June 17, 2012
11th Sunday in Ordinary Time (in Year B)
Liturgical Color: Green
Ordinary Time is a season in the liturgical
calendar of the Church when all the mysteries of salvation are celebrated, but
nothing in particular. Typically the readings would be about the public life of
Jesus. For 2012 the second part in Ordinary Time would begin at 11th Sunday,
and end up to Christ the King (the 34th Sunday). Until then, henceforth the
priest's stole and linen in the altar shall be green, except for certain
celebrations.
Important concepts/imageries:
1. Cedar trees
2. Making the lowly tree big
3. Living by the faith, even without seeing
4. Giving thanks to the Lord
5. The Kingdom of God
6. The Mustard Seed
7. The Disciples
For you comment and
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Entrance:
1. Himaya Kanimo (Koro Viannista)
2. Daygon ta ang Ginoo
3. Lungsod ng Balaan
4. Mao Kini ang Panaghigugmaay
5. Ang Puso Ko’y Nagpupuri (Hontiveros) Stanzas 4,
5, and 6 ang priority.
6. Awit ng Pasasalamat (Hontiveros)
7. Halina’t Umawit (Flores, Villaroman)
8. Magpasalamat Kayo sa Panginoon (Ramirez)
9. Pagmamahal sa Panginoon (Hontiveros)
10. Magnificat (Haas)
11. Meadows and Mountains (Schutte)
12. My Heart’s Thanksgiving (Schutte)
13. Praise God (Dufford, Foley)
Kyrie:
1. Kyrie
Mass 3rd Mass (Villanueva)
2. Ginoo,
Kaloy-I Kami
3. Maawa
Ka (Francisco – Reyes)
4. As We
Prepare
Gloria:
1. Gloria
Mass VIII (Villanueva)
2. Himaya
sa Dios II (Gloria)
3. Himaya
sa Dios III (Fernandez)
4. Luwalhati
sa Dios (Sengson)
5. Give
Glory to God
First Reading Ez
17:22-24
Thus says the Lord GOD:
I, too, will take from the crest of the cedar,
from its topmost branches tear off a tender shoot,
and plant it on a high and lofty mountain;
on the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it.
It shall put forth branches and bear fruit,
and become a majestic cedar.
Birds of every kind shall dwell beneath it,
every winged thing in the shade of its boughs.
And all the trees of the field shall know
that I, the LORD,
bring low the high tree,
lift high the lowly tree,
wither up the green tree,
and make the withered tree bloom.
As I, the LORD, have spoken, so will I do.
Responsorial Psalm Ps
92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16
R. (cf. 2a) Lord,
it is good to give thanks to you.
It is good to give thanks to the LORD,
to sing praise to your name, Most High,
To proclaim your kindness at dawn
and your faithfulness throughout the night.
R. Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
The just one shall flourish like the palm tree,
like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow.
They that are planted in the house of the LORD
shall flourish in the courts of our God.
R. Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
They shall bear fruit even in old age;
vigorous and sturdy shall they be,
Declaring how just is the LORD,
my rock, in whom there is no wrong.
R. Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
Second Reading 2
Cor 5:6-10
Brothers and sisters:
We are always courageous,
although we know that while we are at home in the body
we are away from the Lord,
for we walk by faith, not by sight.
Yet we are courageous,
and we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord.
Therefore, we aspire to please him,
whether we are at home or away.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,
so that each may receive recompense,
according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.
Gospel Acclamation:
1.
Aleluya, Lamdag Ka
2.
Pangitaa ang Gingharian
3.
Aleluya Kami ay Gawin Mong Daan
4.
Aleluya Wikain Mo
5.
Seek Ye First
6.
Sing Alleluia (Marcelo)
Jesus said to the crowds:
"This is how it is with the kingdom of God;
it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land
and would sleep and rise night and day
and through it all the seed would sprout and grow,
he knows not how.
Of its own accord the land yields fruit,
first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once,
for the harvest has come."
He said,
"To what shall we compare the kingdom of God,
or what parable can we use for it?
It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground,
is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.
But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants
and puts forth large branches,
so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade."
With many such parables
he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it.
Without parables he did not speak to them,
but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.
Personal
Reflections of the Readings:
THE
FORERUNNER OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
"In
those days, John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming,
"Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near.' This is the one of whom
the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, 'The voice of one crying out in the
wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.'" [Mt.
3:1-3, NRSV]
There are some who believe that the Kingdom of God has arrived in Heaven. There
are others who believe that it will come when Jesus physically returns to reign
for a thousand years on earth. Still others believe that the Kingdom of God is
inherited by simply having faith in Jesus Christ. Is the Kingdom of God truly
that easy to inherit? Which of these beliefs are biblically sound?
My brothers and sisters, children of God, today's presentation will review most
of the New Testament references to the "Kingdom of God". It will
teach you to understand the teachings of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic
Church.
THE PROMISED KINGDOM OF GOD
In the Old Testament, many references are found to the Lord's promise of His
coming Kingdom. [2 Sam. 7:12-3, 7:16; 1 Kgs 9:5; 1 Chr. 17:11-2, 17:14, 22:10;
Dan. 4:3, 4:34, 7:18, 7:27]
The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, not the God of the dead, but the God of
the living, [Mt. 22:32] promised to Abraham, "And in your descendants all
the families of the earth shall be blessed." [Acts. 3:25; Gal. 3:8] To
Abraham and his One Seed was the promise of the Spirit made, that his blessing
might be received by all through faith in Jesus. [Rom. 4:16; Gal. 3:14, 16]
Those who belong to Christ are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the
promise, because they have followed in the faith of he who is the spiritual
father of all Christians. [Mal. 2:15; Rom. 4:16; Gal. 3:19] The spiritual
children of Abraham, the children of the godly seed of Jesus, born anew of God,
[1 Jn. 3:9, 5:18] of imperishable seed, [1 Pet. 1:23] are those who will truly
inherit the eternal Kingdom of God.
CHRIST REVEALED THE KINGDOM OF GOD
"After John the Baptist was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming
the good news of God, and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of
God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.'" [Mk. 1:14-5]
Jesus stated that He must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God to the
other cities also, for He was sent by the Heavenly Father for this purpose.
