September 5, 2012 – 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 – On Divisions in the Corinthian Church

And so, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, for you are still of the flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and quarrelling among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving according to human inclinations? For when one says, I belong to Paul, and another I belong to Apollos, are you not mere human? What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe as the Lord assigned to each. I planted Apollo’s water but God gave the growth so neither the one who so plants nor the one who waters is anything but only God who gives the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labour of each. For we are God’s servants, working together;  you are God’s field, God’s building.

Father Michael Coutts cited about the TV advisory “Viewers' discretion is advised” to let the viewing public know the presence of violence and coarse language in  TV shows. In the public ministry of Jesus in Galilee, a village of Nazareth, there were  hatred, anger and jealousy ,working side by side. St. Paul taught his followers to do something good and put value on earthly things. Paul and Apollo’s theme is to comfort the afflicted and the uncomfortable; to reach out and heal them; caught up with the message rather than the messager and the message is Jesus Christ.

September 4, 2012 – 1 Corinthians 2:10-16 / Luke 4:31-37

1 Corinthians 2:10-16 – The True Wisdom of God

For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the work, but the Sprit that is from God, so that we may understand the gift bestowed on us by God. And we speak of theses things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual. Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are discerned spiritually. Those who are spiritual discern all things, and they are themselves subject to no one else scrutiny. For who has known the mind of the Lord to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Luke 4:31-37 – The Man with Unclean Spirit

He went down to Capernaum, a city in Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbath. They were astounded at his teaching, because he spoke with authority. In the synagogue, there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, “Let us alone! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him.” When the demon had thrown him down before them, he came out of him without having done him any harm.

Father Nino Cavoto said that in the gospel, the people in Capernaum were astounded by Jesus’  words and the way he spoke when he healed a man with unclean spirit.  Let us ask ourselves if we are astounded by the words of God. We should also listen to the words of God like “Follow me” and "Do not be afraid.” God's message  is to renew ourselves and seek the His healing power.

September 2, 2012 – Psalm 15:2-5 / Mark 7:21-23

Loving Heart

Psalm 15:2-5 

Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart; who do not slander with their tongue, and do no evil to their friends, nor take up a reproach against their neighbours; in whose eyes the wicked are despised, but who honour those who fear the Lord; who stand by their oath even to their hurt; who do not lend money at interest, and do not take a bribe against the innocent. Those who do these things shall never be moved.

Human Heart

Mark 7:21-23 – The Tradition of the Elders

Then he called the crowd again and said to them, “Listen to me, all of you and understand, there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but things that come out are what defile.…..For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come; fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.