Saturday, March 1, 2014

Catechism L5-15 The Good Shepherd



 Prayer Before Studying
Incomprehensible Creator, the true Fountain of light and only Author of all knowledge: vouchsafe, we beseech Thee, to enlighten our understandings, and to remove from us all darkness of sin and ignorance. Thou, who makest eloquent the tongues of those that want utterance, direct our tongues, and pour on our lips the grace of Thy blessing. Give us a diligent and obedient spirit, quickness of apprehension, capacity of retaining, and the powerful assistance of Thy holy grace; that what we hear or learn we may apply to Thy honor and the eternal salvation of our own souls.

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Holy Spirit, giver of all good gifts, enter into my mind and heart. Give me the gift of knowledge, wisdom, understanding and the grace to use it wisely. Help me in all my endeavors. Give me perseverance and fortitude. Help my memory, that I may remember what I learn and recall it when necessary. Guide me in my studies. You who are the Way, the Truth, and the Life, let me not be deceived by false teaching. Our Lady of Good Studies, pray for me. Amen.


Prayer to follow the Good Shepherd
My God and Father, give me new strength from the courage of Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. He is our Good Shepherd. Let me hear the sound of His voice, lead my steps in the path He has shown, that I may receive His help and enjoy the light of Your presence forever. Strengthened by the Eucharist, may I feel its saving power in my daily life till I reach eternal life with You. Lead me to join the Saints in heaven. Amen.

Invocation of the Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in them the fire of Your love. Leader:  Send  forth Your  Spirit  and  they  shall  be created. Rest: And You shall renew the face of the earth. Let us Pray: O God, Who did teach the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant us by the same Spirit to be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolations, through Christ Our Lord. Amen.


Topic/Agenda:
1.      To explain what it means for Jesus to be called our Good Shepherd.
2.      To tell the story of Palm Sunday.
3.      List of qualities which Jesus has and that we should imitate.
4.      The story of St. Francis de Sales


Questions
  • Imagine the royalty and splendourous of a King or Queen or an Amiri of a country just like King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden or Queen Elizabeth of UK or the current Amiri of Kuwait or President of the Philippines?
  • Now would you like to be a King, Queen, or President of a country?
  • Could you describe the royalty of a King or Queen or an Amiri?
  • When you are visiting a country, how would you like to be receive?  Simple or extravagant?

The Palm Sunday


Jesus Entering Jerusalem
The time came when Jesus knew He would soon die for us. He rode on a donkey into the city of Jerusalem. Nobody else knew Jesus was going to die. Many people came to honor Jesus as king. They threw palm branches and coats onto the road where He was coming. They shouted for joy.    



Jesus said (John 10:11-16):
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

Good Shepherd vs. Jesus
Good Shepherd
Jesus Christ
Feed his sheep
Gives us food for our souls (in the sacraments) -- makes us strong so we will be good.
Protects his sheep from the wolves & other dangers.
Guards us against evil and sin.
Leads his sheep to green pastures where they will be happy.
Leads all of us on the way to Heaven -- the only way where we will truly be happy.
Lays down his life for his sheep.
Lays down His life for His sheep -- He died so that we could live forever.



Featured Saint: St. Francis de Sales



St. Francis de Sales
        Born in France in 1567, Francis was a patient man. He knew for thirteen years that he had a vocation to the priesthood before he mentioned it to his family but became a soldier, doctorate in law while secretly studying theology and  practiced mental prayer.
        After much his patient persuasiveness did his father finally consent for him to become a priest. When he became priest, people see him not a good pastor.
        Francis decided that he should lead an expedition to convert the 60,000 Calvinists back to Catholicism. But by the time he left his expedition consisted of himself and his cousin.
        For three years, he trudged through the countryside, had doors slammed in his face and rocks thrown at him. In the bitter winters, his feet froze so badly they bled as he tramped through the snow. He slept in haylofts if he could, but once he slept in a tree to avoid wolves. He tied himself to a branch to keep from falling out and was so frozen the next morning he had to be cut down. And after three years, his cousin had left him alone and he had not made one convert.
        Francis' unusual patience kept him working. No one would listen to him, no one would even open their door. So Francis found a way to get under the door. He wrote out his sermons, copied them by hand, and slipped them under the doors. This is the first record we have of religious tracts being used to communicate with people.
        The parents wouldn't come to him out of fear. So Francis went to the children. When the parents saw how kind he was as he played with the children, they began to talk to him.
        By the time, Francis left to go home he is said to have converted 40,000 people back to Catholicism.
        In 1602 he was made bishop of the diocese of Geneva, in Calvinist territory. He only set foot in the city of Geneva twice -- once when the Pope sent him to try to convert Calvin's successor, Beza, and another when he traveled through it.
        It was in 1604 that Francis took one of the most important steps in his life, the step toward holiness and mystical union with God when he befriend Jane de Chantal  and the two of them became saints of God.

