Why Temptation

"I've appointed the Devil to tempt and to trouble My creatures in this life [St. Catherine of Siena reports that Our Lord said to her]. I've done this, not so that My creatures will be overcome, but so that theymay overcome, proving their virtue and receiving from Me the glory of victory. And no one should fear any battle or temptation of the Devil that may come to him, because I've made My creatures strong, and I've given them strength of will, fortified in the Blood of My Son. Neither the Devil nor any other creature can control this free will, because it's yours, given to you by Me. By your own choice, then, you hold it or let it go if you please. It's a weapon, and if you place it in the hands of the Devil, it right away becomes a knife that he'll use to stab and kill you. On the other hand, if you don't place this knife that is your will into the hands of the Devil—that is, if you don't consent to his temptations and harassments—you will never be injured by the guilt of sin in any temptation. Instead, you'll actually be strengthened by the temptation, as long as you open the eyes of your mind to see My love, and to understand why I allowed you to be tempted: so you could develop virtue by having it proved. My love permits these temptations, for the Devil is weak. He can do nothing by himself unless I allow him. So I let him tempt you because I love you, not because I hate you. I want you to conquer, not to be conquered, and to come to a perfect knowledge of yourself and of Me." — St. Catherine of Siena, p. 159-60

AN EXCERPT FROM

Manual for Spiritual Warfare

Why Temptation

"I've appointed the Devil to tempt and to trouble My creatures in this life [St. Catherine of Siena reports that Our Lord said to her]. I've done this, not so that My creatures will be overcome, but so that theymay overcome, proving their virtue and receiving from Me the glory of victory. And no one should fear any battle or temptation of the Devil that may come to him, because I've made My creatures strong, and I've given them strength of will, fortified in the Blood of My Son. Neither the Devil nor any other creature can control this free will, because it's yours, given to you by Me. By your own choice, then, you hold it or let it go if you please. It's a weapon, and if you place it in the hands of the Devil, it right away becomes a knife that he'll use to stab and kill you. On the other hand, if you don't place this knife that is your will into the hands of the Devil—that is, if you don't consent to his temptations and harassments—you will never be injured by the guilt of sin in any temptation. Instead, you'll actually be strengthened by the temptation, as long as you open the eyes of your mind to see My love, and to understand why I allowed you to be tempted: so you could develop virtue by having it proved. My love permits these temptations, for the Devil is weak. He can do nothing by himself unless I allow him. So I let him tempt you because I love you, not because I hate you. I want you to conquer, not to be conquered, and to come to a perfect knowledge of yourself and of Me." — St. Catherine of Siena, p. 159-60

AN EXCERPT FROM

Manual for Spiritual Warfare

• JESUS IS SACRIFICE FOREVER 
• JESUS PERFECTED THE SANCTIFIED FOREVER 
• HAVE CONFIDENCE TO ENTER SANCTUARY 
• COME NEAR CLEAN
• NEED ENDURANCE TO DO HIS WILL
• RIGHTEOUSNESS LIVE BY FAITH
• LAY ASIDE SIN LOOKING TO CHRIST
• DISCIPLINE TRAINS FOR HOLINESS
• HE DISCIPLINES HIS BELOVED 
• WITHOUT HOLINESS YOU CANNOT SEE GOD

 

 

JESUS IS SACRIFICE FOREVER 

Hebrews 9:26 he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

 

JESUS PERFECTED THE SANCTIFIED FOREVER 

Hebrews 10:14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

 

HAVE CONFIDENCE TO ENTER SANCTUARY 

Hebrews 10:19 have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus,

 

COME NEAR CLEAN

Hebrews 10:22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

 

NEED ENDURANCE TO DO HIS WILL

Hebrews 10:36 you have need of endurance, so that you may do the will of God and receive what is promised. 

 

RIGHTEOUSNESS LIVE BY FAITH

Hebrews 10:38 my righteous one shall live by faith, 

and if he shrinks back, 

my soul has no pleasure in him.” 

