Jesus Christ is truly God and truly man, fully human and fully divine - the divine Son of God born of the Virgin Mary; the great High Priest who intercedes for His people, stand and sit at the right hand of God; founder and the head of the Universal Christian Church, and central figure of all human race. Jesus is the one anointed by the Almighty God, the Father and empowered by God's spirit to deliver His people and establish His kingdom. As the Messiah, Jesus is divinely appointed King who brought God's kingdom to earth and to the world. Amen!

- The stoning of Apostle/Saint Stephen. Saint/Apostle Saul / Apostle/Saint Paul as persecutor - Acts 7:55-60; 8:1-3 -

"But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God's right hand. 'I can see heaven thrown open' Stephen (the first Christian martyr) said 'and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.' At this all the members of the council shouted out and stopped their ears with their hands; then they all rushed at him, sent him out of the city and stoned him. The witnesses put down their clothes at the feet of a young man called Saul (Paul). As they were stoning him, Stephen said in invocation, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit'. Then he knelt down and said aloud, 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them'; and with these words he fell asleep. Saul entirely approved of the killing.

That day a bitter persecution started against the church in Jerusalem, and everyone except the apostles fled to the country districts of Judaea and Samaria. There were some devout people, however, who buried Stephen and made great mourning for him. Saul then worked for the total destruction of the Church: he went from house to house arresting both men and women and sending them to prison." 

'He/She who is not with me is against me, and he/she who does not gather with me scatters. And so I tell you, every one of men's sins and blasphemies will be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And anyone who says a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but let anyone against the Holy Spirit and he/she will not be forgiven either in this world or in the next." - Matthew 12:25-32; Luke 11:20-23 - 

In the Sacred Scripture / Holy Bible: The word Messiah comes from a Hebrew term that means "anointed one." Its Greek counterpart is Christos, from which the word Christ comes. Messiah was one of the titles used by early Christians to describe who Jesus was. In Jewish thought, the Messiah would be the King of the Jews, a political leader who would defeat their enemies and bring in a golden era of power, peace and prosperity. In Christian thought, the term Messiah refers to Jesus' role as a spiritual deliverer, setting His people free from sin and death.

Christian is an adherent or follower of Christ. The word 'Christian' occurs three times in the New Testament. Christians were loyal to Christ. The designation of the early followers of Christ as Christians was initiated by the non-Christian population of Antioch. Initially, it may have been a term of derision. Eventually, however, Christians used it of themselves as a name of honor and its original meaning is a noble one.

"It was at Antioch that the disciples were first called "Christians."" - Acts 11:26 - "King Agrippa, do you believe in the prophets? I know you do. At this Agrippa said to Paul, 'A little more, and your arguments would make a Christian of me.'" - Acts 26:28 -"None of you should ever deserve to suffer for being a murderer, a thief, a criminal or an informer; but if anyone of you should suffer for being a Christian, then he/she is not to be ashamed of it; he/she should thank God that he/she has been called one." - 1 Peter 4:16 -

Prior to their adoption of the name, the Christians called themselves believers. Hence, Christian names which also continued to be used as today. "They all used to meet by common consent in the Portico of Solomon. No one else ever dared to join them, but the people were loud in their praise and the numbers of men and women who came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ increased steadily. So many signs and wonders were worked among the people at the hands of the apostles." - Acts 5:12b-14 - "You, brothers must select from among yourselves seven men of good reputation, filled with the Holy Spirit and with wisdom; we will hand over this duty to them." - Acts 6:3 - 

In the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible, the New Testament consistently teaches hope in the resurrection of the believer based upon the resurrection of Christ Jesus as the "firstborn from the dead." Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a central doctrine of Christianity that affirms that God raised Jesus from the dead on the third day. Without the resurrection, the apostle Paul declared, Christian preaching and belief are meaningless. The resurrection is the point at which God's intention for Jesus becomes clear and believers are assured that Jesus is the Christ. So significant is the resurrection of Jesus that without it, there would be no Christianity and Church, and we would still be in our sins. Never give in then, my dear brothers/sisters, never admit defeat; keep on working at the Lord's work always, knowing that, in the Lord, you cannot be labouring in vain. 

Brothers and Sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, the gospel that you received and in which you are firmly established; because the gospel will save you only if you keep believing exactly what I preached to you - believing anything else will not lead to anything.

Well then, in the first place, I taught you what I had been taught myself, namely that Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the scriptures; that Jesus was buried; and that he was raised to life on the third day, in accordance with the scripture; that he appeared first to Peter Simon / Cephas [Rock] and secondly to the Twelve. Next Jesus appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died; then Christ Jesus appeared to James, and then to all the apostles; and last of all he appeared to me [Saul / Paul] too; it was as though I was born when no one expected it.

I am the least of the apostles; in fact, since I persecuted the Church of God, I hardly deserve the name apostle; but by God's grace that is what I am, and the grace that he gave me has not been fruitless. On the contrary, I, or rather the grace of God that is with me, have worked harder than any of the others; but what matters is that I preach what they preach, and this is what you all believed.

Now if Christ raised from the dead is what has been preached, how can some of you be saying that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, Christ himself cannot have been raised, and if Christ Jesus has not been raised then our preaching is useless and your believing it is useless; indeed, we are shown up as witnesses who have committed perjury before God, because we swore in evidence before God that he had raised Christ to life. For if the dead are not raised, Christ Jesus has not been raised, and if Christ Jesus has not been raised, you are still in your sins. And what is more serious, all who have died in Christ have perished. If our hope in Christ Jesus has been for this life only, we are the most unfortunate of all people.

But Christ Jesus has in fact been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of all who have fallen asleep. Death came through one man and in the same way the resurrection of the dead has come through one man (Jesus Christ). Just as all men die in Adam, so all men/women will be brought to life in Christ; but all of them in their proper order: Christ Jesus as the first-fruits and then, after the coming of Christ, those who belong to him. After that will come the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God, the Father,  Almighty, having done away with every sovereignty, authority and power. For He must be King until he has put all his enemies under his feet and the last of the enemies to be destroyed is death, for everything is to be put under His feet. -Though when it is said that everything is subjected, this clearly cannot include the One who subjected all things and everything to him. And when everything is subjected to him, then the Son himself will be subjected all things to him, so that God may be all in all.

If this were not true, what do people hope to gain by being baptised for the dead? If the dead are not ever going to be raised, why be baptised on their behalf? What about ourselves? Why are we living under a constant threat? I face death everyday, brothers/sisters and I can swear it by the pride that I take in you in Christ Jesus our Lord. If my motives were only human ones, what good would it do me to fight the wild animals at Ephesus? You say: Let us eat and drink today; tomorrow we shall be dead. You must stop being led astray: 'Bad friends ruin the noblest people'. Come to your senses, behave properly, and leave sin alone; there are some of you who seem not to know God at all; you should be ashamed. 

