Hi there! I’m a newbie to this stuff and I would like to create my first blog regarding the “nine-day preparation” prior to the birth of our Savior. I regularly set my phone alarm every five o’clock in the afternoon to prepare for church inasmuch as the mass (simbang gabi 2016) starts at six o’clock in the evening. The following are my own lines with additional explanation based on how I perceive the message of the gospel and the homily shared by the priest in a particular day.
Day 1: Do good and be a light to others There are many things, points, and ideas actually shared by our pastoral priest, but to sum it up, he meant that if we really want to avert ourselves from sinning, then we must DO GOOD! Be good to yourself, your family, friends, special someone, neighbor, community, strangers, to everyone! John, the son of Mary’s cousin Elizabeth, was the one chosen by God to prepare the people and the earth to welcome our Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the source of light, life, and everything but John reflects this light to prepare the souls of everyone to clean themselves spiritually to wholly and heartily accept God the Son as personal Savior. We are now in the 21st century and we must do what John actually did in his time. We must reflect God’s light so that our brothers and sisters who are struggling in the darkness may see
…show more content…
Her heart jumps for joy! She knew that it is the holy spirit that is working. She went to where Elizabeth lives notwithstanding the obstacles she might encounter to her travel. She did not mind the difficulties because her soul and heart is uplifted by happiness. She offers herself to take care and serve Elizabeth. She did this without thinking of anything she may receive in return. She was sincere in her
When a person is saved from hell to heaven by the grace of God and the death of Jesus Christ he becomes a new creature. The things he used to be must be left behind and he must strive to become Christ-like (2 Corinthians 5:17). Jesus Christ was the only blameless, sinless, perfect human being to ever walk the face of the earth. There is no possible way for anybody to achieve such perfection. The only way one is able to ever come close is to put away all things of this world, and live only for Christ. You must walk for Christ, talk about Christ, live for Christ. In doing so you will come up against persecution and hardship from outside forces, however one must endure. You must suffer as Christ has suffered. You are after all the reason for Christ’s suffering. Had he not willingly gone to the cross, there would be no salvation. There would be no eternal life. God cannot look upon us unless we are covered in the blood of Christ.
In “High Holy Days” by Jane Shore the idea of innocent youth awakening from a slumber for the first time is conveyed at a rate of infinite constancy from beginning to end. At the poem opens the tone of the speaker is childish and picayune. Throughout the eloquent stanzas filled with reminisces of the speaker, the tone becomes passionate and valiant. The writer, Jane Shore, awakens the speaker to her reality as a Jewish woman living in a world that does not condone her religion.
While teaching a large crowd that had gathered around him, Jesus looks at them and says to them all, “You are the light of the world.” The one who declared that he was the light of the world, is now looking at common people and telling them that they are as well. To prove his point even more he then uses two simple illustrations. The first being a visual of a city built on a hill. No one builds a city on a hill unless it is meant to be seen. The second being a common everyday occurrence that everyone in attendance that day would be able to relate to, and that is the lighting of a lamp and putting it on a stand in their home in order to illuminate everything in the room. The whole purpose, in Jesus’ time, of lighting a lamp and positioning it on the stand or brick that was strategically placed within the wall when the single room house was built, was so that it would light the entire dwelling. Both illustrations were used to convey the idea that God has purposed and positioned each person to be light in a world of spiritual darkness. In the same way that a city on a hill stands out and a lamp illuminates, we are meant to live in such a way that mankind can see our good works, that they can see how we love Jesus and follow Him, and then praise God because of
Over the years, writers such as Bill McKibben have raised up their voices to give their personal opinion on polemic topics that involve Christianity. McKibben is a writer, educator, environmentalist, and currently a scholar at Middlebury College in Vermont. He served as an editor of important articles for the Harvard Crimson, and, in 2005, he wrote “The Christian Paradox: How a Faithful Nation Gets Jesus Wrong” (264). All of his background information gives the impression that McKibben is an educated and environmentally conscious person who has envisioned a better future for America. As a member of the Christian community, McKibben has received direct insight into the problems of the Church. In his article, McKibben argues his standpoint that,
The last way that Jesus demonstrated His discipleship was in the way he took care of people’s spiritual needs. The first time we see this is in Mark 1:21-28. In these verses Jesus is i...