 

Hebrews 10:39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and keep their souls. 

 

LAY ASIDE SIN LOOKING TO CHRIST

Hebrews 12:1–2 let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 ¶ looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 

 

DISCIPLINE TRAINS FOR HOLINESS

Hebrews 12:5–7 My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, 

nor lose courage when you are punished by him. 

 

HE DISCIPLINES HIS BELOVED 

6 For the Lord disciplines him whom he loves, 

and chastises every son whom he receives.” 

7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

 

WITHOUT HOLINESS YOU CANNOT SEE GOD

Hebrews 12:10 he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.

 

Hebrews 12:14 Strive for peace with all men, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

• CHOSEN SANCTIFIED OBEDIENCE BY TRINITY WITH GRACE AND PEACE
• REBORN BECAUSE OF MERCY INTO HOPE
• GUARDED BY GOD THROUGH FAITH FOR SALVATION 
• SUFFER TO TEST FAITH-POSSIBLY FAIL OR GLORY
• IF FAITH DOES NOT FAIL SALVATION OF YOUR SOUL
• PURIFIED BY OBEDIENCE SINCERELY LOVE
• REBORN THROUGH WORD OF GOSPEL WHICH ABIDES FOREVER 

 

 

 

1 Peter 1:2 

CHOSEN SANCTIFIED OBEDIENCE BY TRINITY WITH GRACE AND PEACE

chosen and destined by God the Father 

and sanctified by the Spirit 

for obedience to Jesus Christ 

and for sprinkling with his blood: 

May grace and peace be multiplied to you. 

 

1 Peter 1:3 

REBORN BECAUSE OF MERCY INTO HOPE

By his great mercy we have been born anew 

to a living hope 

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ 

 

1 Peter 1:5

GUARDED BY GOD THROUGH FAITH FOR SALVATION 

by God’s power are guarded 

through faith for salvation 

 

1 Peter 1:6–7 

SUFFER TO TEST FAITH-POSSIBLY FAIL OR GLORY

for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, 

so that the genuineness of your faith, 

more precious than gold 

which though perishable is tested by fire, 

may redound to praise and glory. 

 

1 Peter 1:9 

IF FAITH DOES NOT FAIL SALVATION OF YOUR SOUL

By the outcome of your faith 

you obtain the salvation of your souls. 

 

1 Peter 1:22 

PURIFIED BY OBEDIENCE SINCERELY LOVE

Having purified your souls by your obedience 

to the truth for a sincere love of the brethren, 

love one another earnestly from the heart. 

 

1 Peter 1:23–25 

REBORN THROUGH WORD OF GOSPEL WHICH ABIDES FOREVER 

You have been born anew...

through the living and abiding word of God; 

The word of the Lord abides for ever.

That word is the good news 

which was preached to you. 

• JESUS IS SACRIFICE FOREVER 
• JESUS PERFECTED THE SANCTIFIED FOREVER 
• HAVE CONFIDENCE TO ENTER SANCTUARY 
• COME NEAR CLEAN
• NEED ENDURANCE TO DO HIS WILL
• RIGHTEOUSNESS LIVE BY FAITH
• LAY ASIDE SIN LOOKING TO CHRIST
• DISCIPLINE TRAINS FOR HOLINESS
• HE DISCIPLINES HIS BELOVED 
• WITHOUT HOLINESS YOU CANNOT SEE GOD

 

 

JESUS IS SACRIFICE FOREVER 

Hebrews 9:26 he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

 

JESUS PERFECTED THE SANCTIFIED FOREVER 

Hebrews 10:14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

 

HAVE CONFIDENCE TO ENTER SANCTUARY 

Hebrews 10:19 have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus,

 

COME NEAR CLEAN

Hebrews 10:22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

 

NEED ENDURANCE TO DO HIS WILL

Hebrews 10:36 you have need of endurance, so that you may do the will of God and receive what is promised. 