- The manner of the resurrection -

Someone may ask, 'How are dead people raised, and what sort of body do they have when they come back?' They are stupid questions. Whatever you sow in the ground has to die before it is given new life and the thing you sow is not what is going to come; you sow a bare grain, say of wheat or something like that, and then God gives it the sort of body that he has chosen: each sort of seed gets its own sort of body.

Everything that is flesh is not the same flesh: there is human flesh, animals' flesh, the flesh of birds and the flesh of fish. Then there are heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the heavenly bodies have a beauty of their own and the earthly a different one. The sun has its brightness, the moon a different brightness, and the stars a different brightness, and the stars differ from each other in brightness. It is the same with the resurrection of the dead: the thing that is sown is perishable but what is raised is imperishable; the thing that is sown is contemptible but what is raised is glorious; the thing that is sown is weak but what is raised is powerful; when it is sown it embodies the soul, when it is raised it embodies the spirit.

If the soul has its own embodiment, so does the spirit have its own embodiment. The first man, Adam, as scripture says, became a living soul; but the last Adam has become a life-saving spirit. That is, first the one with the soul, not the spirit, and after that, the one with the spirit. The first man, being from the earth, is earthly by nature; the second man is from heaven. As this earthly man was, so are we on earth; and as the heavenly man is, so we in heaven. And we, who have been modelled on the earthly man, will be modelled on the heavenly man. 

Or else, brothers/sisters, put it this way: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God: and the perishable cannot inherit what forever. I will tell you something that has been secret: that we are not all going to die, but we shall all be changed. This will be instantaneous, in the twinkling of eye, when the last trumpet sounds. It will sound, and the dead will be raised, imperishable, and we shall be changed as well, because our present perishable nature must put on imperishability and this mortal nature must put on immortality.

- A hymn of triumph - Conclusion - 

When this perishable nature has put on imperishability, and when this mortal nature has put on immortality, then the words of scripture will come true: Death is swallowed up in victory. Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting? Now the sting of death is sin, and sin gets its power from the Law. So let us thank God for giving us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Never give in then, my dear brothers/sisters, never admit defeat; keep on working at the Lord's work always, knowing that, in the Lord, you cannot be labouring in vain.  - 1 Corinthians 15:1-58 - 

- The dead and the living at the time of the Lord's coming -

We want you to be quite certain, brothers/sisters, about those who have died, to make sure that you do not grieve about them, like the other people who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and that it will be the same for those who have died in Jesus: God will bring them with him. We can tell you this from the Lord's own teaching, that any of us who are left alive until the Lord's coming will not have any advantage over those who have died. At the trumpet of God, the voice of the archangel will call out the command and the Lord himself will come down from heaven; those who have died in Christ will be the first to rise, and then those of us who are still alive will be taken up in the clouds, together with them, to meet the Lord in the air. So we shall stay with the Lord for ever. With such thoughts as these you should comfort one another. - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 - 

- The salvation of Christians -

Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy has given us a new birth as his sons/daughters, by raising Jesus Christs from the dead, so that we have a sure hope and the promise of an inheritance that can never be spoilt or soiled and never fade away, because it is being kept for you in the heavens. Through your faith, God's power will guard you until the salvation which has been prepared is revealed at the end of time. This is a cause of great joy for you, even though you may for a short time have to bear being plagued by all sorts of trials; so that, when Jesus Christ is revealed, your faith will have been tested and proved like gold - only it is more precious than gold, which is corruptible even though it bears testing by fire - and then you will have praise and glory and honour. You did not see him, yet you love him; and still without seeing him, you are already filled with a joy so glorious that it cannot be described, because you believe; and you are sure of the end to which your faith looks forward, that is, salvation of your souls. - 1 Peter 1:3-9 -

Now the Church is his body, (The Lord Jesus Christ) he is its head. - Colossians 1:18 -      

The Universal/Catholic Church Christians have Christ Jesus for a foundation, and they have not fallen away from union with Him, no matter how depraved a life they have built on this foundation, as wood, hay, stubble; and accordingly the well directed faith by which the Lord Jesus Christ is their foundation will suffice to deliver them some time the continuance of that fire, though it be with loss, since those things they have built on it shall be burned. Let the Apostle James summarily reply to them: "If any man say he has faith, and have not works, can faith save them?' - James 2:14 - And who then is it, they ask, of whom the Apostle Paul says, "But he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire?" - 1 Corinthians 3:15 -

"At the same time, we must be most careful to remember that the interpretation of scriptural prophecy is never a matter for the individual. Why? Because no prophecy ever came from man's initiative. When men/women spoke for God it was the Holy Spirit that moved them." - 2 Peter 1:20-21 -

Early Christian writings tell us that Peter's successors, the bishops of Rome (who from the earliest times have been called by the affectionate title of "POPE" which means "PAPA") continued to exercise Peter's ministry in the Universal Church / One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. The Pope is the successor to Peter, also known as Simon Peter, as bishop of Rome. ( The First Pope ) The world's other bishop are successors to the apostles in general.

The fact is: even the oldest government is new compared to the papacy. The churches: belonging to a past period of time comparatively close to the present - that is, Protestant and other denomination churches that send out door to door missionaries are recent, young, compared to the Universal/Catholic Church. Many of these Protestant churches began new and as recently as the nineteenth or twentieth centuries. Some even began during your own lifetime. 

As a result, none of them can claim to be 'the Church' Jesus Christ established.

The Universal/Catholic Church has existed for more than 2,000 years, despite constant opposition from the world. This is testimony to the Church's divine origin. It must be more than a merely human organization, especially considering that its human members - even some of its leaders - have been unwise, corrupt, or prone to heresy. Any merely human organisation with such members would have collapsed early on. The Universal/Catholic Church is today the most vigorous Church in the world, that is, testimony not to the cleverness of the Church's leaders, but to the protection of the Holy Spirit. If we need to locate the Church founded by Jesus Christ, we need to locate the one that has 'Four' chief marks or qualities of His Church. The Church we seek must be One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic / The Universal Church. 

The Church is One - Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 10:17, 12:13; CCC # 813-822 - The Lord Jesus Christ established only 'One Church' never and not a collection of differing churches (Lutheran, Baptist, and so on). The Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible says the Church is the bride of Christ - Ephesians 5:23-32 - Jesus can have but one spouse, and His spouse is the Universal / Catholic Church. His One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church teaches just one set of doctrines, which must be the same as those taught by the apostles - Jude 3 - This is the unity of belief to which Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible call us - Philippians 1:27; 2:2 - Although some Catholics dissent from officially-taught doctrines, the Church's official teachers - the Pope and the bishops united with Him - have never changed any doctrine. Over the centuries, as doctrines are examined more fully, the Church comes to understand them more deeply - John 16:12-13 - but it never understands them to mean the opposite of what they once meant.

