St. Matthew, Chapter 24, verse: 13; Perseverance.

 Our paragraph topic is: (He tells them of trials and hard times to come) Part 10.  

Christ was planting his seeds in his disciples and those who would follow.  He gave them the knowledge they needed to survive the onslaught of hard times.   He wanted them to survive the winds of fate, the coming storm.  He wanted them to have something to pass on to those who would follow after them in years to come so that they also would be strengthened by the words of Christ.  They would become the future witnesses.  The disciples were the ones who walked and talked with him.  They were the ones who lived in his presence day in and day out.  They lived and breathed the essence of holiness from Christ Jesus even though they did not realize it at the time.

The effect he had upon them did not show until after he ascended.  And even then his presence was still felt through the Holy Spirit that was given them after he ascended.  True, they faced hard times.  True they faced trials and tribulations.  True all the things that he told them would happen came true.  Iniquity abound and charity grew cold.  False prophets arose and led many astray.  Many who were weak in the faith fell to the wayside and betrayed others who stayed true to their belief and faith.  And Christ told them:  "But whoever perseveres to the end, he shall be saved."

How strong are we today?  Can we stand the test of trials and tribulations that may come our way?  Will our faith withstand the onslaught of what evil may test us with?  Will we falter?  Will we stumble?  Will we get up and continue to hold on to that faith which Christ has given us?  Or will we give in and go along with the rest of humanity not believing in what Christ paid so dearly for with his own life?  

To persevere is something that is difficult to do if it is not in you to believe.  It is easy to say but difficult to do if you have not been tested to the limits of your ability and then some.  This is what it means to persevere, to not give up, to not give in, to continue to try even with that last burst of energy that you dug up from the depths of your soul that you did not know that you had, to continue a few more inches, to still try because you refuse to give up.  That is perseverance.  

And that is what Christ wants from us, not to give up, to persevere, even in the face of hopelessness, because he is our strength, he is our hope, he is our rock of salvation that nothing should be able to shake.  And our belief and our knowledge, and our faith should rest upon this one fact that no matter what happens in our lives, come life or death, he will always be by our side as long as we are with him and do not surrender, do not give up, as long as we persevere.  May we live our lives and love according to the example that he has given us, Christ our Savior, Amen.

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: 5, So they went.

Our paragraph topic is: (Parable of the laborers in the vineyard) Part 5.  

What is just?  What is fair?  What is honest?  What is good?  What is right or wrong?  We see and ask these questions on a daily basis.  Christ told his disciples a parable that raised all of these questions.  Why did he do this?  He wanted them to have an understanding that was not openly available to everyone.  Theirs was the understanding of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.  Theirs was the knowledge that was not available to wise men.  Theirs was the vision of the Christ in his full glory.  Theirs was the insight given them by God our Father.

They did not yet posses all that was given to them, but the seeds were planted.  They would witness the coming forth of the fruit.  Christ spoke of a house-holder who needed workers in his vineyard.  He spoke to his disciples in plain terms that they could understand.  And yet underlying those plain term was the fruit that would later blossom into the understanding and insight given to them by the grace of God.  So the house-holder hired workers and agreed to pay them what was just.  "So they went.  And again he went out about the sixth, and about the ninth hour, and did as before."  

The house-holder called his workers, even in the middle of the day.  He saw them standing idle in the market place and he called them to work.  Christ calls his workers.  He calls them at all times of the day.  And he agrees to pay them what is just.  He does this again and again and again.  No matter what the time of day he calls workers to come and work in his vineyard.  Are you a worker?  Are you a weed?  Are you the fruit that needs to be harvested?  How do you fit into the kingdom of heaven?

The door is open to all who want to come.  The requirements are easy.  Anyone can qualify.  The choice is yours to make if you understand the offer.  There is another offer also, the offer of the world.  It is the one we are born into.  It is the one we live with.  It is the one that surrounds us daily.  But one must rise above what is seen.  One must view beyond what is obvious.  One must change the perspective to see what is hidden.  We have a choice.  Some understand that choice early on.  Some find that choice later in life.  And some struggle with that choice only to not understand.  And then there are those who see the choice, know the choice, but cannot make the choice.

Can you make the choice?  Can you choose to be the one?  Can you accept the choice of who you are in Christ?  The world will blind you.  The world will deceive you.  The world will seek to turn you away from your choice.  But the spirit cries out in you.  The spirit burns in you for fulfillment.  The spirit within you knows the truth of who you are.  Can you seek it?  Can you find it?  Can you know the truth of who you are in Christ?  The choice is yours to make.  The thief is out there seeking to steal your choice.  Be careful!  He will not announce himself to you.  He will not knock at your door.  He will come and take you away without your having a choice.  And then you will know.

Christ calls you.  Christ loves you.  Christ gave his life for you that you would have life.  Seek him and know.  Know him and love.  Be with him and be fulfilled.  The spirit cries out for you.  The spirit awaits for you.  The spirit is within you waiting for you to open the door and say: "Come in!"

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 14, verses: 17 - 18, The Needs of the People: Christ's Demonstration.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Jesus feeds five thousand) Part 2.   