 

RIGHTEOUSNESS LIVE BY FAITH

Hebrews 10:38 my righteous one shall live by faith, 

and if he shrinks back, 

my soul has no pleasure in him.” 

 

Hebrews 10:39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and keep their souls. 

 

LAY ASIDE SIN LOOKING TO CHRIST

Hebrews 12:1–2 let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 ¶ looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 

 

DISCIPLINE TRAINS FOR HOLINESS

Hebrews 12:5–7 My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, 

nor lose courage when you are punished by him. 

 

HE DISCIPLINES HIS BELOVED 

6 For the Lord disciplines him whom he loves, 

and chastises every son whom he receives.” 

7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

 

WITHOUT HOLINESS YOU CANNOT SEE GOD

Hebrews 12:10 he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.

 

Hebrews 12:14 Strive for peace with all men, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

• CHOSEN SANCTIFIED OBEDIENCE BY TRINITY WITH GRACE AND PEACE
• REBORN BECAUSE OF MERCY INTO HOPE
• GUARDED BY GOD THROUGH FAITH FOR SALVATION 
• SUFFER TO TEST FAITH-POSSIBLY FAIL OR GLORY
• IF FAITH DOES NOT FAIL SALVATION OF YOUR SOUL
• PURIFIED BY OBEDIENCE SINCERELY LOVE
• REBORN THROUGH WORD OF GOSPEL WHICH ABIDES FOREVER 

 

 

 

1 Peter 1:2 

CHOSEN SANCTIFIED OBEDIENCE BY TRINITY WITH GRACE AND PEACE

chosen and destined by God the Father 

and sanctified by the Spirit 

for obedience to Jesus Christ 

and for sprinkling with his blood: 

May grace and peace be multiplied to you. 

 

1 Peter 1:3 

REBORN BECAUSE OF MERCY INTO HOPE

By his great mercy we have been born anew 

to a living hope 

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ 

 

1 Peter 1:5

GUARDED BY GOD THROUGH FAITH FOR SALVATION 

by God’s power are guarded 

through faith for salvation 

 

1 Peter 1:6–7 

SUFFER TO TEST FAITH-POSSIBLY FAIL OR GLORY

for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, 

so that the genuineness of your faith, 

more precious than gold 

which though perishable is tested by fire, 

may redound to praise and glory. 

 

1 Peter 1:9 

IF FAITH DOES NOT FAIL SALVATION OF YOUR SOUL

By the outcome of your faith 

you obtain the salvation of your souls. 

 

1 Peter 1:22 

PURIFIED BY OBEDIENCE SINCERELY LOVE

Having purified your souls by your obedience 

to the truth for a sincere love of the brethren, 

love one another earnestly from the heart. 

 

1 Peter 1:23–25 

REBORN THROUGH WORD OF GOSPEL WHICH ABIDES FOREVER 

You have been born anew...

through the living and abiding word of God; 

The word of the Lord abides for ever.

That word is the good news 

which was preached to you. 

Willful Obedience

One of the greatest gifts we can give to our Divine Lord is our willfulness.  We often want what we want, when we want it.  Our will can become stubborn and obstinate and this can easily dominate our whole being.  As a result of this sinful tendency toward willfulness, one thing that delights our Lord greatly, and produces an abundance of grace in our lives, is an interior obedience to that which we do not want to do.  This interior obedience, even to the smallest of things, mortifies our will so that we are made free to more completely obey the glorious Will of God (See Diary #365).

What do you want with a passion?  More specifically, what do you cling to in an obstinate way with your own will?  There are many things we want that could easily be given up as a sacrifice for God.  It may not be that the thing we desire is evil; rather, it’s that letting go of our interior desires and preferences change us and dispose us to be more receptive to all that God wishes to bestow upon us.

Lord, help me to make my one desire that of perfect obedience to You in all things.  May I cling to Your Will for my life in both great and small things.  May I find in this submission of my will the great joy that comes from a heart fully submissive and obedient to You.  Jesus, I trust in You.