[Lk. 4:43] "Jesus, accompanied by the twelve disciples, went about all the
cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good
news of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness." [Mt.
9:35; Lk. 8:1]
He also sent out His twelve disciples to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to
heal, giving them power and authority over all demons and to cure all diseases.
[Lk. 9:1-2]
Wherever Jesus went, when the crowds found out about it, they followed Him, and
He welcomed them. He spoke to them about the Kingdom of God, healing those who
needed to be cured. [Lk. 9:11]
Jesus's work of proclaiming the Kingdom of God did not end while He was on
earth. After His suffering, death and Resurrection, He presented himself alive
to His disciples by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days
and speaking about the Kingdom of God. [Acts 1:3]
"While staying with His disciples, Jesus ordered them not to leave
Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father." [Acts 1:4]
The disciples were told to wait a few days to be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD WAS AT HAND
When Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the
Gospel of the Kingdom, He healed all manner of disease among the people. He
told the people to repent for the Kingdom of God was at hand. [Mt. 3:2, 4:17,
4:23]
THE KINGDOM OF GOD
What was this Kingdom of God that Jesus was talking about? Jesus said,
"The Lord our God is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your
heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. Then,
You shall love your neighbour as yourself. There is no other commandment
greater than these." [Mk. 12:29-31] To the scribe who understood these
words, Jesus told him that he was not far from the Kingdom of God. [Mk. 12:34]
When asked who was the greatest in the Kingdom of God, Jesus answered,
"Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will
never enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is
the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in My
name welcomes Me." [Mt. 18:1-3]
"The Kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and
joy in the Holy Spirit." [Rom. 14:17]
Seeking further knowledge about the Kingdom of God, the followers of Jesus
frequently asked Him to tell them what it was like. [Mk. 4:30; Lk. 13:18, 20]
Jesus compared the Kingdom of God to a man who sowed seed in his field and
while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat. [Mt.
13:24-5] This parallels the Holy Catholic Church that was founded by Jesus. Its
field is the whole world. The good seed is the spiritual children of God within
the Holy Church. [Mt. 13:38] Satan plants deceivers among the people to mislead
God's children from the truth. [Mt. 13:39] These deceivers will be gathered by
the angels [Mt. 13:39] and burned where there will be weeping and gnashing of
teeth [Mt. 13:42] prior to the gathering of the spiritual children of God who
will rejoice in the eternal Kingdom of Heaven.
The Kingdom of God is like someone who scatters the seed on the ground. While
he sleeps and rises night and day, the seed sprouts and grows and he does not
know how. [Mk. 4:26] This represents the spiritual growth of the children of
God within the Holy Catholic Church. They persevere through all their worldly
obstacles. As no one can predict the movement of the wind, no one can predict
how the Holy Spirit will sanctify God's children.
The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his
field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the
greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and
make nests in its branches. [Mt. 13:31-2] Equally, the Holy Catholic Church,
the Body of Christ, was founded by Jesus Christ of the Divine seed of God. Its
origin was as a mustard seed, invisible to the eyes of those who lived in other
nations. Since its institution, the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church has
grown beyond the imagination of all, its branches stretching worldwide,
allowing all the spiritual children of God of all ages, races and nations to
find rest in the Lord Jesus.
In another parable, Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is like yeast that a
woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was
leavened. [Mt. 13:33] Equally, the Holy Catholic Church has risen and continues
to rise as yeast mixed with flour until it will come to its fulfillment on its
last day. The growth of the Holy Catholic Church is manifested through the
Three Presences of the Holy Trinity, the grace of God, the love of Jesus and
the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Kingdom of God is also compared to a king who wished to settle account with
his slaves. Christians are slaves of Christ, having been freed to now belong to
the Lord. [1 Cor. 7:22] They have been bought with a price. [1 Cor. 7:23] Those
who do not live according to the spiritual law of God will give account on the
day of Judgment. [Mt. 12:36] As the Lord Jesus has shown mercy towards all His
children, He expects them to show mercy towards others. [Mt. 18:33-5]
The Kingdom of Heaven is compared to the landowner who went out and hired
labourers during different hours of the day, paying them all the same wage.
This represents the freedom of God to do as He chooses with what belongs to
Him, assuring some souls their salvation early in life, others later in life.
The Kingdom of God is like the wise bridesmaid who took their lamp with them to
meet the bridegroom. They had oil to light their lamps when the bridegroom
arrived. Those who walk in the light of God, shine in the light of God. When
the day of Judgment comes upon them, the brightness of their spiritual wisdom
will shine, identifying them as belonging to the Lord.
Finally, the Kingdom of God is compared to the man who goes on a journey,
summons his slaves and entrusted his property to them. [Mt. 25:14] When he
returns, he finds that some appreciated the spiritual gifts that they had
received from the Holy Spirit, sharing them for the benefit of the whole Body
of Christ. Others were indifferent, allowing their spiritual gifts to remain
dormant. Those who have more will be given to them. The dormant ones will be
cast into outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
[Mt. 25:29-30]
THE LOCATION OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD
When the Pharisees inquired about the Kingdom of God, Jesus said that the
Kingdom of God is not something that can be observed; nor will they say,
"Look here it is!" or "There it is!" For in fact, the
Kingdom of God is among you. [Lk. 17:20-1] [Note: Some Bible translations say
"within you.]
When questioned by Pilate as to where His Kingdom was, Jesus said, "My
Kingdom is not from this world. If My Kingdom were from this world, My
followers would be fighting to keep Me from being handed over to the Jews. But
as it is, My Kingdom is not from here." [Jn. 18:36]
It is very important for Christians to realize from the two previous passages
that the Kingdom of God is not physical in nature. It is an invisible,
spiritual Kingdom, among [within] the people.
