Tag: matthew12:38-50

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DYING / LAST WORDS, LENT 2024, LENTEN THOUGHTS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on REPENTANCE

Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 21 February – REPENTANCE

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 21 February – Ember Wednesday – 3 Kings 19:3-8; Matthew 12:38-50 – – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“The troubles of my heart are multiplied,
deliver me from my necessities.
See my abjection and my labour
and forgive me all my sins.”
Psalm 24:17-18

“The men of Nineveh will rise up
in the judgement with this generation
and will condemn it;
for they repented
at the preaching of Jonah
and behold, One greater than Jonah is here.”
Matthew 12:41

REPENTANCE

St Romanos Melodios (c490-c556)
Monk, Hymnist, Poet

“Let us meditate on the Ninevites … let us listen to what they did. After the terrifying proclamation made by Jonah before this gluttonous and drunken people … like capable workmen, they made hast to restore the city their evil deeds had destroyed, taking a sure rock for its foundation … – REPENTANCE.

After washing away its filth, in the floods of their tears, they adorned their town with their prayer and converted Nineveh thus pleasing the Merciful One. Its King, a wise man, … prepared animals and flocks as if to bring them along in dowry, saying: “O God, my Saviour, I offer everything to Thee, only reconcile, bring back in grace, the one who prostituted herself and betrayed … Thy purity, for see how, in her love, she offers her repentance to Thee like a gift …”

If I, the sovereign King, have sinned, then strike me down alone and take pity on all these others. But if we have all fallen short, hear the voices of all … May Thy help come upon us and all fear will be dissolved. Nothing will dismay us if Thou receive what we are offering, our repentance …

Rebellious Nineveh throws herself at Thy Feet and I, a miserable King and Thy wretched servant, sit down in ashes, since I am unworthy of my throne (Joh 3:6). Because, I have scorned the crown, I throw dust on my head. Because, I am not worthy of my purple, I have put on sackcloth and burst into lamentation. Therefore, do not despise me, cast a glance upon us, O my Saviour and accept our repentance.

Son of the One God, O only God, protect those who love Thee, in Thy mercy … As in former days Thou took pity on the Ninevites … so today, release from judgement, those who sing to Thee and grant forgiveness in return for my Confession … Since I have no works worthy of Thy glory, at least save me, my Saviour, for my words of contrition, Thou Who loves repentance.” (Hymn ‘Nineveh’)

Posted in BAPTISM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, Quotes on SALVATION, The PASSION, The REDEMPTION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 21 February – ‘… Our imitation was symbolic but our salvation a reality! …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 21 February – “The Month of the Most Holy and Blessed Trinity” – Ember Wednesday – 3 Kings 19:3-8; Matthew 12:38-50 – – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“The sign of Jonah” – Matthew 12:39

REFLECTION – “You were conducted by the hand to the holy pool of Sacred Baptism, just as Christ was conveyed from the Cross to the sepulchre close at hand [in this Church of the Holy Sepulchre]. Each person was asked if he believed in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. You made the confession that brings salvation and submerged yourselves three times in the water and emerged, by this symbolic gesture, you were secretly re-enacting the burial of Christ, three days in the tomb. For just as our Saviour spent three days and nights in the bosom of the earth, so you, upon first emerging, were representing Christ… You saw nothing when immersed – as if it were night but you emerged – as if to the light of day. In one and the same action, you died and were born, the water of salvation became both tomb and mother for you…

What a strange and astonishing situation! We did not really die, we were not really buried, we did not really hang from a cross and rise again. Our imitation was symbolic but our salvation a reality! Christ truly hung from a Cross, was truly buried and truly rose again. All this He did gratuitously for us, so that we might share His sufferings by imitating them and gain salvation in actuality. What transcendent kindness! Christ endured nails in His innocent Hands and Feet and suffered pain and by letting me participate in the pain, without anguish or sweat, He freely bestows salvation on me! …

We know well that not merely does Baptism cleanse sins and bestow on us the gift of the Holy Spirit – it is also the sign of Christ’s suffering. This is why, as we heard just now, Paul cried out: “Are you unaware that we, who were Baptised into Christ Jesus, were Baptised into His Death? We were indeed buried with Him through Baptism into death”… So, in order that we may realise that Christ endured all His sufferings for us and our salvation IN actuality and not in symbolism and that, we share in His pains, Paul cried out the literal truth: “If we have grown into union with Him through a death like His, we shall also be united with Him in the resurrection,” (Rom 6,3-5). – St Cyril of Jerusalem (313-350) Bishop of Jerusalem, Father and Doctor of the Church (Catechesis no.20/2nd Mystagogy)

PRAYER – We beseech Thee, O Lord, look graciously upon the fervour of Thy people, who mortify themselves in the flesh through fasting and abstinence that they may be refreshed in spirit, by the fruit of these good works.Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, LENT 2022, LENTEN THOUGHTS, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, The WORD

Wednesday of the First Week of Lent – 9 March – Our Lenten Journey with the Great Fathers – REPENT!