Willful Obedience

One of the greatest gifts we can give to our Divine Lord is our willfulness.  We often want what we want, when we want it.  Our will can become stubborn and obstinate and this can easily dominate our whole being.  As a result of this sinful tendency toward willfulness, one thing that delights our Lord greatly, and produces an abundance of grace in our lives, is an interior obedience to that which we do not want to do.  This interior obedience, even to the smallest of things, mortifies our will so that we are made free to more completely obey the glorious Will of God (See Diary #365).

What do you want with a passion?  More specifically, what do you cling to in an obstinate way with your own will?  There are many things we want that could easily be given up as a sacrifice for God.  It may not be that the thing we desire is evil; rather, it’s that letting go of our interior desires and preferences change us and dispose us to be more receptive to all that God wishes to bestow upon us.

Lord, help me to make my one desire that of perfect obedience to You in all things.  May I cling to Your Will for my life in both great and small things.  May I find in this submission of my will the great joy that comes from a heart fully submissive and obedient to You.  Jesus, I trust in You.

THREE TEMPTATIONS: Luke 4:1-13

1. Food for nourishment 
2. Power and glory for ego
3. Bodily protection from pain n death

RESPONSES 

1. Don’t live for food alone
2. Worship and serve God alone not self or others
3. Don’t tempt the Lord, trust His protection and will.  

TOOLS

1. Live for the nourishment of the Word: Matthew 4:4 Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
2. Forsake Pride of life: 1 John 2:16–17 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world passes away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides for ever
3. Humility and Obedience: Philippians 2:8  he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. 

THREE TEMPTATIONS: Luke 4:1-13

1. Food for nourishment 
2. Power and glory for ego
3. Bodily protection from pain n death

RESPONSES 

1. Don’t live for food alone
2. Worship and serve God alone not self or others
3. Don’t tempt the Lord, trust His protection and will.  

TOOLS

1. Live for the nourishment of the Word: Matthew 4:4 Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
2. Forsake Pride of life: 1 John 2:16–17 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world passes away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides for ever
3. Humility and Obedience: Philippians 2:8  he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. 

ABOUT TIME 
“With their patience worn out by the journey...” —Numbers 21:4 

We human beings live in the domain of time. God, Who is eternal, is outside of time. So obviously we don’t view time as God does (see 2 Pt 3:8).
Jesus is the Redeemer of all things, and so is the Redeemer of time. We know that our Redeemer lives (Jb 19:25, RSV-CE), and is actively making time serve His purposes. If all time is under the lordship of Jesus, its Redeemer, and we are also under His lordship, then it logically follows that there is no need for us to be impatient. Logically, we know that “there is an appointed time for everything” (Eccl 3:1) and that Jesus, the Redeemer of time, “has made everything appropriate to its time” (Eccl 3:11).
Since time always serves God, the problems with timing arise when we are struggling to accept Jesus’ lordship over us. We grow impatient, complain (Nm 21:5), and get frustrated when things happen too fast or too slow for our liking. At the root of this impatience lies a battle over control of time between us and God, the Lord of time. Thus, impatience can be a seed of discontent, which leads to outright rebellion against God (Nm 21:5).
God’s antidote for impatience is for us to beg the Lord for an increase of love, which is patient (1 Cor 13:4), and of docility to the Holy Spirit, for patience is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22). Another way to grow in patience is to gaze regularly on the crucified Jesus (see Jn 3:14; Nm 21:9). Grow in patience. Trust the Lord, the God of time (see Ps 62:9).

