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Who
was |
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Ezekiel |
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The Visions of the Destruction of Israel
and Judah |
Ezekiel, a priest, was deported, together with
Joachim as prisoners from Jerusalem, by
Nebuchadnezzar in 597. During this time the
word of the LORD came to Ezekiel through
visions showing the glory of God and the
destruction of Israel and Judah because of
their disobedience of the laws of the LORD and
worshiping foreign gods.
In these visions, the LORD appeared to Ezekiel
in a stormwind with a huge cloud with flashing
fire. In the midst of the fire something
gleamed like electrum. Within this stormwind
were four figures, later identified as the
cherubim, sparkled with a gleam like burnished
bronze. Each of the four had the face of a
man, but on the right side was the face of a
lion, and on the left side the face of an ox,
and finally each had the face of an eagle.
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Over
the heads of the living creatures, something like
a firmament could be seen, seeming like glittering
crystal, stretched straight out above their heads.
Beneath the firmament their wings were stretched
out, one toward the other.
Ezekiel heard the sound of their wings that was
like the roar of mighty waters, like the voice of
the Almighty. When they moved, the sound of the
tumult was like the din of an army.
Above the firmament over their heads something
like a throne could be seen, looking like
sapphire. Upon it was seated, up above, one who
had the appearance of a man. Upward from what
resembled his waist Ezekiel saw what gleamed like
electrum; downward from what resembled his waist I
saw what looked like fire; he was surrounded with
splendor.
Like the rainbow in the clouds after a rainy day
was the splendor that surrounded him. Such was the
vision of the likeness of the glory of the LORD
seen by Ezekiel, who fell on his face when he saw
Him and heard the LORD’s voice. |
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The LORD told Ezekiel that He is sending him
to the Israelites, who rebelled and revolted
against Him. He then handed Ezekiel a scroll,
on which was written lamentation and wailing
and woe, for him to eat and thereafter to go
forth and speak His words to the house of
Israel and to warn them for Him, that the
wicked man shall die for his sins and the
virtuous man shall be saved, and that Israel
and Judah will fall.
However, the LORD warned Ezekiel that the
people of Israel will refuse to listen to him
for the house of Israel is stubborn and
obstinate in heart. But the LORD promise
Ezekiel that He will make his face as hard as
theirs, and his brow as stubborn as theirs,
like diamond. |
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After this vision, he came to the exiles who lived
at Tel-abib by the river Chebar, and for seven
days he sat among them distraught, for having been
appointed watchman by the LORD over the house of
Israel.
And the LORD ordered Ezekiel to shut himself up in
his house, making Ezekiel’s tongue stick to his
palate so he will be unable to rebuke the house of
Israel until He orders him to speak to them.
The LORD then told Ezekiel to lie down on his left
side and bear the sins of Israel one day for every
year that Israel sinned, or a total of for three
hundred and ninety days. When that allotted time
is done, the LORD told Ezekiel to then lie down on
his right side and bear the sins of Judah, one day
for every year that Judah sinned, or for forty
days.
The LORD ordered Ezekiel to cut his hair with a
sharp sword and divide the hair he cut into three
portions. He told Ezekiel to burn a third of his
hair in fire within the city, then place another
third around the city and strike it with the sword
and finally to strew the remaining third in the
wind and pursue it with the sword. |
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He told Ezekiel that a third of the house of
Israel will die of pestilence and perish of
hunger within them, another third shall fall
by the sword all around them and a third He
will scatter in every direction and He will
pursue them with the sword.
Further the LORD told Ezekiel to prophesy
against Israel, that the LORD will bring the
sword against them, destroy their high places,
lay waste to their altars and cast down their
slain ones before their idols, scattering
their bones.
The LORD said that the sword is outside;
pestilence and hunger are within. He that is
in the country shall |
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die
by the sword; pestilence and famine shall devour
those in the city. Even those who escape and flee
to the mountains like the doves of the valleys—He
will put them all to death, each one for his own
sins. He will bring in the worst of the nations,
who shall take possession of their houses. He will
put an end to their proud strength, and their
sanctuaries shall be profaned.
When anguish comes they shall seek peace, but
there will be none. There shall be disaster after
disaster, rumor after rumor. Prophetic vision
shall fade; instruction shall be lacking to the
priest, and counsel to the elders, while the
prince shall be enveloped in terror, and the hands
of the common people shall tremble. He will deal
with them according to their conduct, and
according to their judgments He will judge them;
thus they shall know that He is the LORD.
After the LORD showed Ezekiel the abominations
that the people of Israel and Judah did, He called
up six men, each with a weapon in his hand. With
them was a man with a writer’s case at his waist
whom the LORD told to pass through the city of
Jerusalem and mark with an X the foreheads of
those who moan and groan over all the abominations
that are practiced within it. The LORD instructed
the other men to pass through the city and strike
without pity every man woman and child without the
mark.