Human Experience:
How can I become like Jesus?
  • Obedient -- Always do what pleases God. Obey cheerfully.
  • Humble -- Tell the truth. Never lie.
  • Forgiving -- Love your enemies.  Forgive those who hurt you.
  • Prayerful -- Say your daily prayers. Always be mindful of God's  presence.
  • Merciful -- Be kind to everyone. Be helpful and generous.
  • Humble -- you are humble, you are free from pride and arrogance. You know that in your flesh you are inadequate, yet you also know who you are in Christ.
    Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. (Philippians 2:3)
    I am gentle and humble in heart. (Matthew 11:29)
    ==> Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus
More Characteristics of Humility
  • You talk courteously and lovingly, regardless of the situation  even if you need to be firm or take strong action.
  • Being humble does not mean being a wimp  a weak, ineffectual, timid person.
  • Humility does not mean groveling  act in an abject manner, as in great fear or utter servility. To lie or crawl with the face downward and the body prostrate.
  • Humility does not mean being unaware of your gifts or calling  Although we should avoid self-pride, godly humility does not mean we should pretend we are unaware of the gifts God has given us. The key is to remember that they are from God.
  • Humility does not mean we should never speak directly  When God says to be humble, he lets us know we must examine our motives and attitudes. We also must examine how we respond to others. As an employer, I can discipline or fire someone, yet do so quietly and gently.

Benefits of being Humble:
  • You can defuse arguments when you are humble ==> You don't need to stand up for yourself in an angry manner.  And you don't have to win every argument. A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1) 
  • You can handle unfair treatment peacefully ==> You can respond to unfair treatment without becoming bitter. Godly humility means you do not feel a need for vengeance or revenge. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32)
  • You can eat "humble pie" without being crushed ==> When you are humble, you can respond to and learn from criticism without becoming defensive—whether it is deserved or not deserved. Likewise, you can be aware of your failures without being emotionally devastated.
  • You can ask for forgiveness when you are humble ==> Even if you think you are only one percent wrong, you can easily apologize for what you did wrong.


How to become a Saint according to St. Francis de Sales?
        It is not those who commit the least faults who are the most holy, but those who have the greatest courage, the greatest generosity, the greatest love, who make the boldest efforts to overcome themselves, and are not immediately apprehensive about tripping.
        Certain all virtues are very dear to God, but humility pleases Him above all the others, and it seems that He can refuse it nothing.
        Every one of us needs half an hour of prayer each day, except when we are busy -- then we need an hour.
        Let us run to Mary, and, as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with a perfect confidence.
        Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems...
        All of us can attain to Christian virtue and holiness, no matter in what condition of life we live and no matter what our life work may be.
        Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them... everyday being the task anew.



Life Application:
Jesus is the way (John 14:3-7):
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.”[a] Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know[b] my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”




Prayer for the Help of the Holy Spirit
O God, I thank you for this day and the lessons that we have learned today.  May You send forth your Holy Spirit and stay forever into my heart that I may perceive and understand You more, into my mind that I may remember, and into my soul that I may meditate.  Inspire me to speak and behave with patience, piety, holiness, tenderness and mercy. Teach, guide and direct my thoughts and senses from beginning to end. By Your grace, we may live and preach on the Words that You spoke to us today. May your grace ever help and correct me, and may I be strengthened now with love and wisdom from on high, for the sake of your infinite mercy. Amen.



Faith Experience:
References:

Catechism L5-14 Asking Forgiveness & Sacrament of Penance



 Prayer Before Studying
Incomprehensible Creator, the true Fountain of light and only Author of all knowledge: vouchsafe, we beseech Thee, to enlighten our understandings, and to remove from us all darkness of sin and ignorance. Thou, who makest eloquent the tongues of those that want utterance, direct our tongues, and pour on our lips the grace of Thy blessing. Give us a diligent and obedient spirit, quickness of apprehension, capacity of retaining, and the powerful assistance of Thy holy grace; that what we hear or learn we may apply to Thy honor and the eternal salvation of our own souls.

=== 0 ===

Holy Spirit, giver of all good gifts, enter into my mind and heart. Give me the gift of knowledge, wisdom, understanding and the grace to use it wisely. Help me in all my endeavors. Give me perseverance and fortitude. Help my memory, that I may remember what I learn and recall it when necessary. Guide me in my studies. You who are the Way, the Truth, and the Life, let me not be deceived by false teaching. Our Lady of Good Studies, pray for me. Amen.



The Act of Contrition Prayer
O my God, I am sorry and beg pardon for all my sins and detest them above all things, because they deserve your dreadful punishment because they have crucified my loving Saviour, Jesus Christ, and most of all, because they offended your infinite goodness; (and) I firmly resolve, by the help of your grace, never to offend you again, and carefully avoid the occasions of sin.  Amen.



Topic/Agenda:
1.      To explain the Parable of Prodigal Son
2.      To recite the Act of Contrition.
3.      To explain the meaning of sorrow for sins and Sacrament of Penance.