ABOUT TIME 
“With their patience worn out by the journey...” —Numbers 21:4 

We human beings live in the domain of time. God, Who is eternal, is outside of time. So obviously we don’t view time as God does (see 2 Pt 3:8).
Jesus is the Redeemer of all things, and so is the Redeemer of time. We know that our Redeemer lives (Jb 19:25, RSV-CE), and is actively making time serve His purposes. If all time is under the lordship of Jesus, its Redeemer, and we are also under His lordship, then it logically follows that there is no need for us to be impatient. Logically, we know that “there is an appointed time for everything” (Eccl 3:1) and that Jesus, the Redeemer of time, “has made everything appropriate to its time” (Eccl 3:11).
Since time always serves God, the problems with timing arise when we are struggling to accept Jesus’ lordship over us. We grow impatient, complain (Nm 21:5), and get frustrated when things happen too fast or too slow for our liking. At the root of this impatience lies a battle over control of time between us and God, the Lord of time. Thus, impatience can be a seed of discontent, which leads to outright rebellion against God (Nm 21:5).
God’s antidote for impatience is for us to beg the Lord for an increase of love, which is patient (1 Cor 13:4), and of docility to the Holy Spirit, for patience is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22). Another way to grow in patience is to gaze regularly on the crucified Jesus (see Jn 3:14; Nm 21:9). Grow in patience. Trust the Lord, the God of time (see Ps 62:9).

- 2825 (in 'Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven') - Although he was a Son, [Jesus] learned obedience through what he suffered." How much more reason have we sinful creatures to learn obedience - we who in him have become children of adoption. 

We ask our Father to unite our will to his Son's, in order to fulfill his will, his plan of salvation for the life of the world. We are radically incapable of this, but united with Jesus and with the power of his Holy Spirit, we can surrender our will to him and decide to choose what his Son has always chosen: to do what is pleasing to the Father.

Catechism of the Catholic Church 

- 2825 (in 'Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven') - Although he was a Son, [Jesus] learned obedience through what he suffered." How much more reason have we sinful creatures to learn obedience - we who in him have become children of adoption. 

We ask our Father to unite our will to his Son's, in order to fulfill his will, his plan of salvation for the life of the world. We are radically incapable of this, but united with Jesus and with the power of his Holy Spirit, we can surrender our will to him and decide to choose what his Son has always chosen: to do what is pleasing to the Father.

Catechism of the Catholic Church 

John 6:55–56 

For my flesh is food indeed, 

and my blood is drink indeed. 

He who eats my flesh 

and drinks my blood 

abides in me, and I in him.

Abide

Definition:

• (v. i.) To wait; to pause; to delay.
• (v. i.) To stay; to continue in a place; to have one's abode; to dwell; to sojourn; -- with with before a person, and commonly with at or in before a place.
• (v. i.) To remain stable or fixed in some state or condition; to continue; to remain.
• (v. t.) To wait for; to be prepared for; to await; to watch for; as, I abide my time.
• (v. t.) To endure; to sustain; to submit to.
• (v. t.) To bear patiently; to tolerate; to put up with.
• (v. t.) To stand the consequences of; to answer for; to suffer for.

John 6:55–56 

For my flesh is food indeed, 

and my blood is drink indeed. 

He who eats my flesh 

and drinks my blood 

abides in me, and I in him.

Abide

Definition:

• (v. i.) To wait; to pause; to delay.
• (v. i.) To stay; to continue in a place; to have one's abode; to dwell; to sojourn; -- with with before a person, and commonly with at or in before a place.
• (v. i.) To remain stable or fixed in some state or condition; to continue; to remain.
• (v. t.) To wait for; to be prepared for; to await; to watch for; as, I abide my time.
• (v. t.) To endure; to sustain; to submit to.
• (v. t.) To bear patiently; to tolerate; to put up with.
• (v. t.) To stand the consequences of; to answer for; to suffer for.

Having shown how the Eucharist was prefigured in the manna and water given to the Jews in the desert, Ambrose proceeds to strengthen the faith of the Christian who asks, “How can it be Christ, since it only looks like bread and wine?” He appeals to the power of God, who created everything out of nothing, who empowered the prophets by their word to effect wonders in nature, and who caused the Virgin to conceive. From such reminders of God’s power, Ambrose draws his conclusions: the power of Christ is greater than that of any prophet; his blessing consecrates what nature has formed, namely, the bread and wine. Indeed, Christ’s blessing is more powerful than nature itself, since, by his blessing, “the nature of the elements itself is changed”: bread and wine become his Body and Blood. 