And the disciples did not know.  They saw with their eyes, heard with their ears, but they did not perceive with their hearts.  For they had not seen of such before.  They had not heard of such before.  They had not understood of such before by any man.  Yet Christ was before them.  Christ was with them.  Christ was in them and they did not understand.  They were surrounded by masses of people.  They were with hundreds or even thousands of fellow countrymen who were lost.  There were many with needs that they could not fill.  And the disciples were overwhelmed.  And Christ saw their needs and the needs of his disciples.

Christ understood.  Christ knew of their needs.  Christ wanted to fulfill their needs but his time had not yet come, for his sacrifice would fill the needs of all mankind for all eternity.  And the disciples did not know.  For life was in Christ.  Life flowed from Christ and he wanted to give it to the people and his disciples that they would know the truth.  The people were in need.  They needed a leader.  They needed a guide.  They needed love.  They needed.   And Christ was their to fulfill their needs.  But the disciples did not know.  The disciples did not understand.  The disciples did not see the truth of fulfillment within themselves.  So they brought their needs to Christ.

But Christ told them, you, yourselves feed them.  Christ told them, in so many words, they had to power to feed the people.  Christ told them, in so many words, they could feed the people, but they did not understand.  They did not comprehend his words.  They only thought in terms of their earthly being.  They did not see the seed that was growing within them through Christ.  For he had planted the seeds of life within his disciples and growth was taking place.  Christ had watered the seeds of life and they were growing.  Christ had nurtured the seeds of life and they were growing.  Christ had protected the seeds of life within them and the evil one wanted to destroy the seeds.  The disciples did not understand.  Christ told them, you, yourself feed the people.  And they only thought with their human minds and responded with,  "We have here only five loaves and two fishes."

Therefore, Christ had to demonstrate to them what was possible.  Christ had to show them what to do.  Christ had to lead them that they may understand who they were in him.  So he told them  "Bring them here to me."  This is what the disciples had to do, bring all things to him.  Bring all problem, bring all sickness, bring all needs, bring all sorrows, bring all to him, for he would satisfy all needs.  And the disciples did not understand that the seed in them was Christ.

I found myself in a store the other day buying something to eat.  And a man was sitting at the table.  When I approached the condiments table he spoke to me.  His first question was how much was the sandwich I purchased.  I did not know because it was not an issue with me that I should be concerned with the cost of the item.  I knew that the cost was within my means to pay because I picked a place where I could buy something to eat for under $3.00.  Yet his question to me was how much did one sandwich cost.  I told him that I did not know and gave him an approximate amount that I thought it cost.  He continued to talk saying that they reminded him of a sandwich from his home town.  He was from up north.

The conversation was nothing special but what stayed with me was my reaction.  You see, I was afraid of the conversation.  I did not know who I am in Christ.  I feared that he was about to ask me for some money to buy something to eat.  I was afraid and I was only concerned for myself.  It was not about the money, it was about the need in him that I did not see.  I did not understand who I am in Christ and who he is in Christ.  Fear entered me and I was only concerned for myself.  I wanted him to ask me for some money so that I could give it to him and he could buy something to eat.  I am accustomed to giving to beggars and street people but this was up close.  I wanted to help him but I was afraid also.  I wanted him to ask me for some money that I may give it to him and then I could be on my way and not be concerned or committed with his needs.  I was selfish and only concerned with myself.    You see, I was detached and did not want to concern myself with his needs.   For concerning  myself with his needs meant getting involved, it meant getting close, it meant becoming attached.  And I was afraid for myself.

Christ is my provider.  Christ is my protector.  Christ is in me and yet I failed to be in him.  I failed to see the needs of that man.  I failed to listen to his concerns.  I failed to open my heart to his conversation that I might help his needs.  For I feared that it may concern me and I would be involved.  How do you help a person?  How do you love a stranger?  How do you fill the needs of a person that you do not know?  How do you overcome the fear of injury, the fear of harm, the fear of loss?  How do you open yourself up to a stranger?   He started the conversation and spoke out of his need.  I withdrew from the conversation and spoke out of my fear.   

I missed the opportunity to feed the people.  I missed the opportunity to bring him to Christ.  I missed the opportunity to open  my heart up to show the love of Christ in me to another person.  I missed the opportunity to demonstrate the love of Christ in me.  Be open to the opportunity!  Realize that Christ is your provider, your protector.  He will provide and protect you no matter where you are or what you are doing, if you carry him with you.  Do you carry the seed within you?  Let him show you the way.  Open your heart to the opportunity and he will lead you to overflowing love and abundant life.  You, yourself, feed the people!

St Matthew, Chapter 13, verse: 26, The Kingdom of Heaven: The Fruit and the Weeds.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the weeds) Part 2. 

Christ continues to tell the people and his disciples about the kingdom of heaven and how the world was contaminated with the weeds.  To those who are listening and can hear, they understand the message.  To those who are listening and can not discern, Christ is telling a story.  To those who are not listening, they are lost, they do not understand, and they will not understand for they have been deceived by the evil one.  And to those who have come to destroy, they hear the parable and know that Christ speaks of them.

