A deep, abiding catholic faith brings light into darkness. God's message of forgiveness, mercy, love, and trust in Jesus Christ His Son brings about a re-awakening of the soul. Living in gratitude, justice, peace, and love is the beauty of Catholicism. The message of the world opposes justice and love. Hatred unforgiveness, and sin are the devil's way.
Wisdom, truth, justice, mercy, forgiveness, and discipline, are realized in the life of Jesus Christ and are realized every day through the Catholic Mass and followers of Jesus Christ.
7God
made the dome,* and it
separated the water below the dome from the water above the dome. And so it
happened. d
8God
called the dome “sky.” Evening came, and morning followed—the second day.
9Then
God said: Let the water under the sky be gathered into a single basin, so that
the dry land may appear. And so it happened: the water under the sky was
gathered into its basin, and the dry land appeared.
10God called the dry land “earth,” and the basin of water he
called “sea.” God saw that it was good.
11f Then
God said: Let the earth bring forth vegetation: every kind of plant that bears
seed and every kind of fruit tree on earth that bears fruit with its seed in
it. And so it happened:
12the
earth brought forth vegetation: every kind of plant that bears seed and every
kind of fruit tree that bears fruit with its seed in it. God saw that it was
good.
13Evening
came, and morning followed—the third day.
14Then God said: Let there be lights in the dome of the sky, to
separate day from night. Let them mark the seasons, the days and the years, g
15and serve as lights in the dome of the sky, to illuminate the
earth. And so it happened:
16God
made the two great lights, the greater one to govern the day, and the lesser
one to govern the night, and the stars. h
17God set them in the dome of the sky, to illuminate the earth,
18to
govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. God
saw that it was good.
19Evening
came, and morning followed—the fourth day.
20i Then
God said: Let the water teem with an abundance of living creatures, and on the
earth let birds fly beneath the dome of the sky.
21God
created the great sea monsters and all kinds of crawling living creatures with
which the water teems, and all kinds of winged birds. God saw that it was good,
22and God blessed them, saying: Be fertile, multiply, and fill the
water of the seas; and let the birds multiply on the earth. j
23Evening
came, and morning followed—the fifth day.
24kThen God said: Let the earth bring forth
every kind of living creature: tame animals, crawling things, and every kind of
wild animal. And so it happened:
25God made every kind of wild animal, every kind of tame animal,
and every kind of thing that crawls on the ground. God saw that it was good.
26lThen God said: Let us make* human beings in our image, after our likeness. Let
them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the tame
animals, all the wild animals, and all the creatures that crawl on the earth.
28God blessed them and God said to them: Be fertile and multiply;
fill the earth and subdue it.* Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the
birds of the air, and all the living things that crawl on the earth.m
29*n God
also said: See, I give you every seed-bearing plant on all the earth and every
tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food;
30and to all the wild animals, all the birds of the air, and all
the living creatures that crawl on the earth, I give all the green plants for
food. And so it happened.
31God looked at everything he had made,
and found it very good.Evening came, and morning followed—the sixth day.o
The
chapter highlights the goodness of creation and the divine desire that human
beings share in that goodness. God brings an orderly universe out of primordial
chaos merely by uttering a word.
In the
literary structure of six days, the creation events in the first three days are
related to those in the second three.
1.
light (day)/darkness (night)
=
4.
sun/moon
2.
arrangement of water
=
5.
fish + birds from waters
3.
a) dry land
=
6.
a) animals
b) vegetation
b) human beings: male/female
The
seventh day, on which God rests, the climax of the account, falls outside the
six-day structure.
7 Catholic Sacraments
There are a total of 7 sacraments in the Catholic faith. There are 3 sacraments of Christian Initiation, 2 sacraments of healing, and 2 sacraments of service of communion. The below document provides some additional details.
There is one God, and this
God is our Father. This God is also the Father’s Son, and God the Holy
Spirit is the love that flows between the Father and the Son.
