St. Matthew, Chapter 22, verses: 30a; At the Resurrection.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Christ's answer) Part 2.  

They came to him with the question of the resurrection.  They did not believe that there was life after death.  They did not believe in the resurrection of the soul.  They only believed that after life you die and there was nothing else.  So they wanted to hear what Christ had to say since he was the up and coming preacher of the day.  He was the person that everyone was talking about.  Some called him a prophet, some called him the Messiah.

So to get their answer they conceived a question about life and death, marriage and heirs that would address the question of the resurrection.  Christ told them that they erred in their assumption of marriage and ownership after death, after the resurrection.  He said:  "For at the resurrection they will neither marry nor be given in marriage." 

Imagine that!  Christ gave them insight into the kingdom of heaven.  He told them that there will be no earthly ties in heaven.  God created man and woman, gave them the garden, and told them to be fruitful and multiply.  But in heaven man and woman will be free of those earthly ties.  They will be free of those physical bonds that held them to the pain and suffering in the physical realm.  They will be able to experience freedom in the kingdom of heaven.  In the spiritual realm created by God there will be no marriage, no physical as on earth.

Christ came that we could know what to do, how to live, what to believe, and how to love one another.  He came as an example for us to live by, as an example to love by, as an example to believe and to hope by in our daily lives.  He created his church to continue his message and to be witnesses to his message for those who did not see him or did not hear his words personally.  He is the living word of God the Father.  He is the eternal love of the creator of the universe, our hope and our passion for life today and tomorrow.

We struggle each day with the trials and tribulations of this world that we live in seeking to maintain a sense of peace amongst all that is not peaceful.  To look around and see the world in its true form only leads to discouragement.  Yet peace comes from within, from the connection with the living soul of life given us through the sacrifice of Christ's passion.  The Spirit abides with us.  The Spirit guides us.  The Spirit lives with us daily to help us along the way when we become weary of life.  Thank you Christ for that which you have given us.  Thank you Father for all that you provide for us.  Thank you Holy Spirit for your guidance. 

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ .   The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.  

St. Matthew, Chapter 22, verse: 21c; God's things.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Tribute to Caesar) Part 11.  

They would not cease in their endeavor to trap him in his words.  Christ knew their plans.  This is why he was angry with them because they continued to test him.  They didn't know that he was the Christ, the Messiah.  They only thought that he was a fake, a fraud, a charlatan, some one who sought to turn the people away from the rule of law of the Jews.  And it was their duty, their responsibility to show him as such.

They didn't believe.  They didn't see.  Despite all their wisdom and knowledge they could not come to see what the little people were seeing and believing.  No prophet before Christ had come to perform the miracles or come to do the things that he did or spoke such words of truth.  But the people of wisdom and knowledge were blinded.  They could not see.  They could nor believe.  So they continued to test him and ask questions to trap him.  They asked: "If it was lawful to give tribute to Caesar."  And Christ gave them their answer.   "Render, therefore, to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."  

And that was part of the answer that they wanted to hear but part of the answer that they did not want to hear.  For it was complex in it's response.  Give to Caesar the things that are his and to God the things that belong to God's . 

What belongs to Caesar?  Of course the tribute belongs to Caesar because the people lived under the rule of Caesar and the Roman Empire.  What belongs to God?  We belong to God because he made us, gave us life, gives us the sun and the moon and the water and the plants and the food and all the things that we need to live.  We give praise and glory to God for his love and provisions and protection.  We give tribute to Caesar.  And we give hope to God for the life that he promises after we leave this shell here on earth.  We give our obedience to Caesar because he sets the laws of the land.  We give our faith, our belief, and our praise and our glory to God for the tomorrow that he provides for he is our life and our promise for all eternity.

We live to share in the life that he has promised through Christ Jesus.  We share that belief with all our brothers and sisters with love.  For it is through love that we are all bound together as one.  For out of love we came forth.  And it is through the love of his son Christ Jesus that we exist today.  We are the creation of love everlasting.   

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ .   The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.  