Let us therefore everywhere be attentive to God. Let us not contradict him although what he says appears to be contrary to our reasoning and understanding. Thus we carry out in the Mysteries not only what appears to our senses but what his words tell us. For his word is not able to deceive; our senses are easily deceived. Because the Word says, “This is my Body”, let us be attentive, let us believe, let us look upon him with the eyes of the spirit. For Christ did not give us something sensible; even in the sensible things, all is spiritual.

Having shown how the Eucharist was prefigured in the manna and water given to the Jews in the desert, Ambrose proceeds to strengthen the faith of the Christian who asks, “How can it be Christ, since it only looks like bread and wine?” He appeals to the power of God, who created everything out of nothing, who empowered the prophets by their word to effect wonders in nature, and who caused the Virgin to conceive. From such reminders of God’s power, Ambrose draws his conclusions: the power of Christ is greater than that of any prophet; his blessing consecrates what nature has formed, namely, the bread and wine. Indeed, Christ’s blessing is more powerful than nature itself, since, by his blessing, “the nature of the elements itself is changed”: bread and wine become his Body and Blood. 

Let us therefore everywhere be attentive to God. Let us not contradict him although what he says appears to be contrary to our reasoning and understanding. Thus we carry out in the Mysteries not only what appears to our senses but what his words tell us. For his word is not able to deceive; our senses are easily deceived. Because the Word says, “This is my Body”, let us be attentive, let us believe, let us look upon him with the eyes of the spirit. For Christ did not give us something sensible; even in the sensible things, all is spiritual.

Christian endurance of suffering cannot simply turn into resigned patience—one almost forced upon us because we cannot get out of it. In imitation of Christ, Christian patience is the willing acceptance of whatever in our lives crucifies us, in loving conformity with God’s will. 

The Christian becomes like the patient Christ through this willing adherence, and suffering becomes a participation in his mystery. 

When patience is understood in this way, it does not degrade a man, nor make him the slave of painful situations from which he either cannot, or does not know how to escape; instead it makes him capable of voluntarily embracing all the suffering that God permits in his life, with a positive attitude of love and of union with Christ, crucified and resurrected.

Those painful situations that have no human solution find support and explanation in the mystery of Christ, who intimately unites to himself all those who share his passion. Anyone who does not enter into the mystery of his passion and death will not enter either into that of his resurrection.

Christian endurance of suffering cannot simply turn into resigned patience—one almost forced upon us because we cannot get out of it. In imitation of Christ, Christian patience is the willing acceptance of whatever in our lives crucifies us, in loving conformity with God’s will. 

The Christian becomes like the patient Christ through this willing adherence, and suffering becomes a participation in his mystery. 

When patience is understood in this way, it does not degrade a man, nor make him the slave of painful situations from which he either cannot, or does not know how to escape; instead it makes him capable of voluntarily embracing all the suffering that God permits in his life, with a positive attitude of love and of union with Christ, crucified and resurrected.

Those painful situations that have no human solution find support and explanation in the mystery of Christ, who intimately unites to himself all those who share his passion. Anyone who does not enter into the mystery of his passion and death will not enter either into that of his resurrection.

Costly grace versus cheap grace
There are fundamentally only two choices that determine the course of our lives and the final destiny that awaits us: the choice to live for God's kingdom of peace, joy, and righteousness or the pursuit of the world's kingdom which stands in opposition to God's authority and commandments. We can choose to obey God's word and believe in his promise of blessing or we can choose to follow the voice of those who promise success and happiness apart from God's truth and laws. The costly grace and freedom - which the Lord Jesus offers to those who embrace the cross for his sake - leads to joy and blessing in this life as well as the promise of eternal happiness with God. Cheap grace - which tries to bypass the cross for the sake of being my own master and the ruler of my own destiny - leads to emptiness and endless futility. Who do you choose to be the master and ruler of your life and destiny?