“The Father is that which the Son is, the Son that which the
Father is, the Father and the Son that which the Holy Spirit is, i.e., by
nature one God.” (Catechism
of the Catholic Church #253)
The Beatitudes
MATTHEW Chapter 5
The
Sermon on the Mount.1* When
he saw the crowds,* he
went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.2He began to teach them, saying:
12* Rejoice
and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.h Thus
they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Ten (10) Commandments
1) I am the Lord your God. You shall not have other gods besides me.
2) You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain.
3) Remember to keep holy the Lord's Day.
4) Honor your father and mother.
5) You shall not kill.
6) You shall not commit adultery.
7) You shall not steal.
8) You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
9) You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
10) You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.
Sacrament of Baptism
The first sacrament of Christian initiation.
Sacrament of Baptism
Baptism is the one sacrament that all Christian denominations share in common. In the Catholic Church, infants are baptized to welcome them into the Catholic faith and to free them from the original sin they were born with.
Baptism is a gift from God and one that unites us more fully with God. There are many symbols and items which are part of the sacrament of Baptism. Each is more fully described below.
Baptismal Garments
Once baptized the baptized person is clothed in a white baptismal garment.
White is the color of purity and wearing a white garment during baptism symbolizes that the person being baptized now has a clean slate in the eyes of God.
Color "White"
Means purity, innocence, hope, simplicity, renewal
Water
Means purity, moral cleansing, new beginning, purity of heart, fresh start, new life. We dip our fingers when entering the church into Holy Water and bless ourselves, this is a reminder of our baptism.
Baptismal Candle
Our baptismal candle is lit from the Paschal Candle, the light of the candle represents the passing of the faith onto the baptized person, the light represents the light of Christ
Sacred Chrism
Anointing with the Sacred Chrism is a sign that the baptized person will continue Jesus’ mission of spreading God’s goodness.
Today Roman Catholics use a mixture of olive oil and perfume (usually balsam) in the celebrations of baptism, confirmation, and holy orders. Sacred chrism (sacrum chrisma in Latin) is also used to anoint the altar and walls of a church building.
Role of the Godparents
Guide and assist in bringing up the child in God's faith
Role models of good Christian living to parent's and Godchildren
Encourage parents and Godchild to go often to Eucharistic Celebration
Pray for Godchild and parents
Along with parents, make Baptismal promises for the child
Assume duty of teaching the Godchild the truths of the faith when parents are unable
Spiritual guides and role models
Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation
God always wants us to make good, unselfish choices. However, when we make selfish choices – we can hurt those around us.
Jesus invites us to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation whenever we need his forgiveness.
In the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation we are reconciled with God and the Church, and receive the strength to turn away from sin.
The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation can be celebrated either individually or with others in a communal service.
The Priest shares God’s forgiveness when we participate in the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. Through the sacrament Penance and Reconciliation our relationship with God and the Church is healed and restored.
Following are important vocabulary words for the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation:
sin- breaking God’s law
God’s laws- Ten Commandments
Ten Commandments- laws from God that we must always keep
mortal sin- a very serious sin we know is wrong and we choose to do it any way
venial sin- is a less serious sin against God
penance- the prayers or good works that the priest asks you to do after you have confessed your sins
confession- to tell the priest your sins
sacrament- one of seven ways through which God’s life enters our lives through the work of the Holy Spirit
reconciliation- making friends again after a friendship has been broken by some action or lack of action
Sacrament of Reconciliation- one of the seven sacraments. It is when you confess your sins to a priest.
absolution- the forgiveness we receive from God through the priest in the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation
contrition- the sorrow we feel when we know that we have sinned followed by the decision not to sin again
conscience- the inner voice that helps guide us to follow God’s law by doing good and avoiding evil
Act of Contrition prayer
"My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy. AMEN."
Steps for making a good Confession
Examine your conscience by using the below "Examination of Conscience" questions to reflect on your sins and life choices.
After examining your conscience, enter the confessional, be seated or kneel and say, “bless me, Father, for I have sinned.”
Then tell the priest how long it has been since your last confession. If it is your first time, then you say, “this is my first confession.”
Begin listing the sins that you are sorry for and that you wish forgiveness from.