In this letter, the author expresses the importance of the recipient to continue testifying his love for Christ and the Church by his actions (3John1:5-8). The author asks the recipient to witness his love to travelers who are coming through his town by helping “them in a way worthy of God to continue their journey” (3John 1:6). John’s third letter highlights the importance of witness by showing those who “imitate good” (3John 1:11) are disciples, because “whoever does what is good is of God” (3John 1:11). The eternal life of Christ is not a fact that the disciple must only announce but also live their lives in a manner which reflects Christ to all they encounter. John calls all disciples to witness the eternal life by “walking in the truth just as we were commanded by the Father” (2John 1:4). The disciple does not simply tell people of eternal life, but explains the source of this divine life; the disciple is called to witness to Jesus Christ as the source and summit of
We have seen his glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”1 John is describing the Son of God. The Son of God who will carry out the word in the proper context. He will show the world how living in the light will lead to a fulfilled life. Jesus showed the people of the time, how interacting and loving creation brings hope to the darkness, moving out of sin and impurity and into the beauty of the light of God. God kept his covenant with Noah, and instead of wiping out the earth filled with darkness, he sent Jesus to purify the sins of the earth. Jesus would be able to seek out the darkness and being a shining light in those times. John Calvin said in his commentary, “Yet the Son of God stooped so low as to take to Himself that flesh addicted to so many wretchednesses.”4 God made it a priority to enter into the darkness, and move mankind into the light. Through moving into the light, people can live a fulfilled life in the Kingdom of
The essay, “A Christian World View,” by Mickenzie Neely seeks to address some major themes that pertain to a Christian worldview. The essay, in summary, states that “serving others, accepting and giving grace, sacrifice, and justice are all essential to living for Christ.” This essay was presented in a way in which she used facts and scriptures from the Bible to support her point. This paper will analysis Neely’s main arguments and will evaluate my opinion of her writing. The main topics that apply to my Christian worldview are love, service, grace and forgiving.
From the beginning of the establishment of the Christian church there have always been controversies about how the organization has been run. The Da Vinci code and The Secret Supper deal with an alternative interpretation of early Christianity and the gospels, far different from that of the orthodox Catholic Church, both novels also deal with mysteries behind some of Leonardo Da Vinci’s most famous paintings.
Christian Science is an idealistic and most radical form of transcendental religiosity. The study of Christian Science teaches a feeling of understanding of God's goodness and the differences between good and evil, life and death. The purpose of this paper is to address how the study of Christian Science helps us better understand the impact of globalization in America, as well as the impact of American on globalization. This paper is important because globalization features a dominant worldview. All throughout the world people believe, study and teach different types of religious movements that impact others. People need to better understand how certain religions modify, conflict with, and impact the world. First, it will discuss the life and work of the founder, Mary Baker Eddy. Secondly, it will examine the primary rituals and religious services of the Christian Science movement. Then, it will outline the precursors and history of the religion. In the conclusion, a response will be offered to the question of how Christian Science helps us better understand the impact of globalization on America and of America on globalization.
...Today as a Christ follower, we will never be satisfied if our life is not bearing lasting fruit because we are not fulfilling the purpose for which we were “grafted “into the Vine. Let’s examine the “fruit” of our lives. Is it the kind of fruit that reveals the character of Christ? Let’s not settle for fruitless Christianity. God will do the work of making us fruitful – we must only abide, surrendering our lives to His mission of making disciples of all nations through us. The whole notion of mission is to stretch out to work the work of evangelism not through hierarchy, sovereignty, rather through humbleness, hospitality, affection love for the others. That is what Jesus who portrayed as the one who we do not deserve to untie His sandals straps in the first Chapter of John, later become feet washer, intimate with humanity leaving His equality with God.
Every religion embodies a plethora of recognized rituals that are significant to its teachings. Customs exclusive to each religion can include acts such as: attending a weekly mass, praying five times a day at specified hours, celebrating the transition from childhood to manhood, along with endless others. The similarity shared amongst all religious rituals is that the follower of faith must believe whole-heartedly in what he/she is doing or saying. Dhikr, or the remembrance of God, is a ritual based in Islam that does not receive the attention it deserves from mainstream Muslims, and is highly under appreciated for its value (Robson 238). Its myriad versions allow it to be very personal, whereas other rituals are more structured, which is
Tennent presents an interesting comparison and contrast of ‘salvation by grace through faith’ in Christianity with a particular element of Buddhism stressing on the same theme in the sixth Chapter on Theology in the Context of World Christianity. In this essay, an attempt will be made at summarizing the chapter on “Is Salvation by Grace through Faith Unique to Christianity,” followed by a critical evaluation and how it can be applied to my own ministry as part of contextualizing it. Summary
...e you must respect for her sincerity, her high principles, her generous trust of others, and her patience under trails that would be too great for much stronger heads...and in spite of her romantic folly she has so much good heart that it serves her in place of good sense” .
John was a dedicated apostle of Jesus Christ. His adult life was dedicated towards serving Christ and his doctrines. From his time of appointment to the ascension of Christ, John was among the disciples chosen to spread the word of God. After the ascension of Christ, John continues with his service to Christ, spreading the word of God from Galilee, across borders to Greece. The paper will illustrate the various lessons that can be demonstrated through John’s life, preaching and service to Christ.