'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.