Dear friends of St. Benedict; I would wish we reflect on the 5th sense ( sense of Sin). We are guided by Luke 18:18 "...master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?..." This question is a motivating factor for our daily life and Christian faith. It's what makes us remain united in the Church and what brings the Church vital in our time. Every time, we ask ourselves when we pray, Lord; what shall I do to inherit eternal life? It's kind of a question whose response will need our deep examination of conscience.
Dear friends, our God hates sin...truly speaking he hates sin, but has room for sinners. God's face is merciful and his heart is Sacred. We ought to live a Holistic life in our various call ( Galatians 5:16-21). Holiness is a process that needs perseverance and patience...we can only attain holiness when we realize the preeence of God with us in the most Holy Eucharist. The presence of the Eucharist in the Church, is the presence of God with us.
When we think of Holiness and making ourselves clean for the Kingdom of God, we come to our understanding of the pains of sin. Sin seperates is from God, Church, Society and the self. Haven't you ever realized that when one sins there's that good feeling whereas after the act the conscience pains? Though all are sinners and deprived of God's glory, we ought to seek this glory when it diminishes ( Romans 3:23).
Similarly, an exemplar of holiness is our Mother, the Mother of the Church, Blessed Virgin Mary. She's an icon in the Church whose presence was confirmed by the old prophets ( Isaiah 7:14; 9:6). Prophet Isaiah spoke of the Virgin who shall conceive and bear a son whose name shall be Emmanuel. Secondly, the simplicity of Morhee of our Savior was confirmed by God the Father through Angel Gabriel as in Luke 1:26-28. Thirdly, her supremacy in the world was confirmed by the Holy Spirit as in Luke 1:41-42 and lastly by Jesus Christ on the Cross who handed the Church to his Mother ( Blessed Virgin Mary) and the disciple who represented the followers of the Lord under her maternal care as in John 19:25-27.
Dear people of God. This reflection is affirmed in the Gospel of Matthew 12:31-32. Christ give exhortation that the sin against the Holy Spirit cannot be forgiven. These sins against the Holy Spirit as mentioned in Galatians 5:16-21 include that which the Holy Spirit has affirmed. For instance, the Holy Spirit affirmed that role of Blessed Virgin Mary , therefore, whoever goes against the teachings of the Spirit of God is an anti-God. If what God the Father has affirmed and the Holy Spirit too, who is man to put asunder?
When reading 1 John 4:1-4, we fully understand that those who don't give witness and testimony to the flesh/humanity of our Lord are not lead by the Spirit of God. Our Lord Jesus Christ received flesh /humanity from his Mother. We cannot talk of the flesh of Christ without his own Mother who's the Mother of the Church.
Lastly, my friends; the book of Revelation when read in the light of tee Gospel, brings us a clear understanding of what we ought to do to the pilgrim Church. Our text is from Revelation 12:1-5b. For us to understand fully the content in this Chapter, we ought to read Rev 1:1, here the author says that the content therein is the revelation from Christ. Therefore, what one reads is what the Son of God has made manifest to his Church. Revelation Chap 12 mentions of a woman crowned and over her crown are 12 stars. This without much appraisal we know is the Queenship sold the woman in bracket. Thus, tue mention of 12 Stars affirms her to be a queen of Israel. Secondly, there are other visions of a dragon standing before this woman who's in pangs pains of giving birth already to eat the child immediately he's born. The author attests that this dragon has 10 horns and 7 heads.
When reading any biblical text of Old Testament brethren, it should be interpreted in the light of the New Testament and when reading New Teatament text, it should be interpreted as prefigured in the Old Testament. Here, the 10 horns symbolize the power of destruction of the Decalogue which were the strength of the Church in the early times. Whereas 7 heads is a sumbolism of 7 Churches which were the light of Chirtian faith in the early times ( Rev 2:1-3:22). There's mention of the 7 Churches; Ephesus,, Smyrna, Perfamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodecea ). This dragon is concerned on taking over these Churches. For it to rule over he must eleiminate this Son born of a Woman as aforementioned.
The author asserts that the woman gave birth to a son who ruled the earth and was taken to the right hand of the Father in heaven. In the light of the Gospels, the only Son born of a woman as king/ruler was Christ. And the woman mentioned as the mother of the Chirld is Blessed Virgin Mary. The dragon as seen in the light of the Gospels interpretation is King Herod, thus the inclusion of the author using the masculine connotation of the dragon and not a snake as could suppose. This then is a clarity of the position of Blessed Virgin Mary in Christian life is as important as the presence of the Eucharist. She remains our intercessor and the pillar of Christians .
Thanks all members of St. Benedict Small Christian Community of St. Monicah Sec 58- Nakuru Diocese .
Samuel Nyonje Muhanji wishes you fruitful and grace filled weekday ahead.
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