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Wednesday of the First Week of Lent – 9 March – Our Lenten Journey with the Great Fathers – 3 Kings 19:3-8, Matthew 12:38-50

“Relieve the troubles of my heart
and bring me out of distress, O Lord.” – Psalm 24:17-18

“The men of Ninive will rise up
in the judgement with this generation
and will condemn it;
for they repented
at the preaching of Jonah
and behold, a greater than Jonah is here.”

Matthew 12:41

“ LET US FIX OUR ATTENTION on the Blood of Christ and recognise how precious it is to God His Father, since it was shed for our salvation and brought the grace of repentance to all the world.

If we review the various ages of history, we will see ,that in every generation the Lord has offered the opportunity of repentance to any who were willing to turn to Him. When Noah preached God’s message of repentance, all who listened to him were saved. Jonah told the Ninevites they were going to be destroyed,but when they repented, their prayers gained God’s forgiveness for their sins and they were saved, even though they were not of God’s people.

UUNDER THE INSPIRATION of the Holy Spirit, the ministers of God’s grace have spoken of repentance; indeed, the Master of the whole universe Himself, spoke of repentance with an oath: As I live, says the Lord, I do not wish the death of the sinner but his repentance. He added this evidence of His goodness: House of Israel, repent of your wickedness. Tell the sons of my people – If their sins should reach from earth to heaven, if they are brighter than scarlet and blacker than sackcloth, you need only turn to Me with your whole heart and say, “Father” and I will listen to you as a holy people.

IN OTHER WORDS. God wanted all His beloved ones to have the opportunity to repent and He confirmed this desire, by His own Almighty Will. That is why we should obey His Sovereign and Glorious Will and prayerfully entreat His mercy and kindness. We should be suppliant before Him and turn to His compassion, rejecting empty works and quarreling and jealousy which only lead to death.

BROTHERS, WE SHOULD BE HUMBLE in mind, putting aside all arrogance, pride and foolish anger. Rather, we should act in accordance with the Scriptures, as the Holy Spirit says: The wise man must not glory in his wisdom nor the strong man in his strength nor the rich man in his riches. Rather, let him who glories, glory in the Lord by seeking Him and doing what is right and just. Recall especially what the Lord Jesus said when He taught gentleness and forbearance. Be merciful, He said, so that you may have mercy shown to you. Forgive, so that you may be forgiven. As you treat others, so you will be treated. As you give, so you will receive. As you judge, so you will be judged. As you are kind to others, so you will be treated kindly. The measure of your giving, will be the measure of your receiving.

LET THESE COMMANDMENTS AND PRECEPTS strengthen us to live in humble obedience to his sacred words. As Scripture asks: Whom shall I look upon with favour, except the humble, peaceful man who trembles at my words?

Sharing then in the heritage of so many vast and glorious achievements, let us hasten toward the goal of peace, set before us from the beginning. Let us keep our eyes firmly fixed on the Father and Creator of the whole universe and hold fast to His splendid and transcendent gifts of peace and all His blessings.” – St Clement of Rome (c 35-c 101) Apostolic Father, Pope, Martyr (An excerpt from his Letter to the Corinthians).

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 9 March – “The sign of Jonah” – Matthew 12:39

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 9 March –Wednesday of the First Week of Lent, Ember Wednesday – 3 Kings 19:3-8, Matthew 12:38-50 and the Memorial of St Dominic Savio (1842-1857)

“The sign of Jonah” – Matthew 12:39

REFLECTION – “God showed patience in the face of man’s weakness because He saw beforehand, the victory He would eventually give him, through His Word. For, when “power was made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9), the Word caused God’s goodness and tremendous power, to be made manifest.
Indeed, it was the same with man, as it was with the prophet Jonah. God permitted Jonah to be swallowed by a sea-monster, not to make him altogether vanish away and die but, so that when he had been vomited out by the monster, he would become more subject to God and would give all the more glory to Him who had given him this unexpected deliverance.
It was, too, to lead the Ninevites to firm repentance and to convert them to Him, Who would deliver them from death, amazed as they were by the sign accomplished in Jonah …
In the same way, God permitted man to be swallowed by that great monster, the author of disobedience, not so that he should altogether vanish away and die but because God, had prepared beforehand, the salvation fulfilled by His Word by means of the “sign of Jonah.”
This salvation has been prepared, for those who have the same feelings for God as Jonah did and, who confess Him in the same words: “I am the servant of the Lord and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land” (Jon 1:9).
God desired that man, by receiving an unanticipated salvation from Him, would rise from the dead and worship God, saying with Jonah: “Out of my distress I called to the Lord; from the midst of the nether world he heard my voice” (Jon 2:2). God desired, too, that man would always remain faithful in giving Him worship and unceasing thanks for the salvation he has received from Him.” – St Irenaeus (130-208) Bishop of Lyons, Martyr, Theologian – Against the heresies III, 20, 1

PRAYER – Infinite Lord, help me to serve You always in accord with Your holy will. Show us how to make You our Lord and our All. St Dominic Savio, you the little giant showed us all the way of holiness within the confines of our lives, always joyfully doing the will of God. Please pray for us all. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
Amen.