Costly grace versus cheap grace
There are fundamentally only two choices that determine the course of our lives and the final destiny that awaits us: the choice to live for God's kingdom of peace, joy, and righteousness or the pursuit of the world's kingdom which stands in opposition to God's authority and commandments. We can choose to obey God's word and believe in his promise of blessing or we can choose to follow the voice of those who promise success and happiness apart from God's truth and laws. The costly grace and freedom - which the Lord Jesus offers to those who embrace the cross for his sake - leads to joy and blessing in this life as well as the promise of eternal happiness with God. Cheap grace - which tries to bypass the cross for the sake of being my own master and the ruler of my own destiny - leads to emptiness and endless futility. Who do you choose to be the master and ruler of your life and destiny?

Romans 5:16-17

The free gift following many trespasses 

brings justification. 

Much more will those who RECEIVE 

the abundance of grace 

and the free gift of righteousness 

reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. 

Romans 6:19 

now yield your members to righteousness 

for sanctification. 

Note:

Pray to RECEIVE the FREE GIFTS of abundant grace, righteousness, the ability surrender to sanctification and be  justified!

Choose to yield to the Grace and reception of Obedience to righteousness that brings sanctification and therefore Justifies. 

Romans 5:16-17

The free gift following many trespasses 

brings justification. 

Much more will those who RECEIVE 

the abundance of grace 

and the free gift of righteousness 

reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. 

Romans 6:19 

now yield your members to righteousness 

for sanctification. 

Note:

Pray to RECEIVE the FREE GIFTS of abundant grace, righteousness, the ability surrender to sanctification and be  justified!

Choose to yield to the Grace and reception of Obedience to righteousness that brings sanctification and therefore Justifies. 

2 Timothy 3:1–5

In the last days there will come times of stress. 

For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, fierce, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 

holding the form of religion but denying the power of it. 

NOTE:

God’s Grace Truly Transforms if you surrender to Him. Do not live in sin anymore. Let His Power transform your heart!

2 Timothy 3:1–5

In the last days there will come times of stress. 

For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, fierce, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 

holding the form of religion but denying the power of it. 

NOTE:

God’s Grace Truly Transforms if you surrender to Him. Do not live in sin anymore. Let His Power transform your heart!

Fasting and the virtue of Moderation:

To forgo a thing completely is to prepare to forget it. If I never eat another piece of chocolate, I may forget all about chocolate, but I may also soon substitute something even mor e dangerous for its taste: drugs, consumerism, a hardened selfishness. 

To do something commonly but to do it in right proportion, on the other hand, is to win the struggle with it every day. 

To have one handful of salted peanuts, one piece of chocolate, one glass of wine in the midst of plenty, one car in a culture that counts its wealth in two-car garages, now that is mortification!

Both for faith in Christ and for the study of sacred Scripture we need humility. 

Jesus came to reveal God’s mysteries to us, his plans for our salvation, and the authentic meaning of the Scriptures; but only the humble will let him teach them. 

One who thinks he is wise and just, wants to do things by himself; he accepts neither Master nor Savior. 

This situation has been perpetuated down through the centuries whenever proud men have rejected the magisterium and mediation of the Church, which is the official depositary of the word of God and of the sacraments of salvation. 

Jesus once asked: “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Lk 18:8) He will certainly not find it among the proud, nor in men who are puffed up with their knowledge, but he will find it among the humble and simple.

Fasting and the virtue of Moderation:

To forgo a thing completely is to prepare to forget it. If I never eat another piece of chocolate, I may forget all about chocolate, but I may also soon substitute something even mor e dangerous for its taste: drugs, consumerism, a hardened selfishness. 

To do something commonly but to do it in right proportion, on the other hand, is to win the struggle with it every day. 

To have one handful of salted peanuts, one piece of chocolate, one glass of wine in the midst of plenty, one car in a culture that counts its wealth in two-car garages, now that is mortification!

Both for faith in Christ and for the study of sacred Scripture we need humility. 