Questions
  • Do you have brother or sister? Do you have the feeling that sometimes your parents gives more credit to him/her or sometimes your parents love him/her than you?
  • When your brother/sister have done some wrong to you, how would you feel if he/she sincerely says sorry to you? Would you forgive him/her?
  • What if you are the one who had done wrong to your brother/sister, and you sincerely feel and say sorry to them, do you want to be forgiven?
  • Do you want to be forgiven by your Father or Mother as well?



Parable of the Prodigal Son
Plot
: Peter was so angry because Jesus is trying to visit Matthew's house and have supper with him. Matthew is the archenemy of Peter.  The other as well are trying to convince Jesus not to go with to Matthew's house because they are sinners and it is forbidden to them join sinners and it might infect him with their dirty ways.   (Jesus Nazareth part 2-4=> 0:39:25-0:50:48)
Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-31)
Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. 12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.
13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.
17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’
20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.*’
22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, 26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’
28 “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, 29 but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. 30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’
31 “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. 32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”

Meaning of the Parable of the Prodigal Son
  • The father in the story is like our Heavenly Father and younger son is like the people who run away from God.
  • When we sin we offend God Who loves us very much.
  • But God wants us to be happy. He wants us to come back to Him
  • All we have to do is admit that what have done is wrong and then truly be sorry that we have offended God. God is waiting for us with open arms.
  • God will always forgive us. There is nothing we can do that is so bad that God won't forgive if we are truly sorry.
  • It shows God that we are really love Him when we tell Him we are sorry for having offended Him and want to be forgiven.
  • The elder brother are like people who are offended at the Gospel. In what way?
  • Jesus' justification lies in the boundless love of God. He tells them to behold the greatness of love for his lost children and contrast it with their own thankless, loveless, self-righteous lives.
  • Their complaint, like that of the eldest son seems justified; giving feast to a squandering son and giving only a modest feast for the ever faithful son.
  • Jesus ask us to approach the problem form his point of view, based not only justice, but on the perfection of justice that is love.
  • If we abide only by justice, we deprive ourselves of one of the greatest joys --  the joy of forgiving, the joy of giving undeserved happiness to those disposed to receive it.
  • Jesus still had hope of moving them to recognize how their self-righteousness and lovelessness separate then from God. -- As we usually say "No one is perfect" but Jesus said "Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect".


John 20:21-23:
21 Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” 22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.




THE SACRAMENT OF HEALING:
THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE AND RECONCILIATION
1422 "Those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God's mercy for the offense committed against him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by their sins and which by charity, by example, and by prayer labors for their conversion."4
I. WHAT IS THIS SACRAMENT CALLED?
1423 It is called the sacrament of conversion because it makes sacramentally present Jesus' call to conversion, the first step in returning to the Father5 from whom one has strayed by sin.
It is called the sacrament of Penance, since it consecrates the Christian sinner's personal and ecclesial steps of conversion, penance, and satisfaction.
1424 It is called the sacrament of confession, since the disclosure or confession of sins to a priest is an essential element of this sacrament. In a profound sense it is also a "confession" - acknowledgment and praise - of the holiness of God and of his mercy toward sinful man.
It is called the sacrament of forgiveness, since by the priest's sacramental absolution God grants the penitent "pardon and peace."6
It is called the sacrament of Reconciliation, because it imparts to the sinner the live of God who reconciles: "Be reconciled to God."7 He who lives by God's merciful love is ready to respond to the Lord's call: "Go; first be reconciled to your brother."8
What is Sacrament of Penance -- Penance (punishment inflicted on oneself as an outward expression of repentance for wrongdoing) is the sacrament by which sins committed after Baptism are forgiven.

WHY A SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION AFTER BAPTISM?
1425 "You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God."9 One must appreciate the magnitude of the gift God has given us in the sacraments of Christian initiation in order to grasp the degree to which sin is excluded for him who has "put on Christ."10 But the apostle John also says: "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."11 And the Lord himself taught us to pray: "Forgive us our trespasses,"12 linking our forgiveness of one another's offenses to the forgiveness of our sins that God will grant us.
1426 Conversion to Christ, the new birth of Baptism, the gift of the Holy Spirit and the Body and Blood of Christ received as food have made us "holy and without blemish," just as the Church herself, the Bride of Christ, is "holy and without blemish."13 Nevertheless the new life received in Christian initiation has not abolished the frailty and weakness of human nature, nor the inclination to sin that tradition calls concupiscence, which remains in the baptized such that with the help of the grace of Christ they may prove themselves in the struggle of Christian life.14 This is the struggle of conversion directed toward holiness and eternal life to which the Lord never ceases to call us.15
Priests refused absolution when:
  • The priest thinks the penitent is not rightly disposed for the Sacrament.
  • He sometimes postpones the absolution till the next confession, either for the good of the penitent or for the sake of better preparation -- especially when the person has been a long time from confession.
Sins that can be forgiven by Pope only, the bishop of the place or priests authorized by them:
  • Defiling the Eucharist
  • Attempting to assassinate the Pope
  • A priest abusing the confidentiality of the confessional by revealing the nature of the sin and the person who admitted to it
  • A priest who has sex with someone and then offers forgiveness for the act
  • A man who directly participates in an abortion
    • even by paying for it
    • who then seeks to become a priest or deacon.
  • Only the Pope can lift the excommunication incurred by these sins
  • In danger of death any priest, even if deprived of faculties for hearing confessions, can absolve from every sin and excommunication.
Sins that cannot be forgiven by Ordinary Priests
  • for adultery, murder, and idolatry
  • if the excommunication was explicitly declared, it can be lifted by the bishop who declared it (or someone appointed by him)
  • If it's latae sententiae (strarted by a sin, not declared like abortion), it's under authority of the Ordinary of the diocesis where the excommunicated person lives.