The kingdom of heaven is like a man who went out to sow good seed in his field.  God has planted mankind upon the earth  to grow and prosper but weeds have been planted among the seeds.  Weeds have been growing along side the good seeds of the kingdom of heaven.    And the weeds have been contaminating the good seed and leading them astray.  So now, the crop is mutated.  Now, the crop does not produce to its full measure.  Now, the crop only produces 30% or 60% of the time and the rest of the time it is unproductive or leans toward the production of evil fruit.  The rest of the time it is corrupted.  The rest of the time it is choked and its fruit is mutated into a different fruit.  Christ tells the people, "And when the blade sprang up and brought forth fruit, then the weeds appeared as well.

So this is the state of things today.  The weed and the seed grow together.  The good seed given from heaven exists in a world where the weed exists also.  What is there to be done?  What is there that can be done to remove the weeds from the precious plants that bring forth fruit for the nourishment of mankind.  Evil exists in the world.  Evil finds a place among God's children.  Evil finds a place in the hearts and minds of men.  For evil brings forth weeds and the weeds live among the good fruit of the Lord. 

Get out your weed killer!  Get out your trimmers!  For the weeds must be cut away!  The weeds must not stop the growth of the good seed of God.  Clear away the ground!  The good seed must grow without hindrance.  Water the soil that the good seed may be nourished!  Be watchful of the growth of weeds!  Be vigilant that they do not return to take up growth near the good seed.  For the good seed must grow.  The good seed must prosper.  The good seed must bring forth good fruit.   We are the children of the Lord and he is our father.  He has given us the perfect weed killer.  He has given us the Holy Spirit that will remove all weeds no matter what kind.  But we must use it.  We must take the Holy Spirit with us at all times least we find ourselves surrounded by weeds.  Christ gave us the formula.  He gave us the words.  And within those words we will find the keys to bring forth our fruit.  Christ sent us the Holy Spirit, the weed killer that will protect us from the weeds of the evil one.  Take your weed killer with you at all times!  Keep him on your mind and in your heart.  Without him you will be open to attack by the weeds that will steal your fruit!      

St Matthew, Chapter 13, verse: 24 - 25, The Kingdom of Heaven: the Good Seeds.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the weeds) Part 1.  

The people are astonished.  Christ has spoken to them about seeds and fruit.  He has predicted that some seeds will produce 100% of the time, some 60% of the time and some 30% of the time.  But the question remains, what happens with those that do not produce 100%?  What happens when the fruit is only being produced 60% and the other 40% of the time it is not producing?  Is this an unprofitable tree?  What happens to the one that is only producing 30% of the time and the remainder of the 70% of the time it is not producing?  Is this a tree that is fruitless?  Can we see the parallel in our lives today?  Are we only fruitful in church?  Do we show our fruit only around our christian brothers and sisters and not at other times when we are out in the public?  

Christ wants us to be fruitful at all times, 100%.  He wants us to provide fruit of love, and of peace and of joy, and obedience.  He wants us to produce fruit of patience, and meekness, and humility so that those who are hungry may partake of the fruit of the kingdom from our trees through the grace of God.  The harvest is great but the workers are few.  The needs of the people are many but few are the ones who will satisfy those needs.  We live in a world that is not of the kingdom.  We live in a world that is selfish, and greedy, and lustful, and vain, and filled with its own passion.  But we do not feed those who hunger for the fruit of life given by Christ.  Sure there are churches, and religious programs, and outreach ministries, and pastors and priest, and teachers.  But these are few to feed the multitudes of  hungry. And these are only brought forth into the public places and not into the hearts of men. 

Christ wants us to have the fruit of the kingdom in our hearts.  Christ wants us to live in him and he in us that no matter where we go he is with us.  Produce the fruit of the kingdom.  Christ tells us a story, another parable of the kingdom of heaven.  He says,  "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;  but while men were asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away."     

The kingdom of heaven is in our midst for the sower has come and planted the seed.  But the evil one has come also and planted his weeds.  And the weeds grow everywhere, all around us.  The weeds are in our schools, in our work places, in our homes.  The weeds are in our churches, in our market places, on the streets, everywhere we may go.  There is no escape from the weeds.  They will grow and we will grow, together.  But we have a weed killer.  We have a trimmer that will take down the weeds in every nook and cranny where they grow. 

We must take our weed killer with us.  We must be prepared to use it at all times.  If we do not then the weeds will overtake you when you are without your weed killer.  For our weed killer should be within us.  It should be within our hearts wherever we go.  This way we are protected at all times against the weeds of the evil one.  Do you have your weed killer?  Did you leave your weed killer at home?  Did you leave your weed killer in the church on Sunday?  Are you unprotected out in the open, surrounded by the weeds of the evil one?  Come, seek the weed killer of all times.  Roundup Weed Killer has nothing on him for he exterminates all weeds.  He will rid you of all the weeds of the evil one and protect you against further attacks.  Will you let him in?  Will you live with Him?  Will you let him protect you?  All that is needed is to surrender and believe!