When you have finished your confession the priest will give some words of wisdom. Listen to him carefully. He will then give you a penance to perform and offer absolution.
You will then recite the "Act of Contrition."
Examination of Conscience
(Adapted from Fr. Edward Filardi, Gaithersburg, Maryland)
Using the 10 commandments as a guide, use the reflection questions to examine how well you are obeying God's law and the life choices you are making.
I. I am the Lord your God. You shall not have strange gods before me.
Do I give time every day to God in prayer?
Do I put my trust in superstitions, good luck charms, rather than God alone?
Have I rejected any Church teaching or denied that I was a Catholic?
II. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
Have I used the words "God" or "Jesus" in anger or irreverently?
Have I used foul or ugly language? Have I wished evil on another?
III. Remember to keep holy the Lord's Day.
Have I missed Mass on Sunday or any holy day of obligation?
Do I arrive at church late or leave early?
Do I try to be reverent and pay attention during Mass?
Do I avoid unnecessary work on Sunday?
Do I make Sunday a day of payer or rest?
IV. Honor your father and your mother.
Do I respect and obey my parents?
Have I dishonored or mistreated them by word or deed?
Am I willing to help around the house or must I be nagged a hundred times?
Do I try to get along with my brothers and sisters?
Am I a bully to my siblings (bothers and sisters)?
Do I give a good example, especially to younger siblings?
Do I respect others in authority: priests, nuns, police, my elders?
V. You shall not kill.
Do I beat up others or hurt their bodies?
Do I say cruel things, or make fun of others intending to hurt their feelings?
Do I say cruel things about others behind their backs?
Have I stopped speaking to anyone?
Do I encourage others to do things I know are wrong?
Do I try to love all people, born and unborn?
VI. You shall not commit adultery.
Do I treat my body and other people's bodies with purity and respect?
Do I look at television shows, movies, or pictures that do not respect the human body?
Am I modest in my speech and the clothes I wear?
VII. You shall not steal.
Have I taken things that were not mine from a store or another person?
Have I destroyed or misused another person's property for fun?
Do I return things that I borrow? In good condition?
VIII. You shall not commit false witness against your neighbor.
Am I honest in my school work?
Do I tell lies to make myself look good?
Do I tell lies to protect myself from punishment?
Do I tell lies that make another person look bad or get them in trouble?
IX. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
Do I allow my parents to spend time with one another, or do I get jealous and want them to pay attention only to me?
Do I get mad when I have to share my friends?
Are there kids I will not be friends with or am mean to because they look different?
X. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.
Am I jealous or envious of the things or abilities that others have?
Am I thankful to God and my parents for what they have given me?
Do I share the things I have with my family, friends, and poor people?
Parable of the Lost Son
Jesus cares for us and always wants us to make good choices. In the following scripture passage, a son leaves home and makes some terrible choices.
Jesus uses this scripture passage to teach the importance of true forgiveness.
Luke 15:11-32 The Parable of the Lost Son
11 Then he said, “A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. 13 After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.
14When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. 15 So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. 16 And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any.
17 Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. 18 I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’
20 So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.
21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ 22 But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, 24 because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began.
25 Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. 26 He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. 27 The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him.
29 He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. 30 But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’
31 He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. 32 But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’”
In the parable, the youngest son spends his father’s money foolishly and made selfish decisions.
When the youngest son returned, the father rather than being made at his son, he was glad to see his son was okay and forgave his son. He showed his love for him by giving him beautiful clothes and a special meal.
The older son, however, became jealous and was angry. He complained bitterly to his father that his father was being unfair.
God is like the father in the story – He forgives us when we are truly sorry for our sin. He wants us to return to his loving embrace.
Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
Chapter 16 Key Ideas:
The importance of forgiving others
Peace follows forgiveness,
Learn about God's forgiveness by listening to Jesus's teachings
2 special gifts God has given us to share with others are: His peace and His forgiveness
The 7th through 10th commandments teach us to avoid being selfish.