The Church is Holy - Ephesians 5:25-27; Revelation 19:7-8; CCC # 823-829 - By his grace Jesus makes the Church holy, just as He is holy. This doesn't mean that each member is always holy. Jesus said there would be both good and bad members in the Church - John 6:70 - and not all members would go to heaven. - Matthew 7:21-23 - But the Church itself is holy because it is the source of holiness and is the guardian of the special means of grace Christ Jesus established, that is, the sacraments. - Cf. Ephesians 5:26 -

The Church is Catholic - Matthew 28:19-20; Revelation 5:9-10; CCC # 830-856 - Jesus' Church is called catholic ("universal" in Greek) because it is his gift to all people. He told his apostles to go throughout the world and make disciples of "all nations." - Matthew 28:19-20 - 

The Church is Apostolic - Ephesians 2:19-20; CCC # 857-865 - The Church Jesus founded is apostolic because He appointed the apostles to be the first leaders of the Church, and their successors were to be its future leaders. The apostles were the first bishops, and since the first century, there has been an unbroken line of Catholic bishops faithfully handing on what the apostles taught the Christians in Sacred Scripture and Oral Tradition. - 2 Timothy 2:2 - 

CCC # 811 - The words one, holy, catholic and apostolic are often called the four marks of the Universal Church - One: the Church is one. This means that it is a single, united and global Church which has its basis in Christ Jesus - Holy: the Church is holy, because it is the Body of Christ with Jesus as the head. This does not mean that all members / laity of the Church are sin free or sinless. It means that the Church and her sacraments help to make the faithful holy - Catholic: the word catholic literally means 'universal.' The role of the Church is to proclaim and spread the Word of God universally across the world - Apostolic: the origins and beliefs of the Church started out with the apostles at the "Pentecost." 

CCC # 789 - The Church includes everyone who has faith and has a duty to evangelise. This means that the Church has a duty to share the word of God and educate others so that they might believe and then convert to the Catholic/Universal faith. The belief is that it is through the Church and Christ Jesus alone that humanity can experience and find salvation. 

CCC # 846 - Hence, it means that all salvation comes from the Lord Jesus Christ, that is, 'the Head' through the Church which is his Body. The Church is also described as 'the people of God.' The Catechism of the Catholic Church makes it absolutely clear that God does not belong to anyone, in person and in group, because God is the one who calls people to Him. The people of God are those who has been chosen and called by God. Whereas, an individual can become a laity or a member of the people of God, that is, through the Sacrament of Baptism. 

The people of God also have a duty to follow the commandments of God and a duty towards fellow human beings. In other words, they have a mission: to spread the Word of God, hope and salvation to the world, and live as Christ Jesus did. Amen! His Holiness, The Pope is the Head of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Thus, The Pope oversees the worldwide churches and all those within it. Apostle/Saint Peter was ordained as the first Pope by the Lord Jesus Christ at Caesarea Philippi, and hence, each Pope is a successor of Saint Peter, who is the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, that is, who is the - His Grace, Bishop of Rome. 

- Peter's profession of faith; his pre-eminence - When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of Man is?' And they said, 'Some say Jesus is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets'. 'But you, (Simon Peter)' Jesus said 'who do you say I am?' Then Simon Peter spoke up, 'You are the Christ,' he said 'the Son of the living God'. Jesus replied, 'Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the under-world can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.' Then Jesus gave the disciples strict orders not to tell anyone that he was the Christ. - Matthew 16:13-20 - 

Since the first Pope, there has been an unbroken line of successors, known as apostolic succession. This continue apostolic succession will 'NOT' end or last, until everything God wanted and decided so, that is: All things shall occur and be the case and ensured that the messages and teachings that the Lord Jesus Christ gave to the apostles have been passed down and remain the same. "Our Father Who art is in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen!

The belief is that the Pope also has the ability to speak infallibly on matters of faith and morals. This means that the Pope's statement or teaching cannot be considered as incorrect and wrong. The Universal/Catholic Church teaches that the authority to speak infallibly comes from the authority that Jesus gave to Peter to build his Church and look after it, as well as to keep his own faith and strengthen the faith of others. Not everything the Pope says is infallible – it has to fall in line and agreement with Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture. 

The statements of the Universal/Catholic Church are not made easily and take many years of discussions, pondering, study and debate before they are finalised and be sacredly be agreed upon in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. They do not add to the faith, but rather confirm long-held beliefs. Once the statements are finished, however, the Pope will make a papal infallible statement, which defines that the doctrine cannot be proved incorrect and wrong, and is classed as truth in the Universal/Catholic Church's eyes. Historically, speaking, there are only two such statements have been made, that is, both have been on the person of Blessed Mary. The first, in 1854, was the dogma of Mary as the Immaculate Conception and the second in 1950, the dogma of the Assumption. 

Magisterium refers to the teaching authority of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church / The Universal Church, formed of the Bishops. It is one of the three sources of authority alongside Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. But there are different types and levels of magisterium. (1) Ordinary magisterium (2) Conciliar magisterium (3) Pontifical magisterium. - (1) Ordinary magisterium - This is when the Bishops of the Universal Church teach what the Universal Church has always taught. They teach the basics of the Catholic faith. (2) Conciliar magisterium - This involves all the Bishops of the Universal Church being called together to form a council to discuss the Universal Church teachings and issues. The most recent council was held in the 1960s when the Second Vatican Council took place. The Second Vatican Council made major changes in Church teachings and practices, including the Holy Mass / Holy Eucharist / Holy Communion being able to be celebrated in the vernacular language, which refers to the local language of the country or place that the Holy Mass is celebrated. (3) Pontifical magisterium - This is when a papal infallible statement is made. Although only the Pope himself can make a papal infallible statement, he will have consulted with the Bishops of the Catholic Church by holding discussions beforehand.

The Second Vatican Council is the most recent council in Church History, lasted for three years between 1962 and 1965. The Second Vatican Council sought to address relationships between the Universal/Catholic Church and the modern world. Appended below are the: Four key documents were the result of the Second Vatican Council. 

1) Sacrosanctum Concilium - Constitution on the Sacred liturgy -

2) Lumen gentium - Dogmatic Constitution on the Church -

3) Dei verbum - Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation -

4) Gaudium et spes - Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World -

Each of these documents changed how the Church interacted with the modern world, with other Christian and non-Christian denominations and with practices within the Church. One of the greatest aims of this document was the participation of the laity in the Holy Mass.