BEING CALLED INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD
All are called to participate in the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is like
a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. [Mt. 22:2] This equals the
Heavenly Father giving a wedding banquet for His Son Jesus Christ, the Church
being the bride. As many were indifferent to the king's invitation to
participate in the wedding banquet, today, many are unworthy of God's grace,
refusing to attend the celebration of the Holy Mass in the Body of Christ to
receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist as the Bread of eternal life for
the glory of the Heavenly Father. They shall all be destroyed. Those who
recognize the grace of God, joyfully participate in the Kingdom of God, in the
celebration of the Holy Mass. Many are called, but few are chosen [Mt. 22:14]
because they are blind to the truth.
Through the Sacrament of Baptism, a believer becomes a child of God, having
received a new heart and a new spirit. Through the gift of the human spirit, he
worships God in spirit during the celebration of the Holy Mass. His human
spirit truly stands in the Sacred Presence of Jesus, partaking in the great
Feast in the honour of the Lord Jesus.
Those who are called, are urged, encouraged and plead to lead a life worthy of
God who calls them into His own Kingdom and glory. [1 Thes. 2:12]
The goal of every sincere Christian should be to deserve the Heavenly Kingdom
by the grace of God. The Lord will stand by him and give him strength so that
through him, the Christian, the message of the Heavenly Kingdom might be fully
proclaimed so all can hear it. The Lord will rescue him from every evil attack
and save him for His Heavenly Kingdom. [2 Tim. 4:16-8]
RELIGIOUS CALLING
The Bible teaches that there is a special calling for those who choose the
celibate life for the sake of the Kingdom of God. This is not something that
everyone can understand. "There are eunuchs who have been so from birth,
and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are
eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Let anyone accept this who can." [Mt. 19:12]
In the above passage, the words of Jesus are not associated with castration.
Since the beginning of Christianity, the early Church has understood Jesus'
words to imply the choosing of the celibate life to serve God towards the
growth and glory of the Kingdom of Heaven.
This call has been answered millions of times in the history of the Holy
Catholic Church by those who have chosen the religious life, serving the Lord
in true love. They served the poor of the world by satisfying their basic needs
of education, health care, spiritual teachings, etc... All of those who have
seriously answered this call, have found the Kingdom of God.
THE ARRIVAL OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD
When will the Kingdom of God come? Since the time of Jesus, some expected the
Kingdom of God to suddenly appear. [Lk. 19:11] Dealing with this issue, Jesus
said, "But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out the demons, then
the Kingdom of God has come to you." [Lk. 11:20; Mt. 12:28] What was Jesus
implying? Was He saying that the Kingdom of God was already here or that it
would soon be here?
Jesus answered that question in the Gospel of Mark, "Truly, I tell you,
there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the
Kingdom of God has come with power." [Mk. 9:1] These words are found again
in Matthew 16:28 and Luke 9:27.
Jesus gave many signs as to the time of the arrival of the Kingdom of God on
earth. He foretold the destruction of the Temple and of Jerusalem. [Mt. 24:1-2,
15-28; Mk. 13:1-2, 14-23; Lk. 21:5- 6, 20-4] That happened about 64 A.D..
Jesus foretold that some would claim to be the Messiah [Mt. 24:5] and He
predicted the desolating sacrilege standing in the holy place as was spoken by
the prophet Daniel. [Mt. 24:15] History tells us that about 40 A.D., the mad
Emperor Caligula had ordered a sacrilegious desecration of the Temple in
Jerusalem by the erection of an idol to himself in the very Holy of Holies.
Acts 12:20-3 also tells us that Herod Agrippa I, the grandson of Herod the
Great, died in 44 A.D. when he was struck by an angel of God for his pride when
the people acclaimed him as a god.
Jesus foretold of famines. [Mt. 24:7] The famine during the reign of Claudius
has been confirmed through remaining historical records of those days. It took
place around year 44, a decade after the crucifixion of Jesus. The life of St.
Paul that is thoroughly covered in the New Testament clearly tells us about the
famine. St. Paul was collecting money from the believers to deliver to
Jerusalem as a result of the predictions that were given to early Christians
through the Holy Spirit.
Jesus foretold many other things that also came to past. He predicted the
coming of persecution, [Mt. 24:3-14; Mk. 13:3-13; Lk. 21:7-19] this confirmed
by the persecution of the early Church. He foretold the signs of the Coming of
the Son of Man, [Mt. 24:29-31; Mk. 13:24-7; Lk. 21:25-8] this confirmed by His
Resurrection.
Using the fig tree as an example, [Mt. 24:32-5; Mk. 13:28-31; Lk. 21:29-31],
Jesus gave a specific time frame as to when the Kingdom of God would arrive.
Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until
all things have taken place." [Mt. 24:34-5; Mk. 13:30-1; Lk. 21:32-3] The
key words here are "this generation." Contrary to what many proclaim
today, saying that all the previous mentioned Biblical signs of the end of time
apply to today, the Kingdom of God arrived before the passing away of the
generation that was living at the time of Christ. That was 2,000 years ago,
when the Kingdom of God arrived.
As sad as it is to say once more, misled Catholics and non- Catholics alike are
using Chapter 24 of the Gospel of Matthew as the signs of the end of time to
support their falsehood of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to physically
reign on earth for a thousand years. They deliberately omit the Bible verses in
Matthew 24:34-5, Mark 13:30-1 and Luke 21:32-3. They reject the Divine Words of
Jesus as being the truth. They have placed themselves above the Almighty Lord
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God.
Such deception, the deliberate omission of the last spoken Words of Jesus in
the given signs, even embraces alleged private messages received from Our Lady
of Fatima, these messages being freely distributed throughout the Holy Catholic
Church as being authentic.
Then, Jesus said, "Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down
with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day
catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the
face of the whole earth." [Lk. 21:34-5] When the Kingdom of God will
arrive, it will touch everyone who lives on the entire face of the earth.
Surely, if such is the case, everyone must have heard of it by now! And they
have heard of it! And they have been touched by the Kingdom of God, through the
new birth that is manifested in the Sacrament of Baptism!
To narrow down the time of the coming of the Kingdom of God, Jesus said to
learn from the fig tree. "As soon as its branch becomes tender and puts
forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these
things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates." [Lk.