Human Experience: 
  • Does God loves you even when you sin?
  • Have you committed sin or mistake in this past few days?
  • How did feel about it? Proud? Guilty?
  • Last time there was some incident in the class and I feel very sorry that wronged person. How about those people? Won't you agree that you should try to make for your mistakes?
  • I heard also that some students here who got a very high grades in our exams became too proud of themselves and even tries to tease their other classmates with their low grades. Do you think it is a right thing to do? Instead of teasing them why not encourage them to be their best. Help them in their studies.
  • How about those incidents that I don't know and still you have done wrong to your classmates and friends?
  • Do you still remember what you have done? Do you know if you are that person I'm talking about?
  • Can we do it right now, not to be shy and say really sorry to those people who we have done wrong? Can we do it for his/her sake, for your sake and God's sake?


Life Application:

How do we cleanse ourselves when we committed sins?
  • First try fix things right. If steal something return it; if wronged someone then we should say sorry. Make it up to him/her.  Remember, the reason why you want to make up for your sins is to please Jesus.  If you think of that it will be easier to do something that is hard for you to do.
  • Then confess our sins using the Sacrament of Penance or sometimes called Confession.
    • Before we go to confess our sins, we must get ready. Ask God the Holy Spirit to help you remember your sins.
    • We should think about our sins and be sorry for them -- being sorrow for sins.
    • What sorrow for sins? -- Being sorry for the sins we have committed and wanting never to commit them again.
    • We say an Act of Contrition prayer then it is time to receive the Sacrament.
    • Then we tell our sins to the priest.
    • The priest takes the place of Jesus. When we confess our sins it is Jesus Who hears us and Who forgive us.
    • He forgive us by saying: "I absolve you from your sins in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
    • The Sacrament of Penance is more than take our sins away. It gives us grace and makes us closer to God and helps us to be stronger against sin.

The formula of absolution used in Latin Church:
God, the Father of mercies,
through the death and the resurrection of his Son
has reconciled the world to Himself
and sent the Holy Spirit among us
for the forgiveness of sins;
through the ministry of the Church
may God give you pardon and peace,
and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.


Prayer for the Help of the Holy Spirit
O God, I thank you for this day and the lessons that we have learned today.  May You send forth your Holy Spirit and stay forever into my heart that I may perceive and understand You more, into my mind that I may remember, and into my soul that I may meditate.  Inspire me to speak and behave with patience, piety, holiness, tenderness and mercy. Teach, guide and direct my thoughts and senses from beginning to end. By Your grace, we may live and preach on the Words that You spoke to us today. May your grace ever help and correct me, and may I be strengthened now with love and wisdom from on high, for the sake of your infinite mercy. Amen.



References:
Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-31)
Act of Contrition:
O my God, I am sorry and beg pardon for all my sins and detest them above all things, because they deserve your dreadful punishment because they have crucified my loving Saviour, Jesus Christ, and most of all, because they offended your infinite goodness; (and) I firmly resolve, by the help of your grace, never to offend you again, and carefully avoid the occasions of sin.  Amen.

John 20:21-23:
21 Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” 22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Catechism L5-13 We Believe




Prayer Before Studying
Incomprehensible Creator, the true Fountain of light and only Author of all knowledge: vouchsafe, we beseech Thee, to enlighten our understandings, and to remove from us all darkness of sin and ignorance. Thou, who makest eloquent the tongues of those that want utterance, direct our tongues, and pour on our lips the grace of Thy blessing. Give us a diligent and obedient spirit, quickness of apprehension, capacity of retaining, and the powerful assistance of Thy holy grace; that what we hear or learn we may apply to Thy honor and the eternal salvation of our own souls.

=== 0 ===

Holy Spirit, giver of all good gifts, enter into my mind and heart. Give me the gift of knowledge, wisdom, understanding and the grace to use it wisely. Help me in all my endeavors. Give me perseverance and fortitude. Help my memory, that I may remember what I learn and recall it when necessary. Guide me in my studies. You who are the Way, the Truth, and the Life, let me not be deceived by false teaching. Our Lady of Good Studies, pray for me. Amen.


Topic/Agenda :
1.      To explain Belief and Faith (Review)
2.      To explain what miracles are and what is not.
3.      Why Jesus performed them (and the other prophets).