St. Matthew, Chapter 22, verse: 19; The Coin.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Tribute to Caesar) Part 7.  

Christ knew nothing of money.  He had none.  His kingdom was not of this world.  His father provided all his needs and he lacked for nothing.  His lodging was provided for.  His food was given to him through his disciples.  He had clothing.  He had friends and followers who cared for his every need.  So he had no need for the trappings of the average person who sought to have wealth and money and valuables. 

But the Herodians sought to bring this concern to him so that they might have his thoughts on the earthly desires of who mankind should serve.  They asked Christ should man give tribute to Caesar.  Christ in turn asked:  "Show me the coin of the tribute." So they offered him a denarius.  

They offered him a coin with the face of Caesar so they could determine if he would say give tribute to Caesar.  By saying such he would be telling the people to not give tribute to their God as they were given to do for centuries.  For it was their duty as Jews to give tithes to the temple to support the synagogues throughout the years as members of the Jewish faith.  Yet here they were, the Herodians, seeking to get Christ so say otherwise.  But he knew of their trickery.  He knew of their wickedness and he saw through their schemes to trap him.  

They did not know who was before them.  They believed that Christ was an ordinary man, that he was a fake, a fraud, seeking to mislead the people.  The Torah had foretold of the coming of the Messiah.  It spoke of what he would do when he came.  Yet they did not believe or understand that he was the one who had come.  Others were able to see.  Others were able to hear the words that filled their hearts.  Others were able to believe within themselves that he was the One and their hearts were filled with the joy of a lifetime.  Yet there were those who could only believe that he was a fake or a fraud, that he sought to mislead, sought to take away their power and cause trouble for them.

Blessed were they who knew.  Blessed were they who were able to walk in the light.  Blessed were they who were able to hear the words that filled their hearts with joy.  Blessed were they who had such an opportunity in their lifetime to believe in what their hearts told them was the truth.  And blessed will you be when your eyes are opened and your ears hear and you are healed and walk in the light of the Lord.  No longer will you walk in darkness.  No longer will you stumble and fall.  No longer will you loose your way because he will be with you at all times.  He will light your way and guide you along the path of your journey.  Come!  Step out of the darkness into the light.  Become the child of God that you are.  He awaits you.  Christ awaits you.  The angels rejoice at your rebirth.

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ .   The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.  

St. Matthew, Chapter 22, verse: 16b; The Opening discussion.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Tribute to Caesar) Part 2. 

The Herodians began by setting the tone of the discussion with Christ and the nature of his character.  They sought from the beginning to set a trap by characterizing him as a man of certain traits upon which they could build a foundation which they could use to tear him down.  What they did not know was that Christ knew what they were doing and saw where they were taking their scheme.

They sought to build him up.  They sought to give him certain features.  They sought to make him out as a man who had boundaries and limits upon which he would not cross because of his character.  So they started out by saying, "Master, we know that thou art truthful, and that thou teachest the way of God in truth." 

They were the smart ones of their group.  They had studied the ins and out of deceit.  They knew how to bring down kings and prophets so they used the same tactics on Christ.  They wanted to create a trap for him.  Little did they know or believe that he was the Christ, the Messiah.  He was the one foretold of old who would come and redeem the sins of the people.  He was the Son of God who would come and walk among the people.

Fear ruled the leaders of the people.  There was excitement in the land.  There was talk of a new king, a new ruler, a Messiah.  And the existing rulers did not like the sound of what they heard.  Also the Romans did not like the idea of unrest in the people so order had to be maintained.  And it was up to the existing rulers to maintain that order or be replaced by Roman rule or Roman brute force.  So there was intense fear in the land.

Christ did not come to overthrow the existing government.  He did not come to challenge the rule of the Romans.  He did not come to create unrest in the people.  Instead he came to forgive sins, to cure the sick, to heal the blind and the lame, to make the broken straight again and to show the people what the love of God could do for them.  He was living proof that there was a God.  And most of all he came to sacrifice himself for the sins of mankind that we may have life again and not death.