21: 29-31; Mt. 24:32-3; Mk. 13:28-9] The Kingdom of God was no longer years
away but rather as close as the Summer season when the fig tree will put forth
its leaves. The Gospels of Matthew and Mark state "HE IS NEAR" while
the Gospel of Luke states that "THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR", at the very
gates. That means that the Son of Man and His Kingdom was to arrive at that
time, in the days of Jesus.
The signs that were given before the end of "this generation" were
the things that followed the death of Christ. When carefully reviewing the
entire content of Chapter 24 from the Gospel of Matthew, it reveals that the
Son of Man, Jesus Himself, already came as in the days of Noah and few were
aware of it, being blinded by their worldly ways. [Mt. 24:36-9]
As was previously said and needs to be taught to the misled Catholics, this
truth is supported by the fact that the destruction of the Temple happened in
year 64 A.D. [Mt. 24:1-2] The first signs refer to the persecution of the early
Christians. [Mt. 24:3- 12] Matthew 24:13-5 refers to the growth of the Church.
The destruction of the worldly Jerusalem also happened around 70 A.D. [Mt.
24:15-21] A few survived the invasion and were taken as prisoners. [Mt. 24:22]
Then followed deception, the anti-christs of the early Christian Church who
were preaching false teachings, etc... [Mt. 24:23-28]
WHEN THE KINGDOM OF GOD BEGAN
Let us look at the following Bible passages. "Repent, for the Kingdom of
Heaven has come near." [Mt. 3:2] "From the time Jesus began to
proclaim, 'Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near.'" [Mt.4:17]
"As you go, proclaim the good news, 'The Kingdom of Heaven has come
near.'" [Mt. 10:7] "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to
him, 'The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house
with My disciples.'" [Mt. 26:18] "Then He came to the disciples and
said to them, 'Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at
hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us
be going. See, My betrayer is at hand." [Mt. 26:45-6]
In each of the above passages, we see the meaning of the words "has come
near" and "at hand." These words are not symbolic of something
one hundred or one thousand years away but rather of something just about to
happen.
To further understand the coming of the Kingdom of God, it is necessary to look
at other passages. In Matthew, we read, "And from the days of John the
Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent
take it by force." [Mt. 11:12]
Who is the violent one who took the Kingdom of Heaven by force? It is Satan!
"There was a war that broke out in Heaven. Michael and his angels fought
against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, but they were
defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in Heaven. The great dragon
was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the
deceiver of the whole world - he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels
were thrown down with him." [Rev. 12:7-9]
Then arrived the Kingdom of God! "Now have come the salvation and the
power and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of His Messiah, for the
accuser of our comrades has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night
before our God." [Rev. 12:10] "When the seventy returned with joy,
saying, 'Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!' Jesus said to them,
'I watched Satan fall from Heaven like a flash of lightning.'" [Lk.
10:17-8]
The fall of Satan from Heaven was the beginning of the establishment of the
Kingdom of God in Heaven. The Archangel Michael prepared the way for Christ's
Kingdom in Heaven and on earth. Christ was raised from the dead, the Firstfruit
of many to follow in His Kingdom. [1 Cor. 15:20]
"They, (the Christian martyrs) have conquered Satan by the Blood of the
Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not cling to life even in
the face of death." [Rev. 12:11] The Kingdom of God came on earth through
the faithful martyrs of the early Catholic Church who gave their blood to
conquer the deception of Satan, placing Christ as the Ruler of this world.
This truth is affirmed daily throughout the world by the Christians who repeat
the words of Jesus that are taught in the Lord' Prayer. "Your Kingdom
come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven." [Mt. 6:10] Christ
is the King who rules His Kingdom in Heaven and on earth. He will reign until
He has put His enemies under His feet. "Then comes the end," (the
complete end of the physical world as we know it.) "when He will hand over
the Kingdom to God the Father, after He has destroyed every ruler and every
authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under
His feet." [1 Cor. 15:24-5]
The following passage clearly teaches that Christ's Kingdom is in Heaven and on
earth. "The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His
Kingdom rules over all. Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who
do His bidding, obedient to His spoken word. Bless the Lord, all His hosts, His
ministers that do His will. Bless the Lord, all His works, in all places of His
dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul." [Ps. 103:19-22] The last quote
mentions the hosts of Heaven and the priests of the Holy Catholic Church on
earth as ministers, those who answered their religious calling and all the
faithful Catholics who obey and serve the Lord Jesus.
Some may insist that a passage in the Gospel of Mark refers to a catastrophe
yet to come in the end time. "But in those days, after that suffering, the
sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will
be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken."
[Mk. 13:24-25]
Let us examine that passage. "But in those days, after the suffering"
refers to the time frame around the suffering and death of Christ. "The
sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light" refers to the
darkness over the land at the time of crucifixion. [See Mt. 27:45] At that
moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth
shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of
the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. [Mt. 27:51-4]
The stars falling from Heaven refers to the fall of Satan and his followers.
"His tail swept down a third of the stars of Heaven and threw them to the
earth." [Rev. 12:4] Angels are frequently referred to as "stars"
in the Bible. The shaking of the power in the Heavens refers to the battle
between the Archangel Michael and Satan. [See Rev. 12:7-9 above.] From these
passages in the Gospel of Mark, it is truthfully concluded that this reference
was to the time of Christ and not to a future event yet to come.
The Bible holds many truths that cannot be learned unless Catholics read the
Bible on a daily basis while seeking to grow in the knowledge and understanding
of the truth.
THE RULER OF THE EARTHLY KINGDOM OF GOD
Earlier, it was stated that Christ must reign until He has put all His enemies
under His feet. [1 Cor. 15:24-5] Before ascending to His Heavenly Kingdom,
Christ appointed a representative on earth as head of His Holy Catholic and
Apostolic Church, the One and Only Body of Christ. The appointed spiritual
leader was the Apostle Peter.
Jesus said, "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build
My Church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you
the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound
in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven." [Mt.
16:18-9]
Today, the present spiritual leader of the One and Only Body of Christ is the
elected Pope, the direct successor of Saint Peter, he having been appointed by
Jesus Christ Himself to lead the Holy Mother Church.