When the men left, Ezekiel cried before the LORD
for his people. The LORD told Ezekiel that the
sins of the house of Israel are great beyond
measure; the land is filled with bloodshed, the
city with lawlessness. They think that the LORD
has forsaken the land, that he does not see them.
These visions foretold the destruction of
Jerusalem in 587 by Nebuchadnezzar, and thus
Ezekiel was vindicated before his unbelieving
people. |
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To
be continued...
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So
you think you know -
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the
Our Father |
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I
just discovered
The Office of Catechism
of the United States Congress of Catholic Bishops
website, which puts our knowledge of the catholic
faith to a test!
This
is just a sample and it concentrates on what we
know about the venerable Our Father. |
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What is the
fundamental Christian prayer?
True or false.
We could say that Our Father is the summary of
the whole gospel.
The
Lord's Prayer
is unique among all prayers. Why?
Of
which of the following
sacraments and
sacramentals is the Lord's Prayer a
part? |
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Choose any combination of the following. |
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- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist
- Reconciliation
- Liturgy of the Hours
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True or false.
Both humbleness and boldness are proper
dispositions for one who prays the Our Father.
True or false.
It is blasphemous to refer to ourselves in any
way as children of God, for only Jesus Christ is
Son of God.
True or false.
The Our Father reveals us to ourselves.
True or false.
Praying the Our Father should give us the desire
to become like him.
When we
pray
the "our" in "our Father" we: |
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Choose any combination of the following. |
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- Recognize that his promises of love are
fulfilled in the new covenant.
- Affirm the trinitarian communion.
- Recognize our praying in the communion of God
and men in the Church.
- Pray for all those who do not yet know him.
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Pray for the unity of his disciples.
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True or false.
"Who art in heaven" refers to place of God's
dwelling. |
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Got
enough yet? But wait there's more. Just
click here. |
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Fifth
Sunday
of Easter
I am the way and the truth and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through me.
April 20, 2008
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First Reading from the Acts of the
Apostles |
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Acts 6:1-7 |
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As
the number of disciples continued to grow, the
Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because
their widows were being neglected in the daily
distribution.
So
the Twelve called together the community of the
disciples and said,
“It is not right for us to neglect the word of God
to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you
seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and
wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task,
whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to
the ministry of the word.”
The proposal was acceptable to the whole
community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled
with faith and the Holy Spirit, also Philip,
Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas
of Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
They presented these men to the apostles who
prayed and laid hands on them.
The word of God continued to spread, and the
number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased
greatly; even a large group of priests were
becoming obedient to the faith. |
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Responsorial From the Book of Psalms:
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Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19 |
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R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our
trust in you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place
our trust in you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place
our trust in you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear
him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place
our trust in you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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Second Reading from the First Letter
of
Peter |
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1 Pt 2:4-9
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Beloved:
Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human
beings but chosen and precious in the sight of
God, and, like living stones, let yourselves be
built into a spiritual house to be a holy
priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
For
it says in Scripture:
Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion, a
cornerstone, chosen and precious, and whoever
believes in it shall not be put to shame.
Therefore, its value is for you who have faith,
but for those without faith:
The stone that the builders rejected has become
the cornerstone, and A stone that will make people
stumble, and a rock that will make them fall.
They stumble by disobeying the word, as is their
destiny.
You are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, a people of his own, so that you may
announce the praises” of him who called you out of
darkness into his wonderful light. |
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Reading From the Gospel of John |
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Jn 14:1-12 |
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Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have
faith in God; have faith also in me. In my
Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If
there were not, would I have told you that I am
going to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will
come back again and take you to myself, so that
where I am you also may be. Where I am going you
know the way.”
Thomas said to him,
“Master, we do not 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. If you know me, then you will also
know my Father. From now on you do know him and
have seen him."
Philip said to him,
“Master, show us the Father, and that will be
enough for us.”
Jesus said to him,
“Have I been with you for so
long a time
and you still do not know me, Philip?
Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.
How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the
Father is in me?
The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my
own.
The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father
is in me,
or else, believe because of the works themselves.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes in me will do the works that I
do,
and will do greater ones than these,
because I am going to the Father.” |
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Suggested Readings |
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Happiness Is a Serious
Problem: A Human Nature Repair Manual
by Dennis Prager.
In this unique blend of self-help and moral
philosophy, talk-radio host Dennis Prager
asserts that we're actually obligated to be
happy, because it makes us better people. |
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Praying With Frederic Ozanam
(Companions for the Journey Series)
-
Paperback, by Ronald Cm Ramson (Author) |
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Praying With Louise De
Marillac (Companions for the Journey Series)
by Audrey Gibson (Author), Kieran Kneaves
(Author) |
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Praying with Vincent de
Paul (Companions for the Journey)
2004, by Thomas McKenna
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The Rise of Christianity:
How the Obscure, Marginal, Jesus Movement Became
the Dominant Religious Force ....