That was our time to rejoice, our time to see, our time to believe, our time to be free from the bonds of slavery from the world.  For Christ came to reignite a new light within each of us that was given us from birth.  We have a choice.  We are free, or we can continue to be bound.  That choice is up to us, individually.  This is what Christ has given us, the freedom of life or death.  Choose well, where you will be.  We are all created in God's image and his love extends to each and everyone of us.  But the decision is ours to make.  Love God and Love one another.

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ .   The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.  

St. Matthew, Chapter 21, verses: 39; They killed the Son.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The vine-dressers kill the master's son) Part 2. 

This is a special time of year when Christians come together to celebrate the three days of the passion of Christ.  He came to Jerusalem knowing full well the outcome.  Yet he completed the Father's will, not his own, even to the point of death.  He died on the cross sacrificing his life for the life of many throughout the world and throughout all time.  He conquered death and gave life anew to all who would believe.

This parable is about that death.  It is about the opportunity that Christ Jesus extends to all.  The vine-dressers were given that opportunity to change from their greed, to change from their passion, to turn away from temptation.  Yet they could not see.  They could not understand what was being offered.  They did not accept it.  They could only see the greed and passion of their wants and desires.  "So they seized him, cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him."

They were vine-dressers.  They were workers in the vineyard.  They did not own it, but they laid claim to it.  The owner sent messengers.  He sent servants to them.  He sent his own son thinking that they would respect him as the official representative of the owner.  They did not.  They cast him out and killed him, thinking that his death would end the claim on the vineyard.  The opportunity was theirs to take.  The reward was theirs to receive.  But greed had consumed them and they could not see beyond their false claim.

Christ came into this world to bring the word to all who would listen.  He came so that we could know and believe in the Father.  He cast out demons.  He healed the sick, cured the lame, opened the eyes of the blind, made the lepers whole, even raised the dead to give signs of the power given him from the Father.  Yet even this was not enough to convince that he was the Messiah, the chosen one.  Evil had taken hold of Israel.  Power and influence were challenged.  He came to break those bonds to set the people free and give them new life.

We celebrate Easter on this day, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  We celebrate with joy and gladness the gift that he has given to all, the gift of life.  Though he paid a horrific price for our freedom, he accomplished the will of God our Father through the passion of love.  His love is fulfilling.  His love is all encompassing.  His love is for all peoples throughout the entire
world.  His love is eternal throughout all time.  We are his people, his creation; he is our Father.  Let us be glad this day that it is finished. 

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ .   The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in. 

St. Matthew, Chapter 21, verse: 7, They paid him homage.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Triumphal entry into Jerusalem) Part 2. 

They had no white stallion for him to ride.  They had no parade for him to be seen in.  They had no twenty-one gun salute to honor him.  They only had the ass and the colt for him to ride upon.  So as simple men they paid honor and tribute in their own simple way.

The people were with them.  They knew that he would come to the celebration.  They were waiting.  They were looking for him.  They all had heard of his miracles and his deeds.  And they expected him to come to Jerusalem to bring about change.  And the little people, the poor, the downtrodden, the beggars, those in pain and suffering from oppression sought him out and paid homage to him in their own simple way.  And they brought the ass and the colt, laid their cloaks on them, and made him sit thereon. 

This was what they knew how to do.  They were poor and lowly people who worship the Messiah.  Others could not see. Others did not believe.  Most were skeptical and refused to believe in the word that they heard.  Yet here he was, coming into Jerusalem, into their mist for the celebration of the year.  The little ones saw and believe.  They knew that he was the Messiah.  There was no doubt in their minds or in their hearts.  They knew that he had come to bring about change.  But they did not know how the change would happen.

He has said that he will return, that all will see and know.  He has said that he will return on a cloud for all to see.  And we wait with patience for that day, that time, that hour when we must be ready for his coming.  Will you be ready?  Will you be prepared?  Or will the thief catch you asleep and not on guard? 