When Jesus said, "on this rock I will build My Church," He was saying
"in My Most Holy Name, I will build My Church through you." Where is
this supported in the Bible? It is in the numerous Bible passages that refer to
the Lord as the Rock. [Ps. 18:2, 31:3, 61:2, 61:2, 61:6, 71:3, 89:26, 92:15,
94:22; 1 Cor. 10:4]
The previously mentioned passages in the Gospel of Matthew clearly teach that
those who have separated themselves from the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Roman
Church that is in direct succession with Peter, will be judged by God according
to the mercy that is shown to them by the Holy Mother Church under Pope John-
Paul II who is the one and only true spiritual leader of the Body of Christ.
What the Holy Mother Church binds on earth, will be bound in Heaven. Those who
reject the authority of the Pope as the representative of Christ, are literally
rejecting the authority of Christ Himself.
HOW THE KINGDOM OF GOD CAME ON EARTH
How does the believer enter the Kingdom of God on earth? Jesus answered that
question. "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the Kingdom of God
without being born from above." "No one can enter the Kingdom of God
without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and
what is born of the Spirit is spirit." [Jn. 3:3-6]
To be born again means to receive the new creation, the new spirit of the Holy
Spirit. [Rom. 6:4; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15; Jas. 4:5] That is what it means to
be reborn. God actually creates a new mind and a new spirit inside the newly
baptized person. [Jn. 3:3, 5, 7] The person is truly not the same anymore, his
spiritual creation having been changed.
The Sacrament of Baptism in the Catholic Church is a necessity to enter the
Kingdom of God. Those who believed Philip who was proclaiming the good news
about the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ, were baptized. [Acts
8:12]
Through the Sacrament of Baptism, God rescues the Christian from the power of
darkness and transfers him into the Kingdom of His beloved Son in whom the
Christian finds his redemption and the forgiveness of sin. [Col. 1:13-4] Please
read this passage! You are "transferred" into the Kingdom of His
beloved Son!
Through the Sacrament of Baptism, Christians come to the Lord as a living
stone, chosen and precious in God's sight like living stones. They let
themselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer
spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. [1 Pet. 2:4-5]
They become God's Kingdom of priests, the common priesthood and a holy nation.
[Ex. 19:6]
Not all those who are baptized and enter God's Kingdom on earth will be entitled
to remain in God's Heavenly Kingdom. Those who are baptized must live their
faith in love, hope and charity. Jesus said, "The Son of Man will send His
angels, and they will collect out of His Kingdom all causes of sin and all
evil-doers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire..." [Mt.
13:41-2] "Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of
their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!" [Mt. 13:43]
Notice the words that Jesus said, "They will collect out of His
Kingdom." This is a warning to all those who are baptized and believe that
they are saved without a necessity to have a living faith in Christ as sincere
and active Christian. They will be removed from the Kingdom of God on earth,
the furnace of fire awaiting them!
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
To fully appreciate how the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church is the physical,
spiritual and Mystical Kingdom of God on earth, it is necessary to review a
passage in the Book of Revelation. "Then I saw a new heaven and a new
earth: for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea
was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of
heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." [Rev.
21:1-3]
When God's servant John "saw the new Heaven", he was making reference
to the victory in the Heavenly Kingdom of God where Christ became the Firstborn
of many to follow. Michael had won the battle against Satan who was cast to
earth so Christ could begin His Heavenly rule. The new Heavenly Kingdom became
the home of the righteous children of God who died in Christ, those souls
entering the Heavenly Kingdom of God after Christ had entered as the Firstborn.
The "new earth" that John refers to is the spiritual transformation
that started on earth through the Holy Roman Catholic Church, its members being
reborn in spirit of the seed of God through the Sacrament of Baptism. Through
the blood of the martyr of the Catholic Church, the spiritual earthly Church
began its spiritual growth.
"The first Heaven passed away" as the dwelling home of God that was
previously limited to the angels. Satan was cast out of Heaven. The door was
now open to the children of God, the spirits of the souls that had died on
earth and qualified to inherit eternal life. These souls and spirits could not
enter God's Kingdom, the new Heaven, until such time as Christ had resurrected
and had been placed on the Throne by the Heavenly Father as the Firstfruit of
many to follow.
"The first earth" had passed away because through the Blood of
Christ, Satan lost his control over humanity. A new earth was being created
through the Holy Catholic Church and its members of invisible spirits, the
common priesthood, those who will inherit eternal life. Prior to the ministry
of Christ, none (with the exception of the Virgin Mary who was born Immaculate)
had received the new birth through Baptism, the new spirit that would assure
them eternal life.
"The holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband" is referred to in its
developmental stage in Luke 24:33, 47, 52; Acts 1:4, 8, 12, The formation of
the new city, the New Jerusalem began when Christ resurrected and appeared to
the believers in Jerusalem. It was the beginning of the growth of the Holy
Roman Catholic Church. Christ came down from God and gave the Holy Spirit to
His followers on the day of Pentecost. At that day, in that little room
upstairs in Jerusalem, began the new spiritual holy city of God, the new
Jerusalem. The new Jerusalem is the spiritual Church, the bride of Christ,
adorned for Christ.
Revelation 21:3 concludes by saying, "See, the home of God is among
mortals. He will dwell with them as their God. They will be His peoples, and
God Himself will be with them."
The Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church of Rome had its beginning in Jerusalem.
While Jerusalem is the spiritual seat of the Kingdom of God, its physical seat
in found in Rome where the Holy Mother Church holds the keys to the Kingdom of
God.
Then, Revelation 21:4 states, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more, mourning and crying and pain will be no more. For the
first things have passed away." Indeed, those who have been born again,
having received their newly created spirit in the Sacrament of Baptism, now
have eternal life. At physical death, the consciousness of their souls will
continue to live through their inherited gift of the human spirit. Their human
spirit will never die, mourn, cry or endure pain, Christ having wiped away the
tears from their eyes. Those who have been baptized in the Holy Roman Catholic
Church and who have received the gift of the new spirit, know that the first
things have truly passed away! They are walking in the newness of Christ.
