the world where you live.

 

2)*Life is always in constant repair. Be transformed through the renewal of your mind. Renew your life everyday.

 

3)*Discern the "Will" of God: What is pleasing, good, and perfect.

 

4)*Do not be pretentious. Be honest in person inside-out.

 

5)*Do not be a judge to your neighbor. Stop being judgmental to others.

 

6)*Stay sober and alert. Practice moderation especially in food and drinks.

 

7)*Sincerely, be concerned for the good of others.

 

8)*Be humble and compassionate in dealing with others especially the poor. Show mercy and forgive the injury caused by your neighbor.

 

9)*Avoid what is evil and hold on to what is good.

 

10)*Be considerate.

 

11)*Be zealous in fulfilling your duties and obligations.

 

12)*Be fervent in the Spirit and serve the Lord.

 

13)*Be patient in trials.

 

14)*Pray unceasingly to the God who is unseen.

 

15)*Bless those who persecute you.

 

16)*Bless and do not wish evil on anyone.

 

17)*Learn to emphatize with your neighbor.

 

18)*Live in peace.

 

19)*Be contented with what you have. The happiest people don't have the best of everything -- rather they make the best of every thing they have in life.

 

20)*Be humble and do not hold yourselves as wise. For only God is wise.

 

21)*Do not return evil for evil.

 

22)*Do your best to live peacefully and harmoniously with nature, and with your neighbor.

 

23)*Remember what the Holy Scriptures says: "Vengeance is the Lord's. God will repay."

 

24)*Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

 

 

Finally,

 

25)*Do not let evil defeat you, but conquer evil with goodness.

THE WEDDING FEAST

The Church is an infallible institution of Faith. It is the extension of Heaven -- the Kingdom of Eternal Bliss.

When people enter the Church, they enter into a new realm of faith. A new spiritual dimension where the sacred norms, traditions and cultural practices are separate and distinct from the secular world. Noticeably, an "error" is committed every time we bring with us the cultural and behavioral biases of the outside world inside the Church. When we come to worship God in his holy place (e.g. the Church) we should wear the proper festal garment (Matthew 22:2-14) while leaving behind the garbage of sin and the sinful habits we incur in life, the human vices and the moral defects we love to cling to, the inordinate passions of the flesh and all its cravings; and with a contrite and humble heart surrendering ourselves and everything completely to God without reservations by absolute trust in God alone. Thus, we may be able to perfectly commune with God in celebrating the Holy Eucharist with the faithful and all His Saints -- glorifying and praising God in His Church for endless ages... 

Latin Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel

Picture Background Courtesy of Google.com

PICTURE QUOTES: ON TRUE LOVE

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THE GLORY OF SAINTS

THE GLORY OF SAINTS
 

“God gave us intellect and freewill to govern ourselves. He loved us so much that he gave us "freedom" through his Son Jesus Christ and made us stewards of the Earth. Looking back in the Old Testament, we're like the two birds depicted in the biblical story of Noah's Ark. Some of us were good (and used our freedom wisely) and went back to God to seek him intensely; to know him fully; to love him deeply; and to serve him selflessly in others. But some were also foolish and used their freedom blatantly to sustain the cravings of their flesh, the greed of their eyes, and boasting their superiority before God by fault they failed to acknowledge their humble beginnings and suffer the bondage of spiritual ignorance - an eternal separation from God.”

--*LEx LUces on THE TWO BIRDS OF NOAH’S ARK

Drawing their strength from wickedness, the ungodly speaks to themselves –- “*There is no God...They are corrupt, their ways are wicked; not one of them does good.” (*Psalm 53). So they’ve boasted all day long while they plotted evil crimes every day. They loved evil more than good, and falsehood more than truth. They use words that inflict harm, while “*slandering God” (*Mark 3: 28-29)and plotting evil crimes against the Holy Spirit. Proud and full of malice, they said to themselves, “Where is God?” and boastfully they shout with these words: “There is no God but us.” And so they gather their forces, “*making plans which are not God’s and they form alliances, and thus they add sin upon sin.” (Isaiah 30:1). Full of pride and wickedness, they said to one another, “let us plunder the earth, abuse the women, exploit the children, and murder their saints.” And to the good servants they seduced them saying, “join us and we’ll take dominion of the world.”

“*From heaven God looks down upon the people, to see if there is anyone who seeks God and understands.” (*Psalm 53:3). "The good things that people experiences on earth did not lead them to the knowledge of Him who is" (Wisdom 13:1-10):

    “*They were interested in his works, but they did not recognize the author of them. **Fire, wind, air, the sphere of the stars, rushing water and the lights in the sky were held as the rulers of the world. ***If, charmed by such beauty, they took them for gods, let them know how far superior is their sovereign. And if they were impressed by their power and activity, let them understand from this how much mightier is he who formed them. For the grandeur and beauty of creatures lead us to ponder on their Author, greater and more magnificent.” –-(*Wisdom 13:1-10)

And to their corrupt leaders, “*...they enact unjust laws and issue oppressive decrees. They rob the poor of their rights and deprive the helpless of justice.” (Isaiah 10:1-2). Will this evil generation never learn? They devour the people of God just as they devour food on the table. They prefer to hide in darkness while ignoring the truth. But if ignorance is darkness, then how dark it must be for those who prefer darkness than light.

In the last days God will judge the earth with justice. “*And the ‘Sun’ will be darkened and the ‘Moon’ will turn red as blood before the great and glorious Day of the Lord.” (*Acts 2:20, Joel 3:3-5)

Then, "the saints will exult in triumph even at right on their couches...singing songs of praise to God the Most High." “*And in their hands two-edged swords...(*Psalm 149:6), and pointiest spears that deeply penetrates even to the most invincible armor. “To wreak vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings in chains and their nobles in iron fetters, to execute on them the written sentence... (Psalm 149:7-9) “*MENE, MENE, TEKEL” (Daniel 5:24-25)
 
“*This is the glory of all his saints. Alleluia” (Psalm 149:9)

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Sources: Christian Community Bible: Catholic Pastoral Edition, 47th Ed./ The New American Bible, c1991.

GRAND HARMONY OF SILENCE

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PRAYER TO THE HOLY CROSS OF JESUS and St. BENEDICT