Cristy Li

The Cup of Blessing that we Bless, is it not a sharing in the Blood of Christ?
The Bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the Body of Christ?
There is One Bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
–1 Corinthians 10:16-17 (NRSVCE) Image Courtesy: TLM

The Institution of the Lord’s Supper

For I have received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when He was betrayed took a loaf of bread and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My Body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”

In the same way He took a cup also after supper saying, “This cup is the New Covenant in My Blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

Partaking of the Supper Unworthily

Whoever therefore eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord. Examine yourselves and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For all who eat and drink without discerning the body, eat and drink judgment against themselves. –1 Corinthians 11:23-29

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Jesus speaking: “The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God has come near,
repent and believe in the Good News.” –Mark 1:15 (NRSVCE) Image Courtesy: Fr. John Lewis

• Jesus speaking: “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who BELIEVE in Me, even though they die, will live and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.” –John 11:25-26

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who BELIEVES in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.

Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the wold but in order that the world might be SAVED through Him. –John 3:16-17

Jesus The (Only) Way To The Father

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. BELIEVE in God, BELIEVE also in Me. In My Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself so that where I am, there you may be also and you know the way to the place where I am going.”

Thomas said to Jesus, ‘Lord, we do nor know where you are going. How can we know the way?’

Jesus said to him, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. –John 14:1-6

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Jesus appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of Himself and just as it is appointed for mortals to die once and after that the judgment. –Hebrews 9:26B-27 (NRSVCE)

• Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near. –Matthew 3:2

“It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” –Matthew 4:4

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.

Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through Him. –John 3:16-17

For they reasoned unsoundly, saying to themselves, “Short and sorrowful is our life and there is no remedy when a life comes to its end and no one has been known to return from Hades (Hell). For we were born by mere chance and hereafter we shall be as though we had never been, for the breath in our nostrils is smoke and reason is spark kindled by the beating of our hearts; When it is extinguished, the body will turn to ashes and the spirit will dissolve like empty air.

Our name will be forgotten in time and no one will remember our works; Our life will pass away like the traces of a cloud and be scattered like mist that is chased by the rays of the sun and overcome by its heat. For our allotted time is the passing of a shadow and there is no return from our death because it is sealed up and no one turns back.

“Come therefore, let us enjoy the good things that exist and make use of the creation to the full as in youth. Let us take our fill of costly wine and perfumes and let no flower of Spring pass us by. Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds before they wither. Let none of us fail to share in our revelry; everywhere let us leave signs of enjoyment because this is our portion and this is our lot. Let us oppress the righteous poor man, let us not spare the widow or regard the gray hairs of the aged but let our might be our law of right for what is weak proves itself to be useless.

Let us lie in wait for the righteous man because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions; he reproaches us for sins against The Law and accuses us of sins against our training. He professes to have knowledge of God and calls himself a child of the Lord. He become to us a reproof of our thoughts, the very sight of him is a burden to us because his manner of life is unlike that of others and his ways are strange. We are considered by him as something base and he avoids our ways as unclean; He calls the last end of the righteous happy and boasts that God is his Father. Let us see if his words are true and let us test what will happen at the end of his life; For if the righteous man is God’s child, he will help him and will deliver him from the hand of his adversaries. Let us test him with insult and torture so that we may find out how gentle he is and make trial of his forbearance. Let us condemn him to a shameful death for according to what he says, he will be protected.”

Error of the Wicked

Thus they reasoned but they were led astray, for their wickedness blinded them and they did not know the secret purposes of God, nor hoped for the wages of Holiness, nor discerned the prize for blameless souls; For God created us for incorruption and made us in the image of His own eternity but through the Devil’s envy death entered the world and those who belong to his company experience it. –Wisdom 2:1-24

For the wages of sin is death but the Free Gift of God is Eternal Life
in Christ Jesus Our Lord. –Romans 6:23

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Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in Me, even though they die, will live and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
–John11:25-26 (NRSVCE) -Image Courtesy: God’s Graces

The Greatness and the Goodness of God

I will extol You, my God and King and bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You and praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised. His greatness is unsearchable.

One generation shall laud Your works to another and shall declare Your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of Your majesty and on Your wondrous works, I will meditate. The might of Your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed and I will declare Your greatness. They shall celebrate the fame of Your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.