We live in a world with many distractions, where we can be blind to the truth.  We have opportunities to play, and relax, and to enjoy all that the world has to offer.  We have opportunity to get caught up in the pleasures of the world and opportunity to forget who we are.  Be not blinded.  Be not caught up in the pleasures.  Be not deceived into believing that the day will never come.  For certain as we live and breathe the day is fast approaching.  And our time is limited.  The day is not given to us.  The hour is not ours to have.  The thief will come and take away all, when you are not ready.  Be in guard at all times.  It is written for all to see, for all to know.  And the word will be fulfilled.

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ.   The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.

St. Matthew, Chapter 20, verse:22a, A Mother's misunderstanding.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The mother of James and John) Part 5. 

The mother of James and John came before Christ and made her demands for her sons.  She spoke what they would not speak.  She asked that her sons be seated with Christ on his left and on his right when he comes into his kingdom and sits upon his throne.  She believes that they deserve the place of distinction.  She knows, in her mind, that they are worthy of such an honor above all the other disciples.  They were the first to follow him.  They were the first to believe in him.  They were born to the role that they now follow as disciples of Christ, the Messiah.

All their lives the Jews have waited for the time when the Messiah would come.  Their history told them of this time.  They believed that he would come and redeem them.  They knew of the promise made by God but did not know the time that it would take place.  So they lived their lives in expectation of what would happen.  And when it did happen not many knew or believed that the time had come.  But the apostles James and John believed.  They knew that he would come and they prepared all their lives for the time when it would happen.  And that time had come and they were a part of history in the making.  Yet little did they know what they were a part of.  And little did their mother know what would come.  She only knew that he had come and now was the time for redemption.  So she came and made her request thinking that the redemption would be of an earthly or worldly event.  But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you are asking for." 

And certainly they did not understand what they were asking.  They thought that he would come and overthrow the rulers.  They thought that he would come and create armies and take back all that was stolen.  They thought that he would come and be declared a new king over all the rulers.  But they were mistaken.  He did not come to conquer the world.  He did not come to destroy the rulers of the world.  He did not come to be served as a king.  He came to become a lamb.  He came to be sacrificed.  He came as an offering to compensate for the sins that man had committed.  And they thought that they wanted to be with him in his sacrifice.

They did not understand that they were asking to be a sacrifice.  They did not understand that they were asking to suffer and die.  They did not understand that they were asking to be scorned, beaten, bruised, battered, mocked, and crucified on a cross to suffer and die.  For this was the price that had to be paid for the sins that had been committed.  This was the price that had to be paid for redemption.  This was the price that was due for all the wrongs that man had committed against the commandments of God.  And they thought that they wanted to be a part of this price that had to be paid. 

Can we say the same today?  Do we want to be a part of the price that Christ paid for our redemption?  Do we want to suffer?  Do we want to deny ourselves?  Do we want to be beaten, mocked, suffer and die for what we believe about the Christ that came to die for us?  Is that something that we can accept?  Most would say no.  Most would not think of suffering.  Most would not think of sacrificing themselves for someone else.  Most would not be able to see the good in those actions.  Yet it is through the suffering, the pain, and the sacrifice that Christ was able to save me and you and all mankind from damnation. 

We were dead and now we have life.  We transgressed and now we are forgiven.  We were lost but now we are found and redeemed.  It is only through acceptance that we are able to find that which was lost.  It is only through recognition that we can come to the light.  It is only through sorrow that we can come to joy.  And it is only through the search that we are able to find that which was originally ours in the beginning.  The path is open.  The way is fixed.  The light of life is within you if you only seek.  For Christ has paved the way.  All we have to do is follow.  The choice is ours to make.  Redeem what was lost or loose what was taken away.  Only you can make the decision.  Come!  Christ awaits with open arms to receive you with love.

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.

St Matthew, Chapter 19, verse: 18d, The commandments: Thou shalt not steal.

Our paragraph topic is:(The rich young man speaks to Jesus ) Part 7. 

The rich young man asked Christ which commandments to follow.  Christ told him which ones to keep: Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit adultery.  The young man knew about the commandments but he wanted to know the truth from the one who had been proclaimed a teacher, a Rabbi, the Messiah.  For the word had come to him that there was one who performed miracles like no other.  The word spread that he was the one who had come to save mankind from the evil of the day.  And he wanted to know what he must do to obtain the kingdom of heaven.