Jesus came to reveal God’s mysteries to us, his plans for our salvation, and the authentic meaning of the Scriptures; but only the humble will let him teach them. 

One who thinks he is wise and just, wants to do things by himself; he accepts neither Master nor Savior. 

This situation has been perpetuated down through the centuries whenever proud men have rejected the magisterium and mediation of the Church, which is the official depositary of the word of God and of the sacraments of salvation. 

Jesus once asked: “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Lk 18:8) He will certainly not find it among the proud, nor in men who are puffed up with their knowledge, but he will find it among the humble and simple.

I Choose the RSV2CE

I choose the RSV2CE 

I am responsible for walking out my own salvation with fear and trembling.  Though others will be judged on what they teach. I will be judged on my response to The Word - the ultimate authority. 

God made me. And Words mean something to me. To me what is chosen in Gods word is SUPER IMPORTANT.  Because of that I want the best English translation I can possibly get. Therefore I choose to use the RSV2CE. I know I’m not a scholar but I do like to study. And God chose every word he chose to say. I believe when trying to interpret meaning it could be confused. Only the actual words are correct. So I think I would like to read the closest word for word and ask God to give meaning. 

What version I like...is not the test. God word is the test. It should not matter what I like. He says what He wants to say. (Some bad translation and bad notes)

Authority is very important. Without it we don’t know what or who to believe. 

Because the LXX is the oldest complete translation of the whole Bible and it is in the Vatican library and it has the deurocanon I will use the catholic Bible. 

(If you are looking for the oldest available edition of a more inclusive Bible, Codex Sinaiticus (circa 350 C.E.) would fit the bill. However, its Greek translations of the Hebrew Bible are not the oldest witnesses we have to the Hebrew/Aramaic scriptures. The Dead Sea Scrolls (circa 250 B.C.E.–70 C.E.) are centuries older than Codex Sinaiticus, but they are extremely fragmentary and rarely make up anything close to complete books. The Old Greek translations of the Hebrew/Aramaic scriptures—popularly called the “Septuagint”—occasionally testify to a Hebrew/Aramaic text even more ancient than the Dead Sea Scrolls (the Pentateuch began to be translated around 250 B.C.E.). In these instances, the Septuagint could, therefore, be called the oldest available Bible text. These Greek texts are, however, translations, and scholars are still sorting out the exact wording of the earliest recoverable texts. 

Because of the Masoretes’ meticulous work, some consider the Leningrad Codex (circa 1000 C.E.) or the Aleppo Codex (circa 925 C.E.) to be the best representatives of the Hebrew/Aramaic Bible. The problem is that the Masoretic manuscripts themselves are from the medieval era. At least materially, the Masoretic manuscripts are much later than the Dead Sea Scrolls, Old Greek translations, and Codex Sinaiticus. Each of these bodies of literature could in some sense be called the oldest Bible) 

Fr Luis said no translation is perfect. They all are balances of what the word says and means. Pick one and stick to it. 

I choose the RSV2CE because it is most accurate over all the others.  

All these years since I’ve came back Catholic in 2015 I picked the NABRE because I thought that was the Bible in the mass and I wanted all my readings to be one. But apparently it is not, they are still using the NAB and apparently the NAB is a bad translation. And the NABRE Bible notes that are required in every Bible deny even the faith. Learning these two very important things yesterday, I decided to in adherence to what Father Luis said pick-one and stick to it, I pick RSV2CE. 

All Bible teachers say that more than one version is best. Original (I don’t know), Very Literal, and Dynamic. Since I like to focus on only one I will read and study the Very Literal (RSV2CE), listen at mass to Dynamic (NAB), and pray with all, the DO Psalter, and Both Literal and Dynamic. And when reading others they use many translations also. This solves all my problems. I don’t have to limit myself. I am free in Jesus and He will help me understand whatever He wants me to know. 

Whatever I miss here I will receive in Heaven. I believe you Jesus and know you are guiding my decisions.