The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

The Lord is good to all and His compassion is over all that He has made.

All Your works shall give thanks to You, O Lord and all Your faithful shall bless You.

They shall speak of the glory of Your Kingdom and tell of Your power, to make known to all people Your mighty deeds and the glorious splendor of Your Kingdom.

Your Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and Your domain endures throughout all generations.

The Lord is faithful in all His words and gracious in all His deeds. The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to You and You give them their food in due season.

You open Your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing.

The Lord is just in all His ways and kind in all His doings.

The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He fulfills the desire of all who fear Him, He also hears their cry and saves them.

The Lord watches over all who love Him but all the wicked He will destroy.

My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord and all flesh will bless His Holy Name forever and ever. –Psalm 145:1-21

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Restore to me the JOY of Your salvation and sustain in me a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways and sinners will return to You. –Psalm 51:12-13 (NRSVCE)
Image Courtesy: Share Catholic

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.

There is a river whose streams make glad the City of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.

God is in the midst of the city, it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns. The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter, He utters His voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.

Come behold the works of the Lord; See what desolations He has brought on the earth; He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear, He burns the shields with fire.

“Be still and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.”

The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. –Psalm 46:1-11

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For the Son of Man is to come with His angels in the glory of His Father
and then He will repay everyone for what has been done. –Matthew 16:27 (NRSVCE)

The Glorious New Creation

For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth;

The former things shall not be remembered or come to mind but be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating;

For I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy and it’s people as a delight.

I will rejoice in Jerusalem and delight in My people, no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it or the cry of distress.

No more shall there be in it an infant that lives but a few days or an old person who does not live out a lifetime; for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.

They shall build houses and inhabit them;

They shall build vineyards and eat their fruit. –Isaiah 65:17-21

For I know how many are your transgressions and how great are your sins — you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe and push the needy in the gate.

Therefore the prudent will keep silent in such a time for it is an evil time.

Seek good and not evil that you may live and so the Lord, the God of hosts will be with you just as you have said. –Amos 5:12-14

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“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” –John 8:12 (NRSVCE) Image Courtesy: Mercy Lives

Be imitators of God as beloved children and live in love as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Renounce Pagan Ways

Fornication and impurity of any kind or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among Saints. Entirely out of place is obscene, silly and vulgar talk but instead, let there be thanksgiving. Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is greedy ( an idolater) has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God.

Let no one deceive you with empty words for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be associated with them. For once you were in darkness but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light — for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true.

Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly but everything is exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light.

Therefore it says, ‘Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you.’

Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time because the days are evil. So do not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is. Do not get drunk with wine for that is debauchery but be filled with the Spirit as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. –Ephesians 5:1-20

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Do not be deceived: Bad company ruins good morals. –1 Corinthians 15:33 (NRSVCE)

Shining As Lights In The World

Therefore my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; For it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Do all things without murmuring and arguing, so that you may be blameless and innocent children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world. It is by holding fast to the Word of Life that I can boast on the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. –Philippians 2:12-16

Judging Others

Do not judge and you will not be judged; Do not condemn and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven, give and it will be given to you. A Disciple is not above the teacher but everyone who is qualified will be like a teacher. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye and then you will see more clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.

A Tree and It’s Fruit

No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by it’s own fruit. Figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.

The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; For it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks. –Luke 6:37-45

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Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through Me.” –John 14:6 (NRSVCE)

The Glories of God’s Law

Happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the Law of the Lord. Happy are those who keep His decrees, who seek Him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong but walk in His ways.

You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. O that my ways may be steadfast in keeping Your statutes! Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your Commandments.

I will praise you with an upright heart when I learn your righteous ordinances. I will observe Your statutes; do not utterly forsake me.

How can young people keep their way pure? By guarding it according to Your Word. With my whole heart I seek You; Do not let me stray from Your Commandments. I treasure Your Word in my heart, so that I may not sin against You.

Blessed are You, O Lord; Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I declare all the ordinances of Your mouth. I delight in the way of Your decrees as much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts and fix my eyes on Your ways. I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your Word.