(Paperback) by Rodney Stark
(Author)
From the Publisher
"... this account of Christianity's remarkable
growth within the Roman Empire |
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is already the subject of much fanfare. "Anyone
who has puzzled over Christianity's rise to
dominance... must read it," ...
Read the first page. |
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Living Liturgy:
Spirituality, Celebration, and Catechesis for
Sundays and Solemnities, Year A,
2008 (Paperback) by C.PP.S. Joyce Ann Zimmerman
(Author), Thomas A. Greisen (Author), S.N.D. de
N. Kathleen Harmon (Author), M.S. Thomas L.
Leclerc (Author) |
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"Perfect for home use or to prepare for weekly
liturgy . . . It includes help for the
celebration, ideas for catechesis on the
particular event, and ways to understand the
readings more deeply. Finally, it includes
sample questions from which priests, deacons,
lay groups, ministers and others can jump off
into deeper discussion." |
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Straight Answers, Answers
to 100 Questions about the Catholic Faith
by Ph.D Rev. William P.
Saunders (Author)
Review by: Reverend William G. Curlin Bishop of
Charlotte
Straight Answers offers Catholics a simple and
direct response to the many questions concerning
the Catholic Church. It spells out profound
truths in very |
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simple language for all who seek a better
understanding of their Faith. I highly recommend
it for Catholics, both young and old. |
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The Power of Intention:
Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way
From Amazon:
After years of spiritual study and reflection,
inspirational speaker and |
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bestselling
author Wayne Dyer has emerged a highly esteemed
teacher. His current message about tapping into
the power of intention may sound like good old
positive thinking: just stay focused on what you
want, rather than focusing on the lack of having
what you want. But the teaching here goes deeper
than just controlling thoughts (although he does
acknowledge that thought control is a
surprisingly challenging and significant
endeavor).
This book might
help readers land a better job, but it's more
relevant for those who are ready to detach from
an ego-driven life filled with quick fixes of
happiness and step into a more authentic,
joyful, and spiritually fulfilling life. His
core teachings speak to tapping into a universal
source of energy that can also be called the
"power of intention." |
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The Chariot of Israel:
Exploits of the Prophet of Elijah
THE CHARIOT OF ISRAEL: When Elijah was caught up
to heaven, his disciple Elisha cried out, "the
chariot of Israel, and its horsemen." Elisha was
referring not to the chariot but to the prophet.
This study of Elijah’s life will captivate you
as it walks you through a pivotal period in
Israel’s history, and illustrative maps will
give you a better picture of the physical
geography of this ancient land. |
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Read
more about the Liturgical Year |
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The Origins of the
Liturgical Year (Pueblo Books)
by Thomas J. Talley (Author) The Rev. Dr.
Thomas J. Talley, Professor of Liturgics
at the General Theological Seminary in New
York, is one of the leading liturgists in
the country. He gives us a fresh
examination of the complex history of the
Liturgical Year. |
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The Cultural World
of Jesus: Sunday by Sunday, Cycle C.
(Bestseller! the Cultural World of Jesus:
Sunday by Sunday)
by John J. Pilch (Author)
Reader
Review: The book by Pilch provides those
who not only fill the pulpits across this
country but also all interested in the
cultural world in which Jesus lived with a
lot of pertinent information that sheds
light on a lot of areas that have been
"muddled" in the past. Yes, I highly
recommend this book. - James Mauldin |
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Learn
more and read the Old Testament. |
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Preaching from the
Old Testament
by Elizabeth Achtemeier (Author) Reader
Review: The author of these thirty-two
short chapters begins and ends with the
assumption that problems we experience
with the Old Testament are our problem,
not the Bible's. This subordinating of the
Bible reader to the well-weathered book he
holds in his hand opens doors, not to
forced harmonisations of problematic
passages, but to fresh reappraisal of
difficult texts on their own terms. -
David A. Baer |
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The Navarre Bible:
Pentateuch (The Navarre Bible: Old
Testament)
This volume helps you make the first five
books of the Old Testament a vital part of
your spiritual reading and practical
growth in the Christian life. It contains
the full English and Latin texts of these
books, along with extensive and faithfully
Catholic commentaries. Like other volumes
in the world-renowned Navarre Bible
series, these commentaries draw on Church
documents, the exegesis of Fathers
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and Doctors of the Church, and the works of
contemporary spiritual writers — particularly
St. Josemaría Escrivá, who initiated the
Navarre Bible project. |
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Comments and Suggestions are Most Welcome.
If you have any comments or contributions,
please
use the form in this link.
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Comments and Suggestions are Most Welcome.
If you have any comments or contributions,
please
use the form in this
link.
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This
volume of commentary on the New English Bible text of the First Book of Kings
follows the pattern of the now well-established series on the Old and New
Testaments. The main divisions of the text are those provided by the New English
Bible itself, but these are further subdivided for the purposes of the
commentary, which is printed in short sections following the relevant portion of
the text.