THE SACRAMENT OF THE MOST HOLY EUCHARIST
At the Lord's Supper, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, I will never again
drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the
Kingdom of God." [Mt. 26:29; Mk. 14:25; Lk. 22:18] He repeated the same
words regarding eating food again. [Lk. 22:16]
In Luke 24:30, we read that after His resurrection, Jesus took bread, blessed
it, broke it and gave it to His followers. Again, in Jn. 21:15, we read that
Jesus had breakfast with the disciples. These passages clearly reveal to us
that the Kingdom of God has arrived. Jesus was once more drinking and eating in
His Kingdom, with the first members of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church
that is His earthly Kingdom.
Today, how can Catholics share a meal with the Lord Jesus? It is by receiving
the Most Holy Eucharist during the celebration of the Holy Mass. Jesus said,
"Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and
drink His blood, you have no life in you." [Jn. 6:53] It is insufficient
to be baptized and to be reborn! One must now live his faith by participating
in the Most Holy Eucharist that is the Body and Blood of Christ. [Mt. 26:26-30;
Mk. 14:22-6; Lk. 22:14-23; 1 Cor. 11:23-6] Without the Holy Eucharist, one has
no life in him. He is dead! His human spirit cannot maintain the righteousness
that is necessary to inherit eternal life!
By receiving the Most Holy Eucharist during the celebration of the Holy Mass,
the soul and spirit of the Catholic believer who is a member of the common
priesthood in the Kingdom of God, receives the necessary life that assures the
continued preservation of his soul in righteousness. This is necessary to
guaranteed the individual Catholic's right to the eternal Kingdom of God in
Heaven through his newly created spirit.
All Catholics have truly tasted at one time or another the Kingdom of God with
the fullness of its joy and peace. One such moment was during the Christmas
season. While participating in the Christmas Mass, surrounded by the echo of
holy songs, the spirits of the Catholics were spiritually uplifted. In their
midst, they truly tasted the spiritual atmosphere that is found in the Kingdom
of God on earth.
That spiritual elevation was reached because, days ahead, they had prepared
themselves for that special event. If Catholics were to prepare themselves
daily throughout the year to partake in the Kingdom of God on earth, they would
experience the ongoing joys of Christmas Day. Such joy would come from
participating in the celebration of the Holy Mass at which time they are
receiving the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, sharing in the Lord's Supper
with the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
THE CONDITIONS TO SHARE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Every Catholic should search his soul and ask himself if he is meeting the
conditions to sit at the table within the Kingdom of Heaven on earth with
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. There will be gnashing of teeth when some see all the
prophets in the Kingdom of God and they themselves are thrown out. [Mt. 8:11;
Lk. 13:28]
Let us consider some of the conditions that are necessary to qualify for the
Kingdom of God. Among those born of women on earth, there are none greater than
John the Baptist. Yet, the less important person, the humble one, is greater
than John the Baptist in the Kingdom of Heaven. [Mt. 11:11; Lk. 7:28]
The Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who have a heart like little children
who are innocent. [Mt. 19:14; Mk. 10:14, Lk. 18:16- 7] Innocent children have
true love, freely sharing with others. They do not discriminate. They show compassion
for the persecuted, reaching out to the poor and the sick. That is what life is
like in the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. Childhood acts of love are present
everywhere.
Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God
as a little child will never enter it." [Mk. 10:15] The sincere Christian
must wholeheartedly welcome what the Heavenly Father allows to come his way,
even the earthly trials that serve to purify the soul, these being the
assurance of an eternal reward.
The Kingdom of God belongs to those who are poor in spirit, [Mt. 5:3] those
whose spirit hungers for the spiritual, finding no true happiness in this
world. It belongs to the poor, [Lk. 6:20] those who are persecuted for
righteousness. [Lk. 5:10]
Catholics who have experienced the rebirth of the spirit in Christ are Divinely
called and obligated to take a stand for righteousness. For the Kingdom of God
depends not on talk but on power. [1 Cor. 4:20] "For it is not the hearers
of the law who are righteous in God's sight, but the doers of the law who will
be justified." [Rom. 2:13] "For one believes with the heart and so is
justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved." [Rom. 10:10]
"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" "But
not all have obeyed the good news." [Rom. 10:15-6] Not all will stand up
and be counted as faithful Catholics by living their faith in Christ and
correcting others who have fallen from the true faith.
Joseph of Arimathea, the respected member of the council, shined in his faith
when He boldly asked Pilate for the body of Christ. [MK. 15:43; Lk. 23:51]
Loving God is required to inherit the Kingdom of God. "Has not God chosen
the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the Kingdom that
He has promised to those who love him?" [Jas. 2:5]
The Kingdom of God is answering one's call to serve the Lord. "Be all the
more eager to confirm your call and election, for if you do this, you will
never stumble. For in this way, entry into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you." [2 Pet. 1:10-1]
Two thousand years ago, Jesus commanded that those who want to follow Him, must
go and preach the good news, saying that the Kingdom of Heaven has come near.
[Mt. 10:7] His followers obeyed this command. [Acts 19:8, 28:23, 31] Having
proclaimed the good news to other, they strengthened the souls of other
Christians, encouraging them to continue in the faith, teaching, "It is
through many persecutions that we must enter the Kingdom of God." [Acts.
14:22]
The loyal perseverance and faith that the Catholic receives from God during all
his persecution and the afflictions that he is enduring are evidence of the
righteous judgment of God. It is intended to make him worthy of the Kingdom of
God for which he suffers alongside with other Catholics. [2 Thes. 1:4-5] Over
and above this, the co-workers for the Kingdom of God are a comfort to one
another. [Col. 4:11]
Jesus said not to worry about the worldly needs of foods, drink and clothing.
The Heavenly Father knows what those needs are. "Strive first for the
Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all those needs will be given to you
as well." [Mt. 6:33] Here, Jesus states in a parable that the spiritual
needs of the Catholic shall be provided here on earth. He speaks of the
spiritual food and the living water that the spiritually wise shall be provided
with so they can shine like the brightness of the sky. Those who lead many to
righteousness, they will shine like stars forever and ever. [Dan. 12:3]
Jesus said that those who breaks one of the least of the commandments and
teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven.