Deal bountifully with Your servant so that I may live and observe Your Word. Open my eyes so that I may behold wondrous things out of Your Law. I live as an alien in the land, do not hide Your Commandments from me. My soul is consumed with longing for Your ordinances at all times. You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones who wander from Your Commandments; Take away from me their scorn and contempt, for I have kept your decrees. Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on Your statutes. Your decrees are my delight, they are my counselors.

My soul clings to the dust, relive me according to Your Word. When I told of my ways, You answered me; Teach me Your statutes. Make me understand the way of Your precepts and I will meditate on Your wondrous works. My soul melts away for sorrow; Strengthen me according to Your Word. Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me Your Law. I have chosen the way of faithfulness, I set Your ordinances before me. I cling to Your decrees, O Lord, let me not be put to shame. I run the way of Your Commandments for You enlarge my understanding.

Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes and I will observe it to the end. Give me understanding that I may keep Your Law and observe it with my whole heart. Lend me in the path of Your Commandments, for I delight in it. Turn my heart to Your decrees and not to selfish gain. Turn my eyes from looking at vanities, give me life in Your ways. Confirm to Your servant Your promise which is for those who fear You. Turn away the disgrace that I dread, for Your ordinances are good. See, I have longed for Your precepts; In Your righteousness give me life.

Let Your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, Your salvation according to your promise. Then I shall have an answer for those who taunt me, for I trust in Your Word.

Do not take the Word of Truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in Your ordinances. I will keep Your Law continually, forever and ever. I shall walk at liberty, for I have sought Your precepts. I will also speak of Your decrees before kings and shall not be put to shame; I find my delight in Your Commandments because I love them. I revere Your Commandments which I love and I will meditate on Your statutes.

Remember Your Word to Your servant, in which You have made me hope. This is my comfort in my distress, that Your promise gives me life. The arrogant utterly deride me but I do not turn away from Your Law. When I think of Your ordinances from of old, I take comfort, O Lord.

Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, those who forsake Your Law. Your statutes have been my songs wherever I make my home. I remember Your name in the night O Lord and keep Your Law. This blessing has fallen to me, for I have kept Your precepts.

The Lord is my portion; I promise to keep Your Words. I implore Your favor with all my heart, be gracious to me according to Your promise. When I think of Your ways, I turn my feet to Your decrees. I hurry and do not delay to keep Your Commandments. Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget Your Law. At midnight I rise to praise You because of Your righteous ordinances. I am a companion of all who fear You, of those who keep Your precepts. The earth, O Lord is full of Your steadfast love; Teach me Your statutes.

You have dealt well with Your servant O Lord, according to Your Word. Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in Your Commandments. Before I was humbled I went astray but now I keep Your Word. You are good and do good; Teach me Your statutes.

The arrogant smear me with lies but with my whole heart I keep Your precepts. Their hearts are fat and gross but I delight in Your Law. It is good for me that I was humbled, so that I might learn Your statutes. The Law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Your hands have made and fashioned me; Give me understanding that I may learn Your Commandments.

Those who fear You shall see me and rejoice because I have hoped in Your Word. I know O Lord, that Your judgments are right and that in faithfulness You have humbled me. Let Your steadfast love become my comfort according to Your promise to Your servant. Let Your mercy come to me, that I may live; For Your Law is my delight. Let the arrogant be put to shame because they have subverted me with guile; As for me, I will meditate on Your precepts.

Let those who fear Your turn to me, so that they may know Your decrees. May my heart be blameless in Your statutes, so that I may not be put to shame.

My soul languishes for Your salvation; I hope in Your Word.

My eyes fail with watching for Your promise; I ask, ‘When will you comfort me?’ For I have become like a wine-skin in the smoke, yet I have not forgotten Your statutes. How long must your servant endure? When will You judge those who persecute me? The arrogant have dug pitfalls for me, they flout Your Law. All Your Commandments are enduring; I am persecuted without cause, help me! They have almost made an end of me on earth but I have not forsaken Your precepts. In Your steadfast love spare my life, so that I may keep the decrees of Your mouth.

The Lord exists forever; Your Word is firmly fixed in heaven.

Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You have established the earth and it stands fast.

By Your appointment they stand today for all things are Your servants. If Your Law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my misery. I will never forget Your precepts. The wicked lie in wait to destroy me but I consider Your decrees. I have seen a limit to all perfection but Your Commandment is exceedingly broad.

