- James 1:22-25 -
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what
it
says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like
a
man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes
away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks
intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do
this,
not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in
what
he does.
__________________________________________________________
It seems paradoxical that a law could give us freedom, but God's law
points
out sin in us and gives us the opportunity to ask for God's forgiveness
(Romans 7:7-8). As Christians, we are saved by God's grace and salvation
frees us from sin's control. As believers, we are free to live as God
created us to live. Of course, this does not mean that we are free to do
as
we please. We are now free to obey God.
<<>><<>><<>>
July 3rd - St. Thomas, Apostle
The Apostle Saint Thomas was a Galilean, of no doubt humble birth, and his
name is Syriac for "twin" - or Didymus in Greek. He is remembered as the
"doubting Thomas", after denying the physical Resurrection of our Lord.
Thomas was made the unfortunate example of our Lord (no doubt for his
spiritual benefit, and ours) when eight days later Christ appeared in a
closed room, and making Thomas examine his wounds, proclaimed that
"Blessed
are those that do not see and believe."
The most persistent Tradition is that Thomas went to preach the gospel in
India after the Descent of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost. This comes from
many sources including the Acta Thomae, or Acts of Thomas. In this third
century document, the regions of the world were divided amongst the
Apostles, and India fell upon Judas Thomas, as he was known, but he
resisted. Thomas pleaded lack of strength, and also that a Hebrew could
not
teach the Indian. Our Lord then came to him in a vision, but even that
failed to move the Apostle.
Thereupon Christ appeared to a merchant in India, and this merchant Abban
purchased Thomas as a slave. When Thomas realized the nature of this act,
he relented in spirit. He told the king of India that he was a carpenter,
and builder of many things. With this, the king gave him the funds
necessary to build a castle. When the king left the province, Thomas
instead took this vast money and aided the poor. Upon returning, Thomas
told the king that his palace would be visible in heaven. The king threw
Thomas into prison. Soon after, the king's brother died. He was shown
the
palace of heaven Thomas had built with the king's money, and was allowed
to
return to his brother to show him. Upon seeing this, the king converted
and
released Thomas.
This may have some truth to it, but it is likely to be of human invention
as
much actual history. Thomas, by most accounts, is said to have spent time
in India going as far as Madras, perhaps even being martyred there. There
are a group of Christians in India that claim to be the descendants of
those
instructed by Thomas himself, and elements of their liturgy have Syriac
roots. They are known as Syro-Malabar Catholics, and are said to still
have
Apostolic succession.
The relics of Saint Thomas the Apostle are purported to have been moved
from
India after his death, to Mesopotamia, to Edessa, and finally to Abruzzi,
Italy.
Saint Quote:
The nothing keeps silent, the nothing does not want to be, the nothing
suffers all. The nothing does not impose itself, the nothing does not
command with authority, and finally, the nothing in the creature is
practical humility.
--