Vocabulary Words:
debt - something that is owed
servant - somebody who serves another
parable - a story with a hidden meaning
mercy - forgiveness
The Unforgiving Servant - Jesus told the parable of the Unforgiving Servant to show the importance of forgiving each other and our neighbors.
Jesus tells us that there is no limit on the number of times we should forgive those who hurt us. Forgiveness helps us just as much or even more that the person asking for forgiveness. It helps us move forward in peace. Being unforgiving holds us back and hurts us. It is much better to move forward in forgiveness and peace.
Jesus taught us that everyone is our sister or brother. We need each other. We are called to forgive everyone as he does. Forgiveness allows us to move forward in a healthy way.
The 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th commandments teach us how to be good neighbors, good friends, and to be grateful for what we have.
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant.*
Matthew Chapter 18:21 - 35
21 n Then Peter approaching asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?”22* Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.
23 o That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. 24* When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. 25 Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. 26* At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ 27 Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan.
28 When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount.* He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ 29 Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ 30 But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt. 31 Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair.
32 His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. 33 p Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ 34 Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt.*
35* q So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.”
Called by Baptism
As followers of Christ, we are called to bring hope to others, especially those who are suffering.
Light is a symbol of life, happiness, and hope. We bring Christ’s light to others when we spread God’s goodness and love.
Jesus is the Light of the World. We, too, are called to be lights and to lead others to God.
Through our good works, we show others the goodness and love of God.
LENT & Stations of the Cross
Lent is a time for us to remember the great sacrifice Jesus made for us through his suffering and death on a cross.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent and is a reminder of human mortality and the need for reconciliation with God.
Through prayer, fasting and the Stations of the Cross, or the Way of the Cross we reflect and remember.
Station 1 = Jesus is condemned to death
Station 2 = Jesus accepts the cross
Station 3 = Jesus falls the first time
Station 4 = Jesus meets his mother (Mary)
Station 5 = Simon helps Jesus carry the cross
Station 6 = Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
Station 7 = Jesus falls the second time
Station 8 = Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
Station 9 = Jesus falls the third time
Station 10 = Jesus is stripped of his garments
Station 11 = Jesus is nailed to the cross
Station 12 = Jesus dies on the cross
Station 13 = Jesus is taken down from the cross
Station 14 = Jesus is buried in the tomb
Mysteries and Prayers of the Rosary
The Glorious Mysteries -The Five Glorious Mysteries are traditionally prayed on the Wednesdays and Sundays outside of Lent and Advent.
The First Mystery: The Resurrection
The Second Mystery: The Ascension
The Third Mystery: The Nativity
The Fourth Mystery: The Assumption
The Fifth Mystery: The Coronation of Mary
The Joyful Mysteries - The Five Joyful Mysteries are traditionally prayed on the Mondays, Saturdays, and Sundays of Advent
The First Mystery: The Annunciation
The Second Mystery: The Visitation
The Third Mystery: The Nativity
The Fourth Mystery: The Presentation in the Temple
The Fifth Mystery: The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple
The Sorrowful Mysteries - The Five Sorrowful Mysteries are traditionally prayed on the Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays of Lent.
The First Mystery: The Agony in the Garden
The Second Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar
The Third Mystery: The Crowning with Thorns
The Fourth Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
The Fifth Mystery: The Crucifixion and Death
The Luminous Mysteries - The Five Luminous Mysteries, instituted by Pope John Paul II in 2002, are traditionally prayed on Thursdays.
The First Mystery: The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan
The Second Mystery: The Wedding Feast at Cana
The Third Mystery: Proclamation of the Kingdom
The Fourth Mystery: The Transfiguration
The Fifth Mystery: The Institution of the Eucharist
Prayers of the Rosary:
The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.
The Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass
against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen
The Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
The Glory Be (The Doxology)
Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
Fatima of Jesus Prayer
O My Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those most in need of Thy mercy. Amen
The Hail Holy Queen (The Salve Regina)
Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy,
our life, our sweetness, and our hope.
To you we cry, poor banished children of Eve;
to you we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn, then, most gracious advocate,
your eyes of mercy toward us;
and after this, our exile,
show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Pray for us Holy Mother of God
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Prayer After the Rosary
O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life; grant, we beseech Thee, that mediating upon these mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer to St. Michael
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.
