Archive for March, 2015

Jesus Psalm 4

March 31, 2015

Answer me when I call, my saving God.
When troubles hem me in, set me free;
take pity on me, hear my prayer.

How long, O people, will you be hard of heart?
Why do you love what is worthless, chase after lies? Selah

Know that Jesus works wonders for his faithful one;
Jesus hears when I call out to him.

Tremble and sin no more;
weep bitterly within your hearts,
wail upon your beds,
offer fitting sacrifices
and trust in Jesus.

Many say, “May we see better times!
Jesus, show us the light of your face!” Selah

But you have given my heart more joy
than they have when grain and wine abound.

In peace I will lie down and fall asleep,
for you alone, Jesus, make me secure.

Jesus Psalms substitute instances of “(the) Lord” with “Jesus” as a way to pray the psalms afresh.

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Jesus Psalm 34

March 30, 2015

I will bless Jesus at all times;
his praise shall be always in my mouth.
My soul will glory in Jesus;…
let the poor hear and be glad.

Magnify Jesus with me;
and let us exalt his name together.
I sought Jesus, and he answered me,
delivered me from all my fears.

Look to him and be radiant,
and your faces may not blush for shame.
This poor one cried out and Jesus heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.

The angel of Jesus encamps
around those who fear him, and he saves them.
Taste and see that Jesus is good;
blessed is the stalwart one who takes refuge in him.

Fear Jesus, you his holy ones;
nothing is lacking to those who fear him.
The rich grow poor and go hungry,
but those who seek Jesus lack no good thing.

Come, children, listen to me;
I will teach you fear of Jesus.
Who is the man who delights in life,
who loves to see the good days?

Keep your tongue from evil,
your lips from speaking lies.
Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.

The eyes of Jesus are directed toward the righteous
and his ears toward their cry.
Jesus’ face is against evildoers
to wipe out their memory from the earth.

The righteous cry out, Jesus hears
and he rescues them from all their afflictions.
Jesus is close to the brokenhearted,
saves those whose spirit is crushed.

Many are the troubles of the righteous,
but Jesus delivers him from them all.
He watches over all his bones;
not one of them shall be broken.

Evil will slay the wicked;
those who hate the righteous are condemned.
Jesus is the redeemer of the souls of his servants;
and none are condemned who take refuge in him.

Jesus Psalms substitute instances of “(the) Lord” with “Jesus” as a way to pray the psalms afresh.

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“One on His Right, the Other on His Left”

March 24, 2015

Revealing fascinating prophetic connections between Moses, Joshua, Samson, and Jesus Christ on the Cross; featuring the religious paintings of James Tissot (1836-1902.)

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A Game of Monopoly & the Rich Man

March 10, 2015

Lazarus at the Rich Man's DoorGospel: Luke 16:19-31
Thursday, 2nd Week of Lent

    A UC-Berkley psychology professor sets two people down for an experiment: the pair will play a game of Monopoly with modified rules. One player will get the Rolls Royce while the other will be the old shoe. The player with the car will start with $2,000 and play by standard Monopoly rules, while the old shoe’s player gets $1,000, rolls just one die (making doubles impossible,) and collects only $100 for passing “Go.” Who gets which is decided by a fateful coin-flip. At the end of the game, the professor asks the winner (invariably the Rolls Royce player) whether they feel like they deserved to win the game. And the winner always says ‘yes.’

    I can understand the winner’s perspective. At the beginning of the game both players had a fair chance of winning (for either could have ended up with the car,) but the winner won that coin flip, played by the rules, and did what was necessary to arrive at victory. If the winner had cheated the loser, stealing cash or refusing rents, then that victory would feel undeserved.

Abraham, Lazarus, and the Rich Man    The Rich Man who showed no concern for poor Lazarus may have felt like one of those Rolls Royce players. He “dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day,” but nothing in the text indicates that he had defrauded or exploited anyone to obtain his wealth. Maybe he looked at poor people like Lazarus and shrugged, “Some receive what is good in their lifetimes while others receive what is bad,” words that Father Abraham would throw back in his face. Perhaps the Rich Man had not so much perpetrated evils, but rather (ignoring the Scriptures) felt no responsibility to help the less fortunate outside his door.

    May the one who reads this—a winner in the coin-toss of life—not be condemned for failing to give alms.

Posted in Generosity, Homily, Money, Rich Man & Lazarus, Weekday Homilies | Leave a Comment »