Christ told him simply, keep the commandments.  He told him that these were the essentials to assure that he would obtain the kingdom.  Even though the young man knew of the commandments he was unsure of their importance in helping him open the door to the kingdom of heaven.  Christ wanted him to know all that is required so he gave him another commandment to follow.  And Jesus said, "Thou shalt not steal."

To steal: to take, without permission, that which does not belong to you.  It can take many forms but at its basis it means the same, to take.  We see something that we want, something that we desire, and we take it.  We steal.  We want, we take; we desire, we steal.  Christ tells us that we should not steal.  He tells us that we should not take that which is not ours, without permission.  Yet today we are programmed to want, we are programmed to desire that which we are not able to have.  We see the things, the objects of our desires everyday, every minute of our existence.  Some of those things are within our reach and some are not.  Some are things that we can attain in the future and some are things that we will never be able to have, through our own efforts, unless some fortune of luck passes our way.

Why do we steal?  Why do we have to have all that the world presents to us?  Why are our desires, our passions fed to encourage us to seek, to find ways to have what is not within our reach?  This is the way of the world.  This is what we are given from birth to death, a burning passion of worldly desires that drive us to achieve, to seek success, to have that which others have.  We follow the carrot on the stick, wanting to reach that goal of what has been given to us as a the measure of success.  And yet we are already successful in the eyes of God.  We do not have to take.  We do not have to steal.  We already have all that the world can offer us and more.  We are already given the riches of the kingdom only to give them away for the glitz and glamor that death offers in this world.

If we only knew who we are.  If we only understood the riches that is already ours.  If we could only see the truth of who we are in Christ, we would know the wealth that is ours, a wealth that nothing on this earth could compare.  Christ gave us new life.  He gave us abundance.  He gives us joy and peace, and happiness.  He gives us all, simply for the asking and only for believing in him.  He gives us the light of life that we may know and he gives us the consolation of the spirit to guide us.  And God our Father provides for us, keeps us from harm, protects us.  Yet we turn away from the Father and turn to the world for guidance, for love, for protection.  We turn to the world and away from God that we may have the things that are dying in the world, the things that are of no value.  We are already rich.  We are already kings.  We are already rulers, and priests, and ministers, and lords.  This is the heritage given us from the beginning.  Why throw away all that we already have so that we can steal that which is of no value?  Find your treasure that is within you and you will know the truth of who you are in Christ.  Then you will know that there is nothing in this world that you will want or desire that can compare to what you already have in Christ.  "Thou shalt not steal."  

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you.  Open the door and let him in.

St Matthew, Chapter 19, verses: 1-2, Great crowds followed.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Christ travels to Judea). 

Christ finished his sermon to his disciples and to the people and moved on.  He left Capharnaum and entered the district of Judea.  He was on a mission, the mission of his father, to preach the coming of the kingdom of heaven.  For the kingdom of heaven was open to all.  It was open to those who heard the word.  It was open to those near and to those far away.  For they heard of the miracles.  They heard of the teachings.  They heard and they came to see for themselves.  They came to know.  They came to believe.

There was a hunger in the land.  There was a yearning.  There was a void that was not being fulfilled in the people.  And Christ came.  He came to save.  He came to take back.  He came to give new life.  He came to be the sacrifice, the propitiation for the sins of man.  And the people came to hear, to see, to know, to believe.  AND it came to pass when Jesus had brought these words to a close, that he departed from Galilee and came to the district of Judea beyond the Jordan.  And great crowds followed him, and he cured them there. 

It was a time for new beginnings.  It was an exciting time.  It was a time for joy, a time for happiness, even though there was much pain and torment in the land.  John the Baptist opened the door and spoke of the coming of the Messiah.  Some believed.  Some did not believe.  Some were excited.  Some were fearful.  Many were worried that the change would mean destruction for them.  And yet it was time.  It was the place.  It was the now that took over the land.  And there was news in the air.