Scripture Passages
Matthew 6: 19 - 21
Treasure in Heaven.
19
* “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal.j
20
But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal.
21
For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.k
Matthew 6: 24
God and Money.
24
* “No one can serve two masters.m He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Matthew 6: 25 - 34
Dependence on God.*
25
n “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
26
Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they?o
27
Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?*
28
Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin.
29
But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them.
30
* If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?
31
So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’
32
All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
33
But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness,* and all these things will be given you besides.
34
Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.
Leviticus 25: 35 - 36
35
When one of your kindred is reduced to poverty and becomes indebted to you, you shall support that person like a resident alien; let your kindred live with you.
36
Do not exact interest in advance or accrued interest,* but out of fear of God let your kindred live with you.
Acts 20: 35
35
In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort we must help the weak, and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”l
Isaiah 58: 6 - 11
6
Is this not, rather, the fast that I choose:
releasing those bound unjustly,
untying the thongs of the yoke;
Setting free the oppressed,
breaking off every yoke?d
7
Is it not sharing your bread with the hungry,
bringing the afflicted and the homeless into your house;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own flesh?e
8
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your wound shall quickly be healed;
Your vindication shall go before you,
and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
9
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,
you shall cry for help, and he will say: “Here I am!”
If you remove the yoke from among you,
the accusing finger, and malicious speech;f
10
If you lavish your food on the hungry
and satisfy the afflicted;
Then your light shall rise in the darkness,
and your gloom shall become like midday;
11
Then the LORD will guide you always
and satisfy your thirst in parched places,
will give strength to your bones
And you shall be like a watered garden,
like a flowing spring whose waters never fail.g
James 2: 14 - 17
Faith and Works.*
14
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?i
15
If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day,
16
and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?j
17
So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Matthew 19: 20 - 24
20
* The young man said to him, “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?”
21
j Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect,* go, sell what you have and give to [the] poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22
When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
23
* Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.
24
k Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
Proverbs 11: 7
7
When a person dies, hope is destroyed; expectation pinned on wealth is destroyed.*
Proverbs 21: 13
13
Those who shut their ears to the cry of the poor will themselves call out and not be answered.
Proverbs 23: 4
4
Do not wear yourself out to gain wealth, cease to be worried about it;
Proverbs 22: 16
16
Oppressing the poor for enrichment, giving to the rich: both are sheer loss.*
Proverbs 22: 9
9
The generous will be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.
Proverbs 22: 1 - 2
1
A good name is more desirable than great riches,
and high esteem, than gold and silver.* a
2
Rich and poor have a common bond:
the LORD is the maker of them all.b
Mark 10: 21 - 22
21
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to [the] poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”
22
At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Mark 12: 41 - 44
The Poor Widow’s Contribution.*
41
He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury.q Many rich people put in large sums.
42
A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.
43
Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury.
44
For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”
Luke 21: 1 - 4
The Poor Widow’s Contribution.*
1
a When he looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury
2
and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.
3
He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest;
4
for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”
Luke 18: 22 - 23
22
* l When Jesus heard this he said to him, “There is still one thing left for you: sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have a treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
23
But when he heard this he became quite sad, for he was very rich.
Luke 10: 25 - 37
The Greatest Commandment.
w
25
* There was a scholar of the law* who stood up to test him and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”x
26
Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?”
27
He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”y
28
He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”z
The Parable of the Good Samaritan.
29
But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30
Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.
31
* A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
32
Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
33
But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight.
34
He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn and cared for him.
35
The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’
36
Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?”
37
He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Luke 14: 12 - 14
12
Then he said to the host who invited him, “When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.i
13
Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;
14
blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”j
Luke 12: 32 - 34
32
Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.o
33
Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy.p
34
For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.
Luke 3: 10 - 11
10
And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?”
11
He said to them in reply, “Whoever has two tunics should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.”
I am James Bamberger, an experienced long term investor, MBA, PMP, and Certified Scrum Master who enjoys traveling, the outdoors, family, and spending time with my four kids.
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