Revealing fascinating prophetic connections between Moses, Joshua, Samson, and Jesus Christ on the Cross; featuring the religious paintings of James Tissot (1836-1902.)
Archive for the ‘Joshua’ Category
“One on His Right, the Other on His Left”
March 24, 2015Remain Within — 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time—Year B
March 3, 2013In our first reading, Joshua led the Hebrews into a new country. Joshua told the people: “Say here now whom you will serve.” (The Lord, or another god?) They had to make a choice. They had to do this many times again later, amid the temptations of their new home.
In our gospel we hear: “From that time many of his disciples withdrew and did not want to walk with him.” This is John, chapter six, verse sixty-six (interestingly: six, six, six.) Some disciples of Christ still leave him today. In the gospel, they left because of his teaching on the Eucharist. Today many leave to enjoy forbidden pleasures, leaving the God of true love. Other people become very rich and comfortable and think they do not need the creator of all these things.
We say: “Far from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods, for the Lord is our God.” But even if we approach the Lord every week here in the parish, we must remember that serving the Lord means more than saying the right things. Remember, Jesus said: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
What is that will? Jesus tells his bride, the Church. Christ loves the Church and gave himself for her to sanctify. In it, Jesus purifies us with the sacraments, the Scriptures and the teachings of the apostles.
Stay in it, and you will be one with him. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says: ‘A word of St. Joan of Arc to her judges sums up the faith of the holy doctors and the good sense of the believer: “About Jesus Christ and the Church, I simply know that they’re just one thing, and we shouldn’t complicate the matter.”‘ Remain in her in this new country and you will be one with him. Say: “As for me, my family and I will serve the Lord.”
En nuestro primera lectura, Josué ha conducido a los hebreos en un nuevo país. Josué le dijo al pueblo: “Digan aquí y ahora a quién quieren servir. (El Señor, o un otro dios.) Tuvieron que hacer una elección. Que tenían que hacer esto muchas veces de nuevo más tarde, en medio de las tentaciones de sus nuevo hogar.
En nuestro evangelio escuchamos: “Desde entonces, muchos de sus discípulos se echaron para atrás y ya no querían andar con él.” Esto es Juan, capítulo seis, versículo sesenta y seis (interesante: seis, seis, seis.) Algunos discípulos de Cristo todavía le abandonan hoy. En el evangelio, se fueron porque de su enseñanza sobre la Eucaristía. Hoy en día muchos lo dejan para disfrutar pleasures prohibidos, abandonando al Dios del amor verdadero. Otras personas llegar a ser muy rico y cómodo, y no piensan que necesitan el creador de todas estas cosas.
Nosotros decimos: “Lejos de nosotros abandonar al Señor para servir a otros dioses, porque el Senor es nuestro Dios.” Pero, incluso si nos acercamos al Señor cada semana aquí en la parroquia, hay que recordar que servir al Señor significa mucho más que decir las cosas correctas. Recuerde, Jesús dijo: “No todo el que me dice: Señor, Señor, entrará en el reino de los cielos, sino el que hace la voluntad de mi Padre que está en los cielos.”
¿Cuál es esa voluntad? Jesús le dice a su esposa, la Iglesia. Cristo ama a su Iglesia y se entregó por ella para santificarla. En ella, Jesús nos purifica con los sacramentos, las Escrituras, y las enseñanzas de los apóstoles. Permanece en ella, y tú serás uno con él. El Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica dice: ‘Una palabra de Santa Juana de Arco a sus jueces resume la fe de los santos doctores y expresa el buen sentido del creyente: “De Jesucristo y de la Iglesia, me parece que es todo uno, y que no es necesario hacer una dificultad de ello.”’ Permanece en ella, en esto nuevo país, y tú serás uno con él. Digamos: “En cuanto a mí toca, mi familia y yo serviremos al Señor.”
Lingering Before The Lord — Tuesday, 17th Week in Ordinary Time—Year I
July 26, 2011
During the Exodus, the Lord’s presence would descend in a cloud upon the desert tabernacle called the tent of meeting. All the children of Israel would worship at the mouth of their own tents while Moses and his young assistant Joshua went in before the Lord. After speaking with the Lord, Moses had to leave to tend to the responsibilities involved in leading God’s people. Joshua, however, remained behind to pray, give thanks, and intercede for others.
God was pleased with Moses for the time he could spend with Him, blessing Him with a radiant light. He was also pleased with Joshua for lingering after. He would later select Joshua to lead the people after Moses’ passing because he was a man like David, “a man after God’s own heart.” Sometimes we can’t come to Mass early or linger after because of the demands of home and work and that’s ok. But if you can and do spend extra time with the Lord, know that this pleases Him greatly and helps you yield a greater harvest for Him.
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