Many had read about the coming.  Many believed that it was upon them.  Many saw the miracles.  And many eyes were opened, ears heard, and many believed.  He cured them all.  He made them whole.  He brought forth the light into the darkness and opened a door for those who had waited for so long for his coming.  Christ was the beginning and he was the end of what had taken place in the past.  He was a slice in time that denoted a break.  Will we have the same?  Will we have a break?  Will we be able to see, to hear the word, to know the truth, to believe?

The time is upon us.  The thief is lurking in the dark, surveying your house, to see when he may enter and take.  For he wants your most precious possession.  He wants to take away your light.  He wants to take away your life.  He wants to leave you in darkness and despair.  Be aware.  Awake from your sleep and be on your guard.  Sleep not.  Put on your armor and be on guard.  It is easy to be on the fence, half believing and just going through the motions.  The truth opens the heart and allows one to see, to know without doubt.  And with the truth one can live truly in Christ, without conflict.

Come!  Follow what is in your heart.  Seek the truth of who you are in Christ and you will know.  There will be no doubt.  There will be no fear.  There will be no lust.  There will be no desire to go astray.  For the truth opens the eye and allows one to see the light within, the light of life given by Christ Jesus.  Know your light and let nothing take your life from you.  For your light was given to you by your Father in heaven through Christ Jesus.  He loves you.  He will care for you.  He will protect you.  And he will bring you home to be with him for all eternity.

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in. 
 

St Matthew, Chapter 16, verse 26a, The Cross of Man: The Soul!

Our paragraph topic is: (The doctrine of the cross) Part 3.    

No one knew what came after death.  There was no certainty.  The Jews believed that they were God's chosen people and that he had prepared a special place for them.  But no one knew for certain what they would encounter after death.  Everyone wanted to live.  Everyone wanted to have life.  Everyone did not want to face the consequences of what would happen after they died.  And yet here was Christ preaching to his disciples the outcome of his journey to Jerusalem.  Here was the Messiah telling his disciples that he would go and face persecution, torture, and death.  And nothing but fear came upon them.

They knew not what to expect.  They knew not what was to happen.  They knew not the why and wherefore of these actions.  But Christ instructed them to follow.  Take up your cross and follow me if you want to come after me, he told them.  Face the evil in the world and fear not, he told them.  For whoever would work to save his life in this realm will loose it and whoever would loose his life in this physical realm, for his sake, would save it in the spiritual realm and save it for eternity.  Where is it that we place our value?  Is it in the physical realm?  Or is it in the spiritual realm that we value ourselves.  Christ told his disciples:  "For what does it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, but suffer the loss of his own soul?"    

We are told and we believe that we have a soul.  We hear it in church.  We read about it in the Bible.  We see it in our entertainment media.  And we believe it in ourselves.  But of what value is it?  How does it profit us to have a soul?  What can we do with it?  How does it help us or hinder us as we live, grow, and prosper in this world?  Those of us who are youthful do not consider this value.  Those of who are older think about its value.  Those of us who are declining in age know of its value as we look forward to what comes after death.  For we believe that the soul exists.  Yet Christ posed a meaningful question to his disciples and to members of the church today: "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and loose his soul?"  

And it is this meaningful question that weighs in the balance each and everyday of our lives.  Do our actions, our thoughts, and our beliefs gain us the world or gains us our souls?  Do we act as if we want to gain everything in the world or do we want to keep our souls?  Do we want our souls to profit or do we want our passions for the world to profit?  Do we attempt to sit on the fence and fish from both sides or are we certain that we know on which side we want to jump into?  The world wants us to live in it and to prosper in it.  The world would have us loose ourselves and our souls in it that we may prosper in worldly things.  The world would have us addicted to our passions and criticize us if we are not fully engaged in them. 

To laugh, to enjoy, to be hopeful, to be passionate about the prospects of today and what tomorrow has to offer is how we are raised and live.  Forgetting about when the thief in the night that may come to  steal us away from our souls without the opportunity to repent, is not something that the world wants us to consider.  We make every effort to protect ourselves from death but it comes despite all our efforts.  It comes to the young.  It comes to the old.  It comes to the innocent.  It comes to the unexpected.  It comes.  For it is the soul that the world is after and nothing less. 