Something to Ponder
  • Do you believe in "Seeing is believing"?
  • Do you believed that your Smart or Intelligent?
  • Are you smarter than person/friend beside you?
  • Let’s say you are not smart nor intelligent, do you think you will still have a bright future?


Walt Disney's newspaper editor told the aspiring cartoonist he wasn't creative enough


Madonna lost her job at Dunkin Donuts for squirting jelly filling all over customers



Something to Ponder
  • Do you believe in Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God?
  • You will never leave or forsake Jesus our Savior?
  • Do you think whatever happens Jesus will always be there for you even though your not in ideal situation?

What is Belief vs. Faith?
Believing is not having faith and having faith is not believing.  Believing in God is not having faith in God.
The act of believing in something is a choice. A very, very powerful choice! The choices we make in life are based on what we believe. The reason we make choices is because we believe that was the best course of action to take. One thing that is very important to remember is that we often believe something that is not real, right or the truth. Believing is choosing to side with information. There is no spiritual power in believing because it is all active in the soulish realm or the mind. It is a process of thought.
Faith is belief with strong conviction; firm belief in something for which there may be no tangible proof; complete trust in or devotion to. Faith is the opposite of doubt. Belief with corresponding action is called faith. In Mark 11:22-24 Jesus says we should,"have faith in God," and then continues to tell us what our actions should be and what results we will have. James continues to say that faith without works is dead or you could say faith without works is just believing. So to move from believing to faith you have to act on what you believe.
But you cannot have faith without first believing something. You cannot believe something without first receiving information. Romans 10:17 says,"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." The more we hear and see the Word of God the stronger our belief will be. The stronger our belief the stronger our faith can be.

In conclusion: The belief you act upon is an act of faith and it pleases God!




The Meaning of Faith
Hebrews 11:1-6
11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 Indeed, by faith[a] our ancestors received approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.[b] 4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable[c] sacrifice than Cain’s. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith[d] he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and “he was not found, because God had taken him.” For it was attested before he was taken away that “he had pleased God.” 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— 9 not the result of works, so that no one may boast.

From the Movie Amish Grace
"Faith when everything is as you want it to be, is not real faith. It is only when our lives are falling apart that we have the chance to make our faith real."


Meaning of Miracle and process of declaration



Magic vs. Sorcery vs. Miracle
"There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination, a soothsayer, or an augur, or a sorcerer, or a charmer, or a medium, or a wizard, or a          necromancer.“(Deut.18:10-11)


2 Types of Magician: Trick (using illusions and slight of hand) and Paranormal
Magic is the art of producing a desired effect or result through the use of incantation, ceremony, ritual, the casting of spells or various other techniques that presumably assure human control of supernatural  agencies or the forces of nature.
  • Magician: Typically, this is a broad term used to denote someone that practices magic in general. Thus it's sort of the overarching types of the other terms.
  • Necromancer: This is a type of wizard that uses works with the powers of shadow and darkness, but specifically death and the undead. These powerful beings can armies armies of zombies, suck out and trap souls, drive victims of their black magic insane, and the strongest of their kind can even summon demonic forces. However, there is a price to pay for all of this power. Blood rites, sacrifices and dehumanization are all required to be ritualistically performed to achieve it. If the necromancer isn't incredibly skilled, there is a strong possibility that their lust for power will result in them summoning a spirit that they cannot control, and will likely consume them.
  • Sorcerer: This type of magician has been represented in a variety of ways, but typically they have a connotation of being an incredibly powerful wizard, that is to say, less than a god but more than a magician. They aren't immortal, per se, but their powers are truly mighty when compared to the average magician. Think of it being something akin to comparing a hair dryer and a tornado in strength. They are on par with forces of nature.  Are said to be inherently adept to magic and are considered as natural spell casters.
  • Warlock: These magicians are disgraced pagan outcasts. They have used Wicca to harm another person, which is a violation of a cardinal rule within paganism. They almost never discussed because of their betrayal. That being said, what it means to be a warlock has changed over time to something between a necromancer and a sorcerer, though distinctly different than either of these categories, as they not as strong as a full fledged sorcerer, and focus more on darkness in general than death, per se. It means a liar or someone who is a traitor. In it's worse terms it means a person who has sealed his soul with an demonic entity, hence why the name was labeled onto male witches (or wizards) during the 14th century in Europe, as a form of disgrace. I hope that helps you.
  • Enchanter: This is a special type of magician. Unlike the majority of their counterparts, they usually cannot cast direct, active spells. What they can do is add an effect to something, such as giving an animal the ability to speak, or causing the land to grow plants at an alarming rate, or cause someone to have an irresistible charm to all who lay eyes on them. In contrast, they couldn't shoot a fireball at someone, or lay a death curse directly or heal someone directly. They typically have to manipulate their environment to achieve their ends.
  • Wizard (male) or Witches (female): Is just your average spell caster. Again, all wizards are magicians, but not all magicians are wizards. Some are necromancers, enchanters, etc.  Wizards learn their craft and spells from long hours of studying and meditation.
  • Shaman is someone, often in more tribal groups, who is a spiritual healer of sorts, who often heals by communicating with otherworldly spirits or energies to heal the ailments in a person's spiritual being which in effect heals the person's physical bodies. They may also work as intermediaries or spiritual leaders of their communities like priests or clerics. They often do not practice other forms of magic beside the more spiritual healings and some protections for their tribes or clients. 



