Cristy Li

Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it Holy. –Exodus 20:8 (NRSVCE)

God’s Eternity and Human Frailty

Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world,

from everlasting to everlasting You are God.

You turn us back to dust and say, “Turn back you mortals.”

For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past, or like a watch in the

night.

You sweep them away; They are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning. In the

morning it flourishes and is renewed, in the evening it fades and withers.

For we are consumed by Your anger. By Your wrath we are overwhelmed.

You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your countenance.

For all our days pass away under Your wrath, our years come to an end like a sigh.

The days of our life are seventy years or perhaps eighty, if we are strong, even then their span is

only toil and trouble. they are soon gone and we fly away.

Who considers the power of Your anger? Your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.

So teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.

Turn, O Lord! How long? Have compassion on Your servants!

Satisfy us in the morning with Your steadfast love, so that we may rejoice and be glad all our

days.

Make us glad as many days as You have afflicted us and as many years as we have seen evil.

Let Your work be manifest to Your servants and Your glorious power to their children.

Let the favor of the Lord Our God be upon us and prosper for us the work of our hands

— O prosper the work of our hands! –Psalm 90:1-17

The New Life In Christ

If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at

the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are earth, for

you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is

revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: Fornication, Impurity, Passion, Evil Desire

and Greed (which is idolatry). On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are

disobedient. These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life but now

you must get rid of all such things — Anger, Wrath, Malice, Slander and Abusive Language

from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with

its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in

knowledge according to the image of its Creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and

Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free but Christ is all and

in all!

As God’s chosen ones, Holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with Compassion, Kindness,

Humility, Meekness and Patience. Bear with one another and if anyone has a complaint against

another, forgive each other; Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above

all, clothe yourselves with love, which bind everything together in perfect harmony and let the

peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body and be

thankful.

Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom and

with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to God and whatever you

do, in word or deed, do everything in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the

Father through Him.

Rules For Christian Households

Wives be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, lobe your wives and

never treat them harshly.

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is your acceptable duty in the Lord.

Fathers do not provoke your children or they may lose heart. Slaves obey your earthly masters

in everything, not only while being watched and in order to please them but wholeheartedly,

fearing the Lord. Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for

your masters, since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your

reward; You serve the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong

has been done and there is no partiality. –Colossians 3:1-25

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Sabbath Switch-Off, Why to Reclaim Sunday From the Digital Domain – Natl Catholic Register

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for You judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth. –Psalm 67:4 (NRSVCE)

The Nations Called To Praise God 

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. (Psalm 67:4)

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us, that Your way may

be known upon earth, Your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise You, O God;

Let all the peoples praise You.

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You judge the peoples with equity and guide the

nations upon earth.

Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You.

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the

nations upon earth. (Psalm 67:4)

The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, has blessed us.

May God continue to bless us; Let all the ends of the earth revere Him. –Psalm 67:1-7

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The Word of the Lord endures forever. That Word is the Good News
that was announced to you. –1 Peter 1:25 (NRSVCE)

A Living Hope

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us a

new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an

inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are

protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last

time. In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so

that the genuineness of your faith — being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is

tested by fire — may be found to result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Although you have not seen Him, you love Him and even though you do not see Him now, you

believe in Him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the

outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Concerning this salvation, the Prophets who prophesied of the grace that was to be yours made

careful search and inquiry, inquiring about the person or time the Spirit of Christ within them

indicated when it testified in advance to the sufferings destined for Christ and the subsequent

glory. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the

things that have now been announced to you through those who brought you Good News by the

Holy Spirit sent from Heaven — things into which Angels long to look!

A Call For Holy Living

Therefore prepare your minds for action. Discipline yourselves. Set all your hope on the Grace

that Jesus Christ will being you when He is revealed.

Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formally had in ignorance.

Instead, as He who called you in Holy, be Holy yourselves in all your conduct, for it is written,

“You shall be Holy, for I am Holy.” (Leviticus 11:45; 19:2; 20:26)

If you invoke as Father the One who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live

in reverent fear during the time of your exile. You know that you were ransomed from the

futile way inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold but with

the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. He was destined

before the foundation of the world but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake.