But whoever obeys them and teaches them to other, he will be called great in
the Kingdom of Heaven. [Mt. 5:19]
Jesus emphasized the need to have a strong faith. It is easier for tax
collectors and prostitutes to go into the Kingdom of God ahead of others
because they believe. Some, even after seeing the signs of God, have not change
their minds, nor believed the words of the Lord. [Mt. 21:33]
To those who live righteously, the King will say to them who are on His right,
"Come, you are blessed by My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world." [Mt. 25:34]
THOSE WHO WILL NOT QUALIFY FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Not all will be on the right. Some will be on the left. To those on the left,
He will say, "You that are accursed, depart from Me into the eternal fire
prepared for the devil and his angels." [Mt. 25:41]
What have these souls done to be called accursed? Prior to the coming of John
the Baptist, the Laws of Moses and the prophets were sent to teach the way to
God. Since then, the good news of the Kingdom of God has been proclaimed. Now,
everyone tries to enter it by force. It is easier for Heaven and earth to pass
away than for one stroke of a letter of God's Laws to be dropped. [Lk. 16:16-7]
The Kingdom of God will be denied to those who interfere with the
sanctification of others. These are the hypocrites who cross the sea and land
to make new converts. Having arrived abroad, they make the converts children of
hell twice as bad as themselves by not practicing what they preach. [Mt.
23:13-5]
"Not everyone who says to Jesus, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the Kingdom of
Heaven, but only the one who does the will of the Father in Heaven." On
that day, many will say to Jesus that they prophesied in His Name, cast out
demons in His Name and did many deeds of power in His Name. To them, He will
declare, "I never knew you; go away from Me, you evildoers." [Mt.
7:21--3]
Unless the righteousness of the believers exceeds the righteousness of the
scribes and Pharisees, the believer will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
[Mt. 5:20] The scribes who defined the laws had become like the Pharisees who's
hearts were ruled by traditional beliefs in the law, leaving no room for mercy.
They criticized Jesus for healing on the Sabbath, maintaining the laws while
failing to see Divine acts of love that surpassed the laws.
Wrongdoers will not inherit the Kingdom of God. "Do not be deceived!
Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites, thieves, the
greedy, drunkards, revilers, (users of abusive language) robbers - none of
these will inherit the Kingdom of God." [1 Cor. 6:9-10]
Nor will those who enjoy the works of the flesh enter the Kingdom of God.
"The works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity,
licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels,
dissensions, actions, envy, drunkenness, carousing and things like these. I am
warning you, as I warned you before: those who do these things will not inherit
the Kingdom of God." [Gal. 5:19-21] "Be assured of this, that no
fornicator or impure person, or one who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has
any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God." [Eph. 5:5]
Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter
the Kingdom of Heaven. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a
needle than for someone who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God." [Mt.
19:23-4; Mk. 10:23-5; Lk. 18:24-5]
The Lord Jesus also said, "If your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out.
It is better for you to enter the Kingdom of God with one eye than to have two
eyes and to be thrown into hell where their worm never dies, and the fire is
never quenched." [Mk. 9:47]
When Jesus spoke of letting the dead bury their dead, to go and preach the
Kingdom of God, He was speaking of those who are spiritually dead. [Lk. 9:60]
The spiritually dead are as unmarked graves on which people walk without
realizing it. [Lk. 11:44] The spiritually dead do not want to change. They love
their sinful ways. It is more valuable to give one's time to helping the
sincere to grow in the Lord Jesus [Lk. 10:7-9] than to waste one's time on
those who hear but do not act. They are blind and deaf to the truth. Their
vision is limited to this world, having no concern for eternal life.
"No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom
of God." [Lk. 9:62] Those who will inherit the Kingdom of God are those
who know the meaning of self-sacrifice. It is those who will not regret having
given their lives to obey and serve the Lord in accordance to the will of the
Heavenly Father.
"There is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or
children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, who will not get back very much
more in this age, and in the age to come eternal life." [Lk. 18:29-30]
They will be spiritually blessed in the present invisible Kingdom of God on
earth that is entered through the Sacraments of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic
Church. It is them who will inherit the eternal Kingdom of God after their
physical death.
Based on these conditions, many feel that it is impossible to inherit the
Kingdom of God. To this, Jesus answered, "For mortals it is impossible,
but for God all things are possible." [Mt. 19:26] Repent now, recognizing
and appreciating the sacrifice of the Lamb of God and the Lord will open your
eyes to His Kingdom.
At that time, in the presence of God, Jesus will judge the living and the dead
when He will appear with His Heavenly Kingdom. [2 Tim. 4:1] Those who remain
indifferent to their salvation are being judged now by Jesus in the presence of
God. His Kingdom is here now. The Good Shepherd knows His children and they
know Him.
THE RULER OF THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GOD
"Dominion belongs to the Lord and He rules over the nations. [Ps. 22:28]
This is affirmed in the Lord's Prayer, "For the Kingdom and the power and
the glory are Yours forever. Amen." [Mt. 6:13]
In the same prayer, Catholics pray daily that the Kingdom of God will come in
their heart on earth as it is in Heaven. [Mt. 6:10; Lk. 11:2] They pray that
the Lord will open their eyes so they can perceive the present invisible
Kingdom that has been growing since the foundation of the Holy Roman Catholic
Church through Christ.
The Throne of the Son will be forever and ever and the righteous scepter is the
scepter of His Kingdom. [Ps. 45:6; Heb. 1:8] "He is the living God,
enduring forever. His Kingdom shall never be destroyed, and His dominion has no
end." [Dan. 6:26] "To Him was given dominion and glory and Kingship,
that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him." [Dan. 7:14]
"All Your works shall give thanks to You, O Lord, and all Your faithful
shall bless You. They shall speak of the glory of Your Kingdom, and tell of
Your power, to make known to all people Your mighty deeds, and the glorious
splendor of Your Kingdom. Your Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and Your
dominion endures throughout all generations." [Ps. 145:10-13]
THE END OF THE WORLD
When shall the end of the world come? It will be when the end of the Kingdom of
God has been fulfilled to its end on earth! When Jesus spoke of the end to come
in Matthew 24:14, He said it would be when the good news of the Kingdom will
have been proclaimed throughout the world as a testimony to all the nations.