A miracle is an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader.
There is an enormous difference between the intention and purpose behind miracles and magic. “Magic intends to astonish, to draw attention to its own prowess, to put the focus on the power itself. Miracle intends to use the exercise of power to benefit another, to address the real needs of one human being or a group of human beings.” As I wrote in a recent post, Jesus’ refused to exercise his power to feed himself when tempted to do so by Satan; Jesus, however, showed no reluctance use his power to feed the multitudes.

Magic is about the magician’s power and desire. It serves the aims of the magician. Miracles are about the power and will of God.

Moses vs. Pharaoh’s Magician
Exodus 7:7-11, 19-2
8 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 9 “When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Perform a wonder,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh, and it will become a snake.’” 10 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did as the Lord had commanded; Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. 11 Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers; and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did the same by their secret arts.
19 The Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt—over its rivers, its canals, and its ponds, and all its pools of water—so that they may become blood; and there shall be blood throughout the whole land of Egypt, even in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.’”
Exodus 8:5-7, 16-19
5 [a] And the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, the canals, and the pools, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt.’” 6 So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. 7 But the magicians did the same by their secret arts, and brought frogs up on the land of Egypt.
16 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats throughout the whole land of Egypt.’” 17 And they did so; Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and gnats came on humans and animals alike; all the dust of the earth turned into gnats throughout the whole land of Egypt. 18 The magicians tried to produce gnats by their secret arts, but they could not. There were gnats on both humans and animals. 19 And the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God!” But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, just as the Lord had said.

Elijah vs. 450 Prophets of Baal
1 Kings 18:17-46
17 When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” 18 He answered, “I have not troubled Israel; but you have, and your father’s house, because you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals. 19 Now therefore have all Israel assemble for me at Mount Carmel, with the four hundred fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
20 So Ahab sent to all the Israelites, and assembled the prophets at Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah then came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” The people did not answer him a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets number four hundred fifty. 23 Let two bulls be given to us; let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it; I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. 24 Then you call on the name of your god and I will call on the name of the Lord; the god who answers by fire is indeed God.” All the people answered, “Well spoken!” 25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many; then call on the name of your god, but put no fire to it.” 26 So they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, crying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no answer. They limped about the altar that they had made. 27 At noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud! Surely he is a god; either he is meditating, or he has wandered away, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” 28 Then they cried aloud and, as was their custom, they cut themselves with swords and lances until the blood gushed out over them. 29 As midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice, no answer, and no response.
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come closer to me”; and all the people came closer to him. First he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been thrown down; 31 Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying, “Israel shall be your name”; 32 with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord. Then he made a trench around the altar, large enough to contain two measures of seed. 33 Next he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood. He said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” 34 Then he said, “Do it a second time”; and they did it a second time. Again he said, “Do it a third time”; and they did it a third time, 35 so that the water ran all around the altar, and filled the trench also with water.

36 At the time of the offering of the oblation, the prophet Elijah came near and said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your bidding. 37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and even licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord indeed is God; the Lord indeed is God.” 40 Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; do not let one of them escape.” Then they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the Wadi Kishon, and killed them there.

Miracles Compared:
Moses
Elijah
Elisha
·        Waters become blood
·        Frogs
·        Lice
·        Flies
·        Murrain -- a plague or pestilence
·        Boils 
·        Thunder and Hail
·        Locusts
·        Darkness
·        Death of the first-born
·        Red Sea divided; Israel passes through
·        Waters of Marah sweetened
·        Manna sent daily, except on Sabbath
·        Water from the rock at Rephidim
·        Water from the rock, smitten twice by Moses, desert of Zin
·        The brazen serpent in the desert of Zin (Num. 21:8-9)
·        Widow of Zarephath's meal and oil increased
·        Widow's son raised from the dead
·        Rain at Elijah's prayers
·        Elijah fed by ravens
·        Ahaziah's captains consumed by fire near Samaria
·        Jordan divided by Elijah and Elisha near Jericho
·        Elijah carried up into heaven

·        Waters of Jericho healed by Elisha's casting salt into them
·        Bears out of the wood destroy forty-two “young men”
·        Water provided for Jehoshaphat and the allied army
·        The widow's oil multiplied
·        The Shunammite's son given, and raised from the dead at Shunem
·        Elisha Purifies the Deadly Stew
·        A hundred men fed with twenty loaves at Gilgal
·        Naaman cured of leprosy, Gehazi afflicted with it
·        The Syrian army smitten with blindness at Dothan
·        The Syrian army cured of blindness at Samaria
·        Elisha's bones revive the dead