Through Him you have come to trust in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him

Glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God.

Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the Truth so that you have genuine

mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. You have been born anew, not of

perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring Word of God. For

‘All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass.

The grass withers and the flower falls but the Word of the Lord endures forever.’ That Word is

the Good News that was announced to you. –1 Peter 1:3-25

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A day in My Lord’s courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the House of My God
than live in the tents of wickedness. –Psalm 84:10 (NRSVCE)

The Joy of Worship in the Temple

How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!

My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to

the living God.

Even the sparrows find a home and the swallows a nest for herself, where she may lay her

young at Your alters, O Lord of hosts, My King and My God.

Happy are those who live in Your house, ever singing Your praise.

Happy are those whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

As they go through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; The early rain also covers

it with pools. They go from strength to strength, the God of gods will be seen in Zion.

O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; Give ear, O God of Jacob!

Behold our shield, O God, look on the face of Your anointed.

For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in

the House of my God than live in the tents of wickedness.

For the Lord God is a sun and shield, He bestows favor and honor.

No good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly.

O Lord of hosts, happy is everyone who trusts in You. –Psalm 84:1-12

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Jesus said, “I have called you friends because I have made known to you
everything that I have heard from My Father.” –John 15:15B (NRSVCE)

Jesus teaching, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure in a field which someone found and

hid, then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. On finding one pearl

of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of

every kind. When it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down and put the good into baskets but

threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The Angels will come out and separate the

evil from the righteous and throw them (evil ones) into the furnace of fire (Hell) where there

will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” –Matthew 13:44-50

Praise To God For His Holiness

The Lord Our God is Holy! (Psalm 99:9C)

The Lord is King, let the peoples tremble!

He sits enthroned upon the cherubim, let the earth quake!

The Lord is Great in Zion, He is exalted over all the peoples.

Let them praise Your Great and Awesome name. Holy is He!

Mighty King, lover of justice, You have established equity;

You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.

Extol the Lord Our God; Worship at His footstool. Holy is He!

The Lord Our God is Holy! (Psalm 99:9C)

Moses and Aaron were among His Priests,

Samuel was also among those who called on His name.

They cried to the Lord and He answered them.

The Lord Our God is Holy! (Psalm 99:9C)

He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud;

They kept His decrees and the statutes that He gave them.

O Lord Our God, You answered them;

You were a forgiving God to them but an Avenger of their wrongdoings.

The Lord Our God is Holy! (Psalm 99:9C)

Extol the Lord Our God and worship at His Holy mountain;

For the Lord Our God is Holy! –Psalm 99:1-9

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You have received a Spirit of Adoption, when we cry, ‘Abba, Father!’ –Romans 8:15B (NRSVCE)
Image Courtesy: Archbishop Jose Gomez

Thanksgiving and Praise

Lord, on the day I called, You answered me. (Psalm 138:3)

I give You thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;

In the presence of the ‘Angels’ (Psalm 138:1 NABRE) I sing Your praise.

I bow down toward Your Holy Temple and give Thanks to Your Name for Your steadfast love and

Your faithfulness; For You have exalted Your name and Your Word above everything.

On the day I called, You answered me, You increased my strength of soul.

All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O Lord, for they have heard the Words of Your mouth.

They shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the Glory of the Lord.

For though the Lord is high, He regards the lowly but the haughty he perceives from far away.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve me against the wrath of my enemies.

You stretch out Your hand and Your right hand delivers me.

The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.

Do not forsake the work of Your hands. –Psalm 138:1-8

Lord, on the day I called, You answered me. (Psalm 138:3)

The Lord’s Prayer

Jesus was praying in a certain place and after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him,

‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.’

Jesus said to them, “When you pray say:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come.

Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone

indebted to us and do not bring us to the time of trial.”

Perseverance In Prayer

Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend and you go to him at midnight and say to

him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived and I have nothing

to set before him and he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me, the door has already been

locked and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything.’  I tell you,

even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because

of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

So I say to you, Ask and it will be given you. Search and you will find. Knock and the door will

be opened for you.