Many feel that since the Bible is presently translated in thousands of
languages and available worldwide, over and above the symbolic signs of
worldwide natural disasters that they see around them, the end is near. In
response to this belief, can it be said that the good news of the Kingdom of
God is presently being proclaimed throughout the world?
The world has yet to begin to preach the true Kingdom of God as it is being
taught in the Bible. While many are waiting for a physical Kingdom to come on
earth, they have failed to hear to words of the Lord Jesus, that His Kingdom on
earth is invisible. It consists of those who are reborn, having received the
new creation, the new spirit of the common priesthood. Only those souls will
qualify as children of God to inherit the eternal Kingdom of Heaven if they
persist in their living faith.
Those who persist to the end, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet,
will be raised imperishable and they will be changed. [1 Cor. 15:52]
"Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, nor does the
perishable inherit the imperishable." [1 Cor. 15:50]
WHY SOME HAVE NOT PERCEIVED THE TRUTH ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Why have some not perceived the truth about the worldly Kingdom of God? It is
because they have perceived the truth as they want to perceive the truth, to
satisfy their physical needs rather than their spiritual needs.
Did Jesus not say, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the
Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to those who have,
more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have
nothing, even what they have will be taken away." [Mt. 13:11-2; Mk. 4:11;
Lk. 8:10] Those who are blind, walking in the darkness, will lose all what they
possess on earth. Those who are spiritually enlightened, will grow in the grace
of the Lord for the truth shall guide them towards eternal life.
"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which someone
found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys the
field." [Mt. 13:44] Those who are spiritually enlightened, turn their
lives over to the Lord Jesus, for they know that nothing in this world can be
measured to the eternal life that awaits them.
"The Kingdom of God is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. On
finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought
it." [Mt. 13:45] The Christian who has discovered the love, joy and peace,
power and providence of the Lord Jesus, knows that no other worldly treasure
can surpass His gracious blessings and awesomeness.
"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and
caught fish of every kind. When it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and
put the good into baskets but threw out the bad." [Mt. 13:47-8] The
Heavenly Father has called all the citizens of the world to be reborn in Christ
by the power of the Holy Spirit. But not all appreciate this gift. Some have
received it and remained indifferent to it. When the Heavenly net draws those
who have been reborn, they will be sorted according to the actions of their free
will.
It is no wonder that Jesus said to strive for the Kingdom of God and everything
else will be given to you. [Lk. 12:31]
CONCLUSION
How long must the world remain blind, refusing to believe that the Kingdom of
God is here, having arrived in the days of the early Church? The first Catholic
martyrs were among the first living members of the Kingdom of God on earth.
Those who are blind will continue to be blind as in the days of Noah. [Mt.
24:37-9]
How many times must it be said that "the Kingdom of God has come
near" you? [Lk. 10:10-1] "You know what time it is, how it is now the
moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when
we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside
the works of darkness and put on the armour of light." [Rom. 13:11-2]
Those who have received the Sacrament of Baptism by the grace of the Heavenly
Father, have entered the Kingdom of God on earth through the new birth of their
human spirit in Christ and the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit who
preserves them from the evil one.
Since you have received a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, you should give
thanks, offering to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe. [Heb.
12:28]
My brothers and sisters in Christ, now you know why the Kingdom of God has
become the greatest of all.
Offertory:
1. Diyutay
Lang Kini
2. Nagahalad
Kami
3. Gasa
sa Gugma
4. Daygon
Ikaw Ginoong Dios
5. Ang Tanging Alay Ko
6. Isang Pagkain, Isang Katawan, Isang Bayan (San
Pedro) Best choice
7. Unang Alay (Magnaye)
8. Earthen Vessels (Foley) Stanza 2 ang priority.
9. One Bread, One Body (Foley) Stanza 3 ang
priority.
10. The Seed
Sanctus:
1. Sanctus
3rd Mass (Villanueva)
2. Sanctus
Mass V (Villanueva)
3. Santos
I Chord of C F G
4. Santo,
Santo, Santo (Que)
5. Holy,
Holy, Holy (Benitez)
Acclamation:
1. Si
Kristo atong Handumon
2. Among
Gihandum
3. Si
Kristo ay Gunitain (Ramirez)
4. Si
Kristo’y Namatay (Hontiveros)
5. Sa
Krus mo at Pagkabuhay
6. Christ
Has Died (Bayogos)
7. When
We Eat This Bread
Amen:
1. Amen
(Fernandez)
2. Amen C
(GKK Nagaawit Nagadayeg Songbook)
3. Dakilang
Amen (Francisco)
4. Amen
(WYD 95)
Pater Noster:
Your
choice… Please choose the song that all parishioners can sing with you J
Agnus
Dei:
1. Agnus
Dei 3rd Mass (Villanueva)
2. Kordero
sa Dios (Fernandez)
3. Kordero
ng Diyos (Arboleda-Francisco)
4. Lam of
God (Folk)
Pater Noster:
As usual, choose the best Our Father, Ama Namin, Amahan Namo
which everyone in the church can sing with you J
Communion:
1.
Misyon sa Tawo, sibo sa Ebanghelyo
2. Kini
Maong Akong Lawas
3.
Ako ang Kahayag, best choice as this songs describes also his Kingdom
4.
Dios Nia Ko
5. Narito Ako (San Andres)
6. Narito Ako, Panginoon (Que)
7. Patnubay (Cuyugkeng, Caguioa, Sta. Maria, La
Vina)
8. Here I am, Lord (Schutte)
9. On Eagle’s Wings (Joncas)
10. Without Seeing You (Haas)
Recessional:
1. Diocesan Shared Vision
2. Ang Tawag, best choice
3. Maliban na Mahulog sa Lupa (Best choice)
4. Tanda ng Kaharian ng Diyos
5. All My Days (Schutte, Murray)
Have a blessed week everyone J