Moses
Jesus
·        Waters become blood
·        Frogs
·        Lice
·        Flies
·        Murrain -- a plague or pestilence
·        Boils 
·        Thunder and Hail
·        Locusts
·        Darkness
·        Death of the first-born
·        Red Sea divided; Israel passes through
·        Waters of Marah sweetened
·        Manna sent daily, except on Sabbath
·        Water from the rock at Rephidim
·        Water from the rock, smitten twice by Moses, desert of Zin
·        The brazen serpent in the desert of Zin (Num. 21:8-9)
·        Cure of two blind men
·        Curing of the deaf and dumb man
·        The blind man of Bethsaida
·        The miraculous draught of fishes
·        The raising of the widow's son at Nain
·        The woman with the spirit of infirmity
·        The man with the dropsy
·        The ten lepers
·        The healing of Malchus ‘ cut ear
·        Water made wine
·        Cure of nobleman's son, Capernaum
·        Impotent man at Bethsaida cured
·        Man born blind cured
·        Lazarus raised from the dead
·        Four/Five thousand fed
·        Fig tree blasted
·        Centurion's servant healed
·        Blind and dumb demoniac cured
·        Demoniac cured in synagogue at Capernaum
·        Peter's wife's mother cured
·        Jesus Calms a Storm
·        Demoniacs of Gadara cured
·        Swine rush into and drown
·        Jairus's daughter raised
·        Woman's issue of blood cured
·        Jesus walks on the sea
·        The transfiguration
·        The resurrection
·        The ascension

Human Experience:
  • Have you watch Harry Potter?  Do you still remember the spells there?
  • Have you heard about a story of a real witch or mangkukulam?
  • Have anyone of you or know somebody who experience being inflicted with dark magic?
  • Do you believe in obsession or oppression of a devil?
  • Have you heard a story of Exorcism of Emily Rose (relate any similar story)?
  • What are the modern miracles that still exist today?
    • The Shround of Turin
    • The Holy Eucharist
      • The Bleeding Host Miracle 1998 in Betania, Venezuela
      • Sienna, Italy -- August 17, 1730 --> Consecrated Hosts remain perfectly preserved for over 250 years. Rigorous scientific experiments have not been able to explain this phenomena.
      • Amsterdam, Holland 1345 --> Eucharist thrown into fire overnight miraculously is unscathed.
      • Blanot, France -- March 31, 1331 --> The Eucharist falls out of a woman's mouth onto an altar rail cloth. The priest tries to recover the Host but all that remains is a large spot of blood the same size and dimensions as the wafer.
      • Bolsena-Orvieta, Italy --> Again, a priest has difficulties believing in the Real Presence, and blood begins seeping out of the Host upon consecration. Because of this miracle, Pope Urban IV commissioned the feast of Corpus Christi, which is still celebrated today.
      • Lanciano, Italy -- 8th century A.D. --> A priest has doubts about the Real Presence; however, when he consecrates the Host it transforms into flesh and blood. This miracle has undergone extensive scientific examination and can only be explained as a miracle. The flesh is actually cardiac tissue which contains arterioles, veins, and nerve fibers. The blood type as in all other approved Eucharistic miracles is type AB! Histological micrographs are shown.
    • Marian Apparitions
    • Prophecies of our Prophets and Saints
    • Gifts of Holy Spirit
    • Incorruptible bodies of selected Saints
    • Healing Priests
    • Exorcism of our Catholic Priests and Bishops 
    • Our Lady of Zeitoun, Egypt witnessed by 1 million people (Apr 2, 1968)
    • Julie Kim receives communion and it turned to blood and witness by bishop and Dominic Su and Pope John Paul II (Oct 31,1995)
    • Bishop Claudio Gatti finishes the words of consecration over the host and it begins to bleed (Jun 11, 2001)








Life Application:
Why do God need to provide miracles to people through His prophets?
  • To prove that the prophet is truly send by God.
True Prophets vs. False Prophets:
Things are a matter of Life and death, we must be able to separate the two.
  • Firstly, prophets are humble and sincere but in themselves, they are NOT infallible; but they serve an infallible God who allows His servants to sometimes stumble to teach us that "Without Him we can do nothing." (John 15:5).
  • Secondly, in spite of their weaknesses and failures, God still demands 'respect' for His prophets. "...do my prophets no harm." (Psalms 105:15).
  • God always does things according to His Word BUT Contrary to man's interpretation of that Word.
  • Jesus said, "By their fruits ye shall know them" (Matthew 7:15-20)
  • "TRUE Prophet" is not to be vindicated by his gifts and miracles alone. He can have these things and still be a "False Prophet".
  • False Prophets will prevent the people from following on to know the Lord in the higher heights and deeper depths of His Word. They will teach the People to follow after the 'gods' of denominations, non-denominational and independent groups (Deuteronomy 13:1-3).
  • A TRUE Prophet will always point to GOD and the Absolute Authority of the Word of God, NOT to a church creed (written or unwritten), and not to any ism or cult.
  • False prophets will look like sheep (Matthew 7:15)
  • False Prophets will pervert the ways of the Lord for their own purposes  (Acts 13:6-12 and Exodus 7:8-12). They will have power BUT it will be nothing compared to the power manifested in God's True Prophet.
  • False prophet are extremely deceptive as revealed (Jeremiah 23:9-32 & Exodus 13)
  • True Prophet - When he prophesies in the Name of the Lord and the thing comes to pass.
  • The prophet who prophesieth of peace, WHEN THE WORD OF THE PROPHET SHALL COME TO PASS, THEN SHALL THE PROPHET BE KNOWN, THAT THE LORD HATH TRULY SENT HIM.
  • A TRUE PROPHET will not take the people away from the WORD of God.  -- The test of the prophet was his conformity to the word of God, he condemns sin, he comforts the brethren, and he speaks of things in the near future and later than his life.