For everyone who asks receives and everyone who searches finds and for everyone who

knocks, the door will be opened.

Is there anyone among you who, if your child ask for a fish will give a snake instead of a fish?

Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion?

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the

Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” –Luke 11:1-13

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With joy, blessed are the ones who, when they hear The Word, hold it fast in an honest
and good heart and bear fruit with patient endurance. –Cf. Luke 8:15 (NRSVCE)

Who Shall Abide in God’s Sanctuary?

Those who walk blamelessly and do what is right
and speak the truth from their heart. (Psalm 15:2)

O Lord, who may abide in Your tent?

Who may dwell on Your Holy Hill?

Those who walk blamelessly and do what is right and speak truth from their heart.

Who do not slander with their tongue and do no evil to their friends,

nor take up a reproach against their neighbors,

in whose eyes the wicked are despised but who honor those who fear the Lord,

who stand by their oath even to the hurt,

who do not lend money at interest and do not take a bribe against the innocent.

Those who do these things shall never be moved. –Psalm 15:1-5

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Our help is in the Name of the Lord –Psalm 124:8A (NRSVCE)
Image Courtesy: St. Paul Street Evangelization

Thanksgiving For Israel’s Deliverance

Our help is in the name of the Lord! (Psalm 124:8A)

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, let Israel now say — If it had not been the Lord who was on our side when our enemies attacked us, then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us; then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us, then over us would have gone the raging waters. Blessed be the Lord who has not given us as prey to their teeth.

Our help is in the name of the Lord! (Psalm 124:8A)

We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the Fowlers, the snare is broken  and we have escaped.

Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. –Psalm 124:1-8

Whom To Fear

Jesus said, “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light and what you have whispered, proclaim from the housetops.

Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul, rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in Hell.

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father and even the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid, you are of more value than many sparrows.

Everyone therefore acknowledge who acknowledges Me before others, I also will acknowledge before My Father in Heaven but whoever denies Me before others, I also will deny before My Father in Heaven.

Not Peace But Sword

Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace but a sword.

For I have come to set a man against his father and a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law and ones foes will be members of one’s own household.

Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; Whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; Whoever does not take up the Cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Those who find their life will lose it and those who lose their life for My sake will find it.

Rewards

Whoever welcomes you welcomes Me and whoever welcomes Me
welcomes the One who sent Me.

Whoever welcomes a Prophet in the name of the Prophet will receive a Prophet’s reward and whoever welcomes a Righteous Person will receive the reward of the Righteous and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a Disciple — truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”

Now when Jesus had finished instructing His twelve Disciples, He went on from there to teach and proclaim His message in their cities. –Matthew 10:26-42; 11:1

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Jesus said, “…The Words that I have spoken to you are the Spirit and Life.”
Simon Peter answered, ‘…You have the Words of Eternal Life.’ – CF. John 6:63B; 68B (NRSVCE)
Image Courtesy: Sister Veronica Paul

The Law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul;

The Decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple;

The Precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;

The Commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes;

The Fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever;

The Ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. –Psalm 19:7-10

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

Then a Lawyer stood up to test Jesus, ‘Teacher, what must I do to inherit Eternal Life?’

Jesus said to him, “What is written in the Law? What do you read there?”

The Lawyer answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your

soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself.’ (Deuteronomy 6:49; Matthew 22:37-40)

Jesus replied to him, “You have given the right answer, do this and you shall live.”

Wanting to justify himself, the Lawyer asked Jesus, ‘Who is my neighbor?’

Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of

robbers, who stripped him, beat him and went away, leaving him half-dead. Now by chance a

Priest was going down the road and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So

likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side but a

Samaritan while traveling came near him and when he saw him. he was moved with pity. He

(the Samaritan) went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them.

Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an Inn and took care of him. The next day,

he took out two Denarii (silver coins) gave them to the Innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him

and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ Which of these three do you

think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?”

The Lawyer said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’

Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” –Luke 10:25-37

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