What does it profit?  What do we gain?  How do we value what we have, how do we value what is given us from birth?  We are raised in the world with the love and are given the hopes and fears of our parents and care givers.  And when we come of age we are filled with the desires and passions of the world.  So we go forth seeking to gain all that it has to offer and to enjoy all the passions that it brings, not knowing or believing that we are asleep in the world.  Some are awaken by the struggles that life in the world brings.  Some continue to struggle in the passions that this world has to offer.  And some face the question of life and decide to give up on it not knowing that they have a choice. 

We are aliens in a different form and do not know who we are.  Come!  The opportunity is given you to know the truth of who you are.  Come!  Opportunity knocks at your door, bringing truth, and joy, and peace, and love with it.  Your life, your soul, is valuable.  Do not sell it for something less.  Do not offer it for what the world offers for it is worth much more.  Do not exchange it for the trinkets and treasures of this world for they are worthless.  What will it profit you?  You can know, now, the truth of who you are.  You can see the life that is given you.  You can know the light of your spirit here on earth as it was given to you.  Come!  Follow the path set before you and know the truth of who you are in Christ.

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in! 

St Matthew, Chapter 16, verse 17, The Rock: The Revelation.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Peter's confession) Part 5.    

Simon says that he is the Son of the Living God.  Simon said that he was the Christ.  Simon said that he was the Messiah.  Everyone else said different.  Everyone else called him a prophet.  Everyone else called him Elias.  Everyone else called him Jeremias or John the Baptist.  But no one else would speak what they knew in their hearts but feared to speak.  The law of the Pharisees was upon them.  The punishment of the law would follow them.  The fear of death would walk in their footsteps if they spoke the words that all thought.  

They knew that he was the Messiah.  They knew that he was the Son of the Living God.  They knew that he was the Christ.  But none would speak for fear of death.  None would proclaim for fear of punishment.  None would acknowledge for fear of the law of blasphemy.  Blasphemy had their tongue tied.  Blasphemy had their hearts locked.  Blasphemy had their lips sealed.  But all knew.  And then there was Simon who said.  Simon spoke the words.  Simon opened his heart.  Simon allowed the love of the Father to enter in and the truth came upon him.  Then Jesus answered and said, "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to thee, but my Father in heaven.   

The truth was revealed.  The truth was spoken.  The truth came forth into the heart of Simon and he put to words that which fear had compelled not to be spoken.  And Christ revealed to all the source of the truth.  Not from his own flesh did the truth come forth, but from the Father himself was the truth revealed.  

What is truth?  If we know the truth will it matter today?  Will we accept the truth if it came to us?  For truth to us is money.  Truth to us today is wealth.  Truth to us today is pleasure, lust, desire, passion, power, prestige.  Truth to us today is what we seek in the world.  We seek to know the things that we believe will make us free.  And yet the things that we believe will make us free will only enslave us, bind us, engulf and overwhelm us into the desires of the world.  Evil awaits us at every turn, every corner, every awaking moment to capture us in its addictive ways and bring us to damnation.

The truth comes to free us.  The truth comes to give us life.  The truth comes to open our hearts to the love that is in Christ Jesus and God our Father.  For it is his love that completes us.  It is his love that provides for us.  It is his love that protects us and guides us in our daily lives.  Be not betrayed by the desires of the world.  Be not misled by what you see and hear in the world.  For you are children of the light.  And light overcomes darkness.  You are not of this world.  You are a spiritual being in a physical body.  Learn the truth of who you are.  Open your heart and let the light of Christ come to you.  Flesh and blood will not reveal this to you but only the father in heaven.  This is how I have come to know that which is truth within me.  Here is my invitation to you from Christ to come follow the path that is set before you and know the truth of who you are. 

Read the sign of the times!  Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ.  Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself.  Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding.  Read it for knowledge.  Read it for faith.  Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ.  The Holy Spirit awaits you.  Christ seeks to know you.  Open the door and let him in!