Testing a Spirit if it comes from God:
·        Remember the will try to mislead you and will show himself as being the truth -- deception is one of his powerful weapon.

·        The Spirit of God always speaks in accordance to God's Word, the Bible. He acknowledges its authority. Anyone putting anything above the Bible or anyone degrading the Bible, is not from God!

·        Check the angelic visitations. We can compare our own experiences to these:
To Abraham: Genesis 18:2; Genesis 22:11-18; To Hagar: Genesis 16:7; To Lot: Genesis 19:1-17; To Jacob: Genesis 28:12; To Moses: Exodus 3:2; To Israelites: Exodus 14:19, Judges 2:1-4; To Balaam: Numbers 22:31; To Joshua: Joshua 5:15; To Gideon: Judges 6:11-22; To Manoah: Judges 13:6; Judges 13:15-20; To David: 2 Samuel 24:16,17; To Elijah: 1 Kings 19:5-11; To Daniel: Daniel 6:22; Daniel 8:16; Daniel 9:21; Daniel 10:5-10; Daniel 10:16; Daniel 10:18; To Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: Daniel 3:25; Daniel 3:28; To Zechariah: Zechariah 2:3; Zechariah 3:1-2; Zechariah 4:1; To Joseph: Matthew 1:20; Matthew 2:13; Matthew 2:19; To Mary: Luke 1:26-28; To Zacharias: Luke 1:11-20; To the Shepard's: Luke 2:9-11; Luke 2:13,14; To Jesus, after His temptation: Matthew 4:11; To Jesus, in Gethsemane: Luke 22:43; To Jesus, at the sepulcher: Matthew 28:2-5; Mark 16:5-7; Luke 24:23; John 20:12; At the ascension: Acts 1:10,11; To Peter and John: Acts 5:19; To Phillip: Acts 8:26; To Cornelius: Acts 10:3; Acts 10:30-32; To Peter: Acts 12:7-11; To Paul: Acts 27:23; To John: Revelation 1:1; Revelation 5:2; Revelation 7:11; Revelation 10:9; Revelation 11:1; Revelation 17:7; Revelation 19:10; Revelation 22:8

·        Angelic message will be verified by God's Word, it will never violate, confuse or twist God's written Word.
·        An Angelic visitation will be to promote God's will, not flatter your flesh or promote darkness.

·        Does this spirit socialize and spend undue time with you - it is not a spirit of God.

·        Does this spirit use physical things to impress you; sights, sounds, colors, the "supernatural"; it is not a spirit of God. God's angels deliver messages to God's people and then vanish. They do not "hangout" with humans

·        Does the spirit flatter you and build up your pride? This is not one of God's angels.
·        Does the spirit try to force you to do something against your will? This is not a true spirit of God. God's Spirit in you will lead and guide you into all truth. You will have an inner peace that this being is from God by its message.


Prayer for the Help of the Holy Spirit
O God, I thank you for this day and the lessons that we have learned today.  May You send forth your Holy Spirit and stay forever into my heart that I may perceive and understand You more, into my mind that I may remember, and into my soul that I may meditate.  Inspire me to speak and behave with patience, piety, holiness, tenderness and mercy. Teach, guide and direct my thoughts and senses from beginning to end. By Your grace, we may live and preach on the Words that You spoke to us today. May your grace ever help and correct me, and may I be strengthened now with love and wisdom from on high, for the sake of your infinite mercy. Amen.


Faith Experience:
References:
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/beliefs/Issues/Magic_and_the_Supernatural/Attitudes/Magic_vs_Miracle.shtml?p=0
http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=745014
http://www.indefenseofthecross.com/
Holy Bible (New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition)
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Wikipedia
New Advent (www.newadvent.org)
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/beliefs/Issues/Magic_and_the_Supernatural/Attitudes/Magic_vs_Miracle.shtml?p=0
http://www.indefenseofthecross.com/
Deuteronomy 13:1-313 [a] If prophets or those who divine by dreams appear among you and promise you omens or portents, 2 and the omens or the portents declared by them take place, and they say, “Let us follow other gods” (whom you have not known) “and let us serve them,” 3 you must not heed the words of those prophets or those who divine by dreams; for the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you indeed love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.


Jeremiah 28:9: 9 As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes true, then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the prophet.”