O how I love Your Law! It is my meditation all day long. Your Commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is always with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your decrees are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, for I keep Your precepts. I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep Your Word. I do not turn away from Your ordinances for You have taught me. How sweet are Your Words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.

Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to observe Your righteous ordinances. I am severely afflicted; Give me life O Lord, according to Your Word. Accept my offerings of praise O Lord and teach me Your ordinances. I hold my life in my hand continually but I do not forget Your Law. The wicked have laid a snare for me but I do not stray from Your precepts. Your decrees are my heritage forever; They are the joy of my heart. I incline my heart to perform Your statutes forever, to the end.

I hate the double-minded but I love Your Law. You are my hiding place and my shield, I hope in Your Word.

Go away from me you evildoers, that I may keep the Commandments of my God. Uphold me according to Your promise that I may live and let me not be put to shame in my hope. Hold me up that I may be safe and have regard for Your statutes continually. You spurn all who go astray from Your statutes for their cunning is in vain. All the wicked of the earth you count as dross (rubbish) therefore I love Your decrees. My flesh trembles for fear of You and I am afraid of Your judgments.

I have done what is just and right; Do not leave me to my oppressors. Guarantee your servant’s well-being; Do not let the godless oppress me. My eyes fail from watching for Your salvation and for the fulfillment of Your righteous promise. Deal with Your servant according to Your steadfast love and teach me Your statutes. I am Your servant; Give me understanding so that I may know your decrees. It is time for the Lord to act, for Your Law has been broken.

Truly I love Your Commandments more than gold, more than fine gold. Truly I direct my steps by all Your precepts; I hate every false way.

Your decrees are wonderful; Therefore my soul keeps them. The unfolding of Your words gives light, it imparts understanding to the simple. With open mouth I pant because I long for Your Commandments. Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is Your custom toward those who love Your name.

Keep my steps steady according to your promise and never let iniquity have dominion over me. Redeem me from human oppression, that I may keep Your precepts. Make Your face shine upon Your servant and teach me Your statutes.

My eyes shed streams of tears because Your Law is not kept. You are righteous O Lord and Your judgments are right. You have appointed your decrees in righteousness and in all faithfulness. My zeal consumes me because my foes forgot Your words. Your promise is well tried and Your servant loves it. I am small and despised, yet I do not forget Your precepts. Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness and Your Law is the truth. Trouble and anguish have come upon me but Your Commandments are my delight. Your decrees are righteous forever; Give me understanding that I mayt live.

With my whole heart I cry; Answer me O Lord, I will keep Your statutes. I cry to You; Save me, that I may observe Your decrees. I rise before dawn and cry for help; I put my hope in Your words. My eyes are awake before each watch of the night that I may meditate on Your promise. In Your steadfast love hear my voice; O Lord, in Your justice preserve my life. Those who persecute me with evil purpose draw near, they are far from Your Law. Yet you are near O Lord and all Your Commandments are true.

Long ago I learned from Your decrees that You have established them forever.

Look on my misery and rescue me, for I do not forget Your Law. Plead my cause and redeem me; Give me life according to Your promise. Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek Your statutes.

Great is Your mercy O Lord; Give me life according to Your justice. Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, yet I do not swerve from Your decrees. I look at the faithless with disgust because they do not keep Your commands. Consider how I love Your precepts; Preserve my life according to Your steadfast love.

The sum of Your Word is truth and every one of Your righteous ordinances endures forever.

Princes persecute me without cause but my heart stands in awe of Your words. I rejoice at Your word like one who finds great spoil. I hate and abhor falsehood but I love Your Law. Seven times a day I praise You for Your righteous ordinances. Great peace have those who love Your Law; Nothing can make them stumble. I hope for Your salvation O Lord and I fulfill Your Commandments. My soul keeps Your precepts and decrees for all my ways are before You.

Let my cry come before You O Lord, give me understanding according to Your word. Let my supplication come before You. Deliver me according to Your promise. My lips will pour forth praise because You teach me Your statutes. My tongue will sing Your promise, for all Your Commandments are right.

Let Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your precepts. I long for Your salvation O Lord and Your Law is my delight.

Let me live that I may praise You and let Your ordinances help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; Seek out Your servant for I do not forget Your Commandments. –Psalm 119:1-176

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