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Showing posts from October, 2021

Purification Systems: Hebrews 9:11-14

  Ordinary Time (Halloween)   But Christ has appeared as the high priest of the good things that have happened. He passed through the greater and more perfect meeting tent, which isn’t made by human hands (that is, it’s not a part of this world).  12  He entered the holy of holies once for all by his own blood, not by the blood of goats or calves, securing our deliverance for all time.  13  If the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkled ashes of cows made spiritually contaminated people holy and clean,  14  how much more will the blood of Jesus wash our consciences clean from dead works in order to serve the living God? He offered himself to God through the eternal Spirit as a sacrifice without any flaw. (CEB)               Happy Halloween!   It’s not a Church holiday, but it does land right on a Sunday this year.   Given that last Halloween was even more unusual than this, some people are pulling out all the stops to celebrate this spooky day.   In recognition that ketchup is

Unforgotten: Job 42:1-6, 10-17

  Ordinary Time Then Job answered the Lord and said: 2  “I know that you can do all things,     and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 3  ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,     things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 4  ‘Hear, and I will speak;     I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ 5  I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,     but now my eye sees you; 6  therefore I despise myself,     and repent in dust and ashes.”   And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.  11  Then came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and ate bread with him in his house. And they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him. And each of them gave him a piece of money and a ring of gold. 12  And the Lord blessed the la

Unbroken: Job 23:1-9, 16-17

  Ordinary Time Then Job answered and said: 2  “Today also my complaint is bitter;     my hand is heavy on account of my groaning. 3  Oh, that I knew where I might find him,     that I might come even to his seat! 4  I would lay my case before him     and fill my mouth with arguments. 5  I would know what he would answer me     and understand what he would say to me. 6  Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power?     No; he would pay attention to me. 7  There an upright man could argue with him,     and I would be acquitted forever by my judge. 8  “Behold, I go forward, but he is not there,     and backward, but I do not perceive him; 9  on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him;     he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him.   God has made my heart faint;     the Almighty has terrified me; 17  yet I am not silenced because of the darkness,     nor because thick darkness covers my face. (ESV)             Sometimes, the Scr

Unraveled: Job 1:1, 2:1-10

  Ord inary Time There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.    Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord.  2  And the Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”  3  And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.”  4  Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life.  5  But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.”  6  And the Lord said to