Sacrosanctum Concilium 

One of the greatest aims of this document was the participation of the laity in the Holy Mass. For the first time, the Holy Mass could be said in the vernacular, which is the local language of the country or place where Holy Mass is celebrated. This meant that the laity could fully participate and understand what was happening. The liturgy of the Mass was rewritten to involve the laity and the layout of churches was also changed. Previously the priest would celebrate the Mass with his back to the congregation so they were simply observers of the Holy Mass. After Vatican II, the altar was moved and the priest now faced the congregation, so they were part of the Holy Mass.

Lumen Gentium

This focused on the Catholic beliefs about the Church with five key areas: (1) universal call to holiness (2) the church as the people of God (3) the role of the bishops (4) the permanent diaconate - these are deacons who are ordained by the Bishops to serve the local church (5) the lay vocation - those in the church who have not been ordained or taken any vows.  

The role of the Bishop was given more weight, the laity were called to holiness and by describing the Church as the 'people of God', the teaching on salvation and the Church as a community was made clearer.

Dei Verbum

Dei Verbum focused on revelation, and clarified key Church teachings. It stated that the sacred scriptures teach the truth about salvation, and it is truth that God wanted humanity to know. Christ Jesus was the ultimate revelation of God and preached the Gospel to men. The message of Christ Jesus was written by the apostles and those with them to preserve the teachings of Christ, and these teachings have been preserved by the magisterium. Divine Revelation means the Word of God expressed through the words of man.

Gaudium et Spes

This document addressed the Church and the world outside of it. It focused on: (1) human rights (2) the dignity of human life (3) the role of the individual in the Church as well as in the wider world (4) the role of the family in the Church and the wider world. The document also tackled modern day issues, such as: nuclear weapons, technology, advancement of science. 

The Second Vatican Council aimed to set out Church teaching; on such issues for the modern Church and the laity.

-     WELCOME TO SACRED SCRIPTURE / WORD OF GOD / HOLY BIBLE READER'S COMMUNITY     - 

Wishing you, 'Happy Reading', and may God, the Father, the Son of the living God, Jesus Christ, fills your heart, mind, thoughts, and grants you: The Holy Spirit, that is, Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, Counsel, Piety, Fortitude, Fear of the Lord, and also His fruits of the Holy Spirit, that is, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Trustfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. Amen! God blessing be upon you!

Why do you call Me, "Lord, Lord" and not do what I say?' "Everyone who comes to Me and listens to My words and acts on them - I will show you what he/she is like. He/She is like a man/woman who when he/she built his/her house dug, deep, and laid the foundations on rock; when the river was in flood it bore down on that house but could not shake it, it was so well built. But the one who listens and does nothing is like the man/woman who built his/her house on soil, with no foundations: as soon as the river bore down on it, it collapsed; and what a ruin that house became!" - Luke 6:46-49 - 

If we live by the truth and in love, we shall grow in all ways into Christ Jesus, who is the head by whom the whole body is fitted and joined together, every joint adding its own strength, for each separate part to work according to it function. So the body grows until it has built itself up, in love." - Ephesians 4:15-16 - 

I still have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you now. But when the spirit of truth comes, he will lead you to the complete truth, since he will not be speaking as from himself, but will say only what he has learnt; and he will tell you of the things to come. He/She will glorify me, since all he/she tells you will be taken from what is mine. Everything the Father has is mine; that is why I said: all he/she tells you will be taken from what is mine." - John 16:12-15 -

Your generous contribution and support is profoundly cherish. I sincerely pray that: God blessing be upon you, always. Amen! Bank transfer: Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah - Public Bank Berhad account no. 4076577113 - Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  

When man or woman lost the gifts of God, his/her intellect darkened, his/her will weakened, and he/she will be taken over by 'sin'. Sin refers to an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law, that is, an act regarded as a serious or regrettable fault, offense, or omission. As a result, brought the first or original sin into the world, for sin is ultimately a refusal to love. All human beings and those who followed in the intellectual current on modernity that he and she inspired were absolutely wrong, mistaken and having judged incorrectly to believe that people would be redeemed through science (knowledge of any kind and the testing of theories against the evidence obtained). Such an expectation asks too much of science; this kind of hope is deceptive. 

Science (knowledge of any kind and the testing of theories against the evidence obtained) can contribute greatly to making the world and mankind more human. Yet it can also destroy mankind and the world unless it is steered by forces that lie outside it. Anyone who promises the better world that is guaranteed to last forever is making an absurd and a false promise; he and she is overlooking God creature and human freedom. It is 'not' science that redeems people; people is redeemed by love, faith, and hope in the Almighty God, Son of the living God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. This applies even in terms of this present world. AMEN!

God love does not simply offer people material help, but refreshment and care for the souls. Soul define as - 1. the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal, regarded as immortal. That is, a person's moral or emotional nature or sense of identity. synonyms: spirit, psyche (inner) self, innermost self, (inner) ego, inner being, true being, essential nature, animating principle, life force, vital force, inner man/woman, persona, identity, personality, individuality, makeup, subconscious, anima, pneuma, ka, atman. 2. emotional or intellectual energy or intensity, especially as revealed in a work of art or an artistic performance. Inspiration, feeling, emotion, passion, animation, intensity, fervour, ardor, enthusiasm, eagerness, warmth energy vitality, vivacity, spirit, spiritedness, commitment, fervency, ardency, passionateness. 3. soul music. 4. the essence or embodiment of a specified quality of an individual person and a person regarded with affection or pity.

Generally speaking 'Human Soul' is often refers to an individual person sense of identity. A soul is made up of the mind, (brain) will, and emotions/feelings of a person. In Christianity, it is the spiritual part of a person, in other words, it is even more necessary than material support, that is, capable of redemption from the power of sin through divine grace. "Yahweh God fashioned man of dust from the soil. Then God breathed into his nostrils a breath of life, and thus man became a living being." - Genesis 2:7- "May the God of peace make you perfect and holy; and may you all be kept safe and blameless, spirit, soul and body, for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Thessalonians 5:23 - This in turn led us to consider two fundamental words; Eros, as a term to indicate "Worldly" "Love and Agape, referring to love grounded in and shaped by faith."

Hence, Faith, Justify Initially, but Works Perfect and Complete Justification. Therefore, Faith is indeed the minimum requirement without which we cannot please God. But this is just the beginning of the process leading towards justification. Faith alone does not justify a person. Justification is only achieved by faith and works. The faith that we have must be a repentant faith, not just an intellectual faith that believes in God. Repentance is not just a thought process (faith) but an act (work) by which we ask God for His mercy and forgiveness, thus, the faith that justifies us is "faith working through love" Further, all faith (initial and perfection) are gratuitous gifts from God, and not earned or merited by any human action. God effects everything, and that also requires human action. As a result, hope is a necessity and a feeling of trust, that is, he/she want something to happen or be the case and intend if possible to do something.

The 3 things that last; Faith, Hope, Love and the greatest of these "is love". It's obvious that this thing called love occupies the mind, hearts, emotions and lives. Living without God today means facing life and death as no generation before us has done. It entails giving meaning to our lives not only in the absence of a super being, but now without the forces and trends that gave hope to the past several generation of secularists, which are temporal, profane and worldly.

By beginning of the 21st century, the modern faith that human life is heading in a positive direction has been undone, giving way to the earlier religious faith it replaced, or to no faith in God of all. Today life is much too much trouble, far too strange, to arrive at the end of it and then be asked what you make of it and have to answer, "Scientific humanism". That won't do. A poor show. Life is a mystery, love is a delight. Therefore, I take it as axiomatic that one should settle for nothing less than the infinite mystery and the infinite delight, that is, God. Of course, the most convincing explanation for human love is divine love. More accurately, all we need is the One Who is Love. God is Love. The words are so common, so obvious, so innocuous. Love is not merely a sentiment. Sentiments come and go. A sentiment can be a marvelous first spark, but it is not the fullness of love. Then how can we experience God? "Love your neighbour is a path that leads to the experience and encounter with God, and closing our eyes to our neighbour also binds us to God". In helping other people, you'll not only be helping them, you'll also be helping yourself know and love God more. The "giving love" should not be limited to hours volunteering for various good causes, but must include serving in everyday and ordinary ways those with whom we have daily contact.

Free will is sacred. God never forces you against your free will. Yet doing evil not only hurts you; it also hurts others. Love inevitably leads to God. God offers his divine grace, and the people must accept it and then cooperate with it. Love is naturally expansive, but Divine Love is creative. Love told the secret of its goodness to nothingness, and that was creation. Love made something like unto its own image and likeness, and that was man. Love is prodigal of its gifts, and that was the elevation of man to the adoptive son-ship of God. Love must always run risks of not being loved in return, for love is free. The human heart refused to return that love in the only way in which love can ever be shown, namely by confidence and trust in a moment of trail.

We can try to extricate, limit suffering, to fight against it, but we cannot eliminate it. It is when we attempt to avoid suffering by withdrawing from anything that might involve hurt, when we try to spare ourselves the effort and pain of pursuing truth, love and goodness, that we drift into a life of emptiness, in which there may be almost no pain, but the dark sensation of meaninglessness and abandonment is all the greater. In other words, it is not by sidestepping or fleeing from suffering that we are healed, but rather by our capacity for accepting it, maturing through it and finding meaning through union with God.

In the end, even the "yes" to love is a source of suffering, because love always requires expropriations of my "I", in which I allow myself to be pruned and wounded. Hence, Love simply cannot exist without this painful renunciation of myself, for otherwise it becomes pure selfishness and thereby ceases to be love.

Love is naturally expansive, but Divine Love is creative. Love told the secret of its goodness to nothingness, and that was creation. Love made something like unto its own image and likeness, and that was man/woman. Love is prodigal of its gifts, and that was the elevation of man/woman to the adoptive son-ship/daughter-ship of God. Love must always run risks of not being loved in return, for love is free. The human heart refused to return that love in the only way in which love can ever be shown, namely by confidence and trust in a moment of trail.

In conclusion, Love is essential as God is Love, self-giving nature of God. God's love for human beings seeks to awaken a responsive love of mankind for God. Nature is eloquent with the skill, wisdom and the power of God. However, do we discover God giving Himself and all He possesses to His creatures, in order to win their response and to possess them for Himself. Divine love runs like a golden thread through the entire Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible. God loved and gave; He loved and sought - just as a shepherd seeks his sheep. God loved and suffered, providing His love by giving His all on the cross for the redemption of humanity. God, in His love, wills good for all His creatures.

"God saw all he had made, and indeed it was very good. Evening came and morning came: the sixth day"  - Genesis 1:31 - "He, Yahweh, is merciful, tender hearted, slow to anger, very loving, and universally kind; Yahweh's tenderness embraces all his creatures. - Psalms 145:8-9 - "Death was not God's doing, he takes no pleasure in the extinction of the living. To be - for this he created all." - Wisdom 1:13-14 - 

"He was setting out on a journey when a man ran up, knelt before him and put this question to him, 'Good master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?' Jesus said to him, 'Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone." - Mark 10:17-18 -

"My dear people, let us love one another since love comes from God and everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Anyone who fails to love can never have known God, because God is love. God's love for us was revealed when God sent into the world his only Son so that we could have life through him; this is the love I mean: not our love for God, but God's love for us when he sent his Son to be the sacrifice that takes our sins away." - 1 John 4:7-10 -

"We ourselves have known and put our faith in God's love towards ourselves. God is love and anyone who lives in love lives in God, and God lives in him." - 1 John 4:16 -

The second group of attributes is called moral attributes. These refer to God's character, His essential. God is Holy. The word holy comes from a root word that means "to separate". Thus, it refers to God as separated from or exalted above other things. Holiness refers to God's moral excellence. Being holy, God demands holiness in His own children. And what He demands, He supplies. Holiness is God's gift that we receive by faith and love through His Son, Jesus Christ. 

"Yet, Holy One, you who make your home in the praises of Israel, in you our fathers put their trust, they trusted and you rescued them; they called to you for help and they were saved, they never trusted you in vain" - Psalms 22:3-5 - "And they cried out one to another in this way, 'Holy, holy, holy is Yahweh Sabaoth. His glory fills the whole earth.'" - Isaiah 6:3 -

God is Truth. All truth, whether natural, physical or religious, is grounded in God. Hence, any seemingly inconsistent teaching between natural and physical sciences and God's revelation of Himself is more apparent than real. Truth is magnified in an absolute way through God's revelation. "Your mind must be renewed by a spiritual revolution so that you can put on the new self that has been created in God's way, in the goodness and holiness of the truth." - Ephesians 4:23-24 -

"If there is anyone of you who needs wisdom, he must ask God, who gives to all freely and ungrudgingly; it will be given to him. But he must ask with faith, and no trace of doubt because a person who has doubts is like the waves thrown up in the sea when the wind drives. That sort of person, in two minds, wavering between going different ways, must not expect that the Lord will give him anything." - James 1:5-8 -

The future and the end times are in God's control. Many references to future time are related to 'Judgment'. Daniel prophecy outlines the succession of world empires and this prophecy involved judgments. In fact, the Satan, demons and devils realise that they will face a time of torment in the coming future. However, the future will not be all doom, the faithful and believers of God will be exalted by God while the wicked, sinful peoples and unbelievers of God will face an eternity of punishment.

The future and the end times are in God's hands. AMEN! This means the future is filled with fear and uncertainty for the wicked, sinful peoples and the unbelievers of God but with hope and certainty for the faithful and the believers of God. The faithful and the believers of God eagerly awaits for the time of the SECOND COMING / ESCHATOLOGY. THE FOUR LAST THINGS: DEATH, JUDGMENT, HEAVEN & HELL.

 -     WELCOME TO SACRED SCRIPTURE / WORD OF GOD / HOLY BIBLE READER'S COMMUNITY    - 

Wishing you, 'Happy Reading', and may God, the Father, the Son of the living God, Jesus Christ, fills your heart, mind, thoughts, and grants you: The Holy Spirit, that is, Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, Counsel, Piety, Fortitude, Fear of the Lord, and also His fruits of the Holy Spirit, that is, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Trustfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. Amen! God blessing be upon you!

Why do you call Me, "Lord, Lord" and not do what I say?' "Everyone who comes to Me and listens to My words and acts on them - I will show you what he/she is like. He/She is like a man/woman who when he/she built his/her house dug, deep, and laid the foundations on rock; when the river was in flood it bore down on that house but could not shake it, it was so well built. But the one who listens and does nothing is like the man/woman who built his/her house on soil, with no foundations: as soon as the river bore down on it, it collapsed; and what a ruin that house became!" - Luke 6:46-49 - 

If we live by the truth and in love, we shall grow in all ways into Christ Jesus, who is the head by whom the whole body is fitted and joined together, every joint adding its own strength, for each separate part to work according to it function. So the body grows until it has built itself up, in love." - Ephesians 4:15-16 - 

I still have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you now. But when the spirit of truth comes, he will lead you to the complete truth, since he will not be speaking as from himself, but will say only what he has learnt; and he will tell you of the things to come. He/She will glorify me, since all he/she tells you will be taken from what is mine. Everything the Father has is mine; that is why I said: all he/she tells you will be taken from what is mine." - John 16:12-15 -

Your generous contribution and support is profoundly cherish. I sincerely pray that: God blessing be upon you, always. Amen! Bank transfer: Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah - Public Bank Berhad account no. 4076577113 - Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

 

'Why do you call Me, "Lord, Lord" and not do what I say?' - Luke 6:46 - 

"I tell you solemnly, there is no one who has left house, wife, brothers, parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God who will not be given repayment many times over in this present time, in the world to come, Eternal Life." - Luke 18:28-30 - 

The Lord Jesus Christ, promised to us that our mission on this earth is really and utmost important for our own salvation. 

"Everyone who comes to Me and listens to My words and acts on them - I will show you what he/she is like. He/She is like a man/woman who when he/she built his/her house dug, and dug deep, and laid the foundations on rock; when the river was in flood it bore down on that house but could not shake it, it was so well built. But the one who listens and does nothing is like the man/woman who built his/her house on soil, with no foundations: as soon as the river bore down on it, it collapsed; and what a ruin that house became!" - Luke 6:46-49 - 

So, all those who are baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and learn and observe all the commands of the Lord Jesus Christ are citizens like all the saints, and part of God's household. You are part of a building that has the apostles and prophets and saints for its foundations, and Christ Jesus himself for its main cornerstone. As every structure is aligned on Him, all grow into One, Holy, Catholic and the Apostolic Church in the Lord Jesus Christ; and you too, in Him, are being built into a house where God lives, in the Spirit. Amen! 

The Ascension

Now having met together, [ Acts 1:6, takes up the narrative broken off in Luke 24:49.] they asked Jesus, 'Lord, has the time come? Are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel?' [ The apostles still identified the messianic kingdom with the political restoration of David's dynasty. Cf. Matthew 4:17+.] Jesus replied, 'It is not for you to know times or dates [ Human history is the unfolding of salvation and it develops through the 'times and dates', cf. Daniel 2:21; 1 Thessalonians 5:1, that God has always foreseen (Romans 16:25+; 1 Corinthians 2:7; Ephesians 1:4, 3:9,11; Colossians 1:26; 2 Timothy 1:9; cf. Matthew 25:34): first there are the 'times' of preparation, Hebrews 1:2, 9:9; 1 Peter 1:11, and of God's patience, Romans 3:26; Acts 17:30; then follows the appointed time. Galatians 4:4+, the moment long foretold for the Messiah to come and begin the era of salvation, Romans 3:26+; after this, the time that is to escape before the parousia or final coming. 2 Corinthians 6:2+; lastly, the great and final 'Day'.] that the Father has decided by his own authority, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes to you, [ The Holy Spirit is a favourite theme of Luke (Luke 4:1+); he talks mostly about the Holy Spirit as a Power, Luke 1:35; 24:49; Acts 1:8; Romans 15:13,19; 1 Corinthians 2:4,5; 1 Thessalonians 1:5; Hebrews 2:4, sent from God by Christ. Acts 2:33, to broadcast the Good News. 

1) The Spirit gives the charismata, 1 Corinthians 12:4f, that guarantee the message: the gift of tongues, Acts 2:4+, of miracles, Acts 10:38, of prophecy, Acts 11:27+; 20:23; 21:11, of wisdom,  Acts 6:3.5.10. (2) The Spirit gives strength to proclaim Jesus as Messiah in spite of persecution, Acts 4:8, 31; 5:32; 6:10; cf. Philippians 1:19, and to bear witness to him, Matthew 10:20p; John 15:26; Acts 1:8; 2 Timothy 1:7f, cf. following note. (3) The Spirit guides the Church in her major decisions: the admission of pagans, Acts 8:29, 40; 10:19, 44, 47; 11:12-16; 15:8, without obligation to observe the Law, 15:28; Paul's mission to the pagan world, 13:2f; 16:6-7; 19:1 (Western Text), cf. Matthew 3:16+, Acts also mentions the Spirit as received in baptism and forgiving sins, 2:38; cf. Romans 5:5+.] and then you will be my witnesses [ The primary function of the apostles is to bear witness: not only to Christ's resurrection, Luke 24:48; Acts 2:32; 3:15; 4:33; 5:32; 13:31; 22:15, but also to the whole of his public life, Luke 1:21; John 15:27; Acts 1:22; 10:39f.] 

And then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judaea and Samaria, and indeed to the ends of the earth.' [ Nothing can limit the apostolic mission, Isaiah 45:14+. The progress outlined here follows the geographical plan of Acts: Jerusalem was destined to receive the Good News, to be the centre from which it is now spreading, cf. Luke 2:38+.] 

As Jesus said this he was lifted up while they looked on, and a cloud [ The cloud is part of theophanies in O.T., Exodus 13:22+, and in New Testament; Luke 9:34-35p. In particular, Daniel 7:13, it marks the coming, or parousia, of the Son of Man, Matthew 24:30+; v.11 of this passage; cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Revelation 1:7; 14:14-16.] took him from their sight. They will still staring into the sky when suddenly two men in white were standing near them and they said, 'Why are you men from Galilee standing here looking into the sky? Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, this same Jesus [ Thus, the Western Text. Text Rec. 'this Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven'.] will come back the same way [ The glorious coming, the parousia, see notes on Matthew 24 and Luke 17:22-37; 21:5-33.] as you have seen him go there.' - Acts 1:6-11 -

- Acts 9:1-19 - The conversion of Saul / (Paul is his another Latin/Greek name) - According to the Acts of the Apostles, Saul was a Roman citizen. As such, he bore the Latin name "Paul". - "Elymas Magos - as he was called in Greek - tried to stop them so as to prevent the proconsul's conversion to the faith. (Christian) Then Saul, whose other name is Paul." - Acts 13:8-9 - **God didn't change the apostle's name from Saul to Paul when the man from Tarsus became a Christian.**    

In modern times the name Christian has been somewhat emptied of its true meaning as a follower of Christ. To some today, Christian means little or nothing, however, its original meaning is a noble one.

All Sacred Scripture is inspired by God and can profitably be used for teaching, for refuting error, for guiding people's lives and teaching them to be holy. This is how the person who is dedicated to God becomes fully equipped and ready for any good work.

Before God and before Christ Jesus who is to be judge of the living and the dead, I put this duty to you, in the name of His Appearing and of His kingdom: proclaim the message and, welcome or unwelcome, insist on it. Refute falsehood, correct error, call to obedience - but do all with patience and with the intention of teaching.

This time is sure to come when, far from being content with sound teaching, people will be avid for the latest novelty and collect themselves a whole series of teachers according to their own tastes; and then, instead of listening to the truth, they will turn to myths. Be careful always to choose the right course; be brave under trails; make the preaching of the Good News your life's work, in thoroughgoing service. - 2 Timothy 2:1-26, 3:1-17, 4:1-5 -

Anyone who blasphemes [speaks evil] against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, and is subject to eternal condemnation. Such slander of the Holy Spirit, the Lord Jesus Christ implied, reveals a spiritual blindness, a warping and perversion of the moral nature, that puts one beyond hope of repentance and forgiveness. Those who call the Holy Spirit Satan reveal a spiritual cancer so advanced that they are beyond any hope of healing and forgiveness.

'I tell you solemnly, all men's sins will be forgiven, and all their blasphemies; but let anyone blaspheme against the Holy Spirit and he/she will never have forgiveness: he/she is guilty of an eternal sins.' This was because they were saying, 'An unclean spirit is in her/him.' - Mark 3:28-30 - Matthew 12:22-32 - Luke 12:10 -

If, after we have been given knowledge of the truth, we should deliberately commit any sins, then there is no longer any sacrifice for them. There will be left only the dreadful prospect of judgment and of the raging fire that is to burn rebels. Anyone who disregards the Law of Moses is ruthlessly put to death on the word of two witnesses or three; and you may be sure that anyone who tramples on the Son of God, and who insults the Spirit of grace, will be condemned to a far severer punishment. We are all aware who it was that said: Vengeance is mine; I will repay. And again: The Lord will judge his people. It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. - Hebrews 10:26-31 -

Sin is a real and positive evil. Sin is more than unwise, inexpedient, calamitous attitude, behaviour that produces sadness, sorrow, grief and distress. It is rebellion against God. Sin is thus the faithless rebellion of the creature against the just authority of his Creator. Sin involves the denial of the living God from whom human beings draw life and existence - Acts 17:28 - the consequence of this revolt is death and the torment of hell. Death is the ultimate penalty imposed by God for sin. For this reason, sinning against God and breaking His commandments at any point involves transgression at every point.

Therefore, the man who infringes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven; but the man who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 5:19; James 2:10 -

For the wage paid by sin is death; the present given by God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 6:23 -

CHRIST JESUS PASSOVER SUPPER / LAST SUPPER TO TODAY'S HOLY EUCHARIST, HOLY MASS, HOLY COMMUNION

Jesus, our Lord Jesus Christ is still among us. He is risen from the dead. We ( Catholic Christians ) meet the Lord Jesus Christ face-to-face in love each time we gather to the celebration of the "Holy Eucharist, Holy Mass, Holy Communion" that is: - John 11:25-26 - The Lord Jesus Christ said: "I am the resurrection. If anyone believes in me, even he/she dies he/she will live, and who ever lives and believe in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

"Preparation for the Passover Supper / Last Supper - The day of Unleavened Bread came round, the day on which the Passover had to be sacrificed, and Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, 'Go and make the preparations for us to eat the Passover'. 'Where do you want us to prepare it?' they asked. 'Listen,' Jesus said 'as you go into the city you will meet a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him into the house he enters and tell the owner of the house, "The Master has this to say to you: Where is the dining room in which I can eat the Passover with my disciples?" The man will show you a large upper room furnished with couches. Make the preparations there.' They set off and found everything as he told them, and prepared the Passover.

When the hour came Jesus took his place at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, I have longed to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; because, I tell you, I shall not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God'. Then, taking a cup, Jesus gave thanks and said, 'Take this and share it among you, because from now on, I tell you, I shall not drink wine until the kingdom of God comes.'

The institution of the Holy Eucharist, Holy Mass, Holy Communion - Then Jesus took some bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body which will be given for you; do this as a memorial of me'. Jesus did the same with the cup after supper, and said, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood which will be poured out for you." - Luke 22:7-20 - Matthew 26 - Mark 14 - John 12,13,14,15,16,17 - 1 Corinthians 11:17-34; 15:1-58 -

After Jesus died and leave behind an eternal gift, that is, a gift that was remembered and put into practices every days, the one at which He sat when He shared His "Passover Supper" / "Last Supper." And there were nails - the ones that pierced His hands and feet as He died on a cross. The gift and message that Jesus left is: "Do this in memory of me." We meet the Lord Jesus Christ face-to-face in love each time we gather to "DO THIS" in His memory. What we do in His memory was called 'The Holy Eucharist', 'The Holy Mass', 'The Holy Communion'. "These remained faithful to the teaching of the apostles, to the brotherhood/sisterhood, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers. The many miracles and signs worked through the apostles made a deep impression on everyone." - Acts 2:42-43 - 

"The very same day, two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking together about all that had happened. Now as they talked this over, Jesus himself came up and walked by their side; but something prevented them from recognising him. Jesus said to them, 'What matters are you discussing as you walk along?' They stopped short, their faces downcast.

Then one of them, called Cleopas, answered Jesus, 'You must be the only person staying in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have been happening there these last few days'. 'What things?' Jesus asked. 'All about Jesus of Nazareth' they answered 'who proved he was a great prophet by the things he said and did in the sight of God and of the whole people; and how our chief priests and our leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and had him crucified. Our own hope had been that he would be the one to set Israel free. And this is not all: two whole days have gone by since it all happened; and some women from our group have astounded us: they went to the tomb in the early morning, and when they did not find the body, they came back to tell us they had seen a vision of angels who declared Jesus was alive. Some of our friends went to the tomb and found everything exactly as the woman had reported, but of him they saw nothing.

Then Jesus said to them, 'You foolish men! So slow to believe the full message of the prophets! Was it not ordained that the Christ should suffer and so enter into his glory?' Then, starting with Moses and going through all the prophets, Jesus explained to them the passages throughout the scriptures that were about Jesus/himself.

When they drew near to the village to which they were going, Jesus made as if to go on; but they pressed him to stay with them. 'It is nearly evening' they said 'and the day is almost over.' So he went in to stay with them. Now while Jesus was with them at table, he took the bread and said the blessing; then Jesus broke it and handed it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognised Jesus; but he had vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, 'Did not our hearts burn within us as Jesus talked to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?

They set out that instant and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven assembled together with their companions, who said to them, 'Yes, it is true. The Lord Jesus has risen and has appeared to Simon. Then they told their story of what had happened on the road and how they had recognised Jesus at the breaking of bread. - Luke 24:13-35 - Jesus appeared to the apostles - Luke 24:36-43 -

- Last instruction to the Apostles - Then Jesus told them, 'This is what I meant when I said, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets and in the Psalms, has to be fulfilled'. Jesus then opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, 'So you see how it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that, in Jesus name, repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses to this.

'And now I am sending down to you what the Father has promised. Stay in the city then, until you are clothed with the power from on high.'

                  -   TODAY'S HOLY EUCHARIST, HOLY MASS, HOLY COMMUNION OF VATICAN II   - 

On October 11, 1962, the Second Vatican Council met for the first time. More than 2,000 cardinals and bishops were present. There were also ambassadors from various countries, representatives of international organizations, and delegates from other Churches.

The Council was held in the Basilica of Saint Peter in Vatican City. It is because another council had already met in the same place years before, this new one became the Second Vatican Council. His Holiness Pope John personally opened the Council in 1962, Pope John was not there when it closed in December 1965. He died on June 3, 1963, and a new pope - His Holiness Pope Paul VI - carried on the Council. It is to Pope Paul VI that we owe the liturgical reforms that began in the 1960s.

                                        -  THE LITURGY OF SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL  -

Liturgy was the first item of business at the Council. After nearly a year of hard work, the Council bishops approved the final document. It was called the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, and was published by His Holiness Pope Paul VI on December 4, 1963. This document says that liturgy is very important in the life of the Church and that we need to revise and adapt our liturgy to the needs of people today.

The key word in the Liturgy Constitution is 'participation.' The liturgy is "an action of Christ the Priest and of His Body which is the Church," this document states. Liturgy is not something that we sit and watch the priest do. It is something we do with Christ.

One of the major reforms in our liturgy has been the change to the language of the people. The Last Supper was in Aramaic, the language of the Lord Jesus and the Apostles. In the third century, when the Roman liturgy was in Greek, His Holiness Pope Callistus changed it to Latin because that was the language most Romans understood. Now, in our own time, the liturgy is once again in the language of the people. If you go to Holy Mass in Paris or Tokyo, you will see Catholics joining right in with the priest because they know what they are saying and singing. The language change makes it possible to have full participation.

                                               -  Sunday Mass Before and After Vatican II  -

There are Catholics today who have never seen the "old" liturgy we had before Vatican II. To show how much things have changed, let us imagine an American anthropologist who went to live with a tribe of Indians in the tropical rain forests of Brazil or other countries. Living out of touch with civilization, the anthropologist, had no idea what was happening in the Catholic Church during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.

In the entire history of the Holy Mass there has never been a reform like the one made by Vatican II. There were changes made in the past, but never anything so complete and in so short a time. This has been a sharp 'hairpin turn' back toward the Holy Mass as it used to be said in the time of the early Catholic Christians. Thanks to Vatican II and His Holiness Pope Paul VI, we have a new liturgy today. But with all the changes, what we have is truly the Holy mass of Christ. What has changed is the manner of its celebration, the liturgy. For there can never be a new Holy Mass. At its heart, the Holy Eucharist is the same yesterday, today, and forever and ever. AMEN! 

-     WELCOME TO SACRED SCRIPTURE / WORD OF GOD / HOLY BIBLE READER'S COMMUNITY     - 

Wishing you, 'Happy Reading', and may God, the Father, the Son of the living God, Jesus Christ, fills your heart, mind, thoughts, and grants you: The Holy Spirit, that is, Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, Counsel, Piety, Fortitude, Fear of the Lord, and also His fruits of the Holy Spirit, that is, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Trustfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. Amen! God blessing be upon you!

Why do you call Me, "Lord, Lord" and not do what I say?' "Everyone who comes to Me and listens to My words and acts on them - I will show you what he/she is like. He/She is like a man/woman who when he/she built his/her house dug, deep, and laid the foundations on rock; when the river was in flood it bore down on that house but could not shake it, it was so well built. But the one who listens and does nothing is like the man/woman who built his/her house on soil, with no foundations: as soon as the river bore down on it, it collapsed; and what a ruin that house became!" - Luke 6:46-49 - 

If we live by the truth and in love, we shall grow in all ways into Christ Jesus, who is the head by whom the whole body is fitted and joined together, every joint adding its own strength, for each separate part to work according to it function. So the body grows until it has built itself up, in love." - Ephesians 4:15-16 - 

I still have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you now. But when the spirit of truth comes, he will lead you to the complete truth, since he will not be speaking as from himself, but will say only what he has learnt; and he will tell you of the things to come. He/She will glorify me, since all he/she tells you will be taken from what is mine. Everything the Father has is mine; that is why I said: all he/she tells you will be taken from what is mine." - John 16:12-15 -

Your generous contribution and support is profoundly cherish. I sincerely pray that: God blessing be upon you, always. Amen! Bank transfer: Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah - Public Bank Berhad account no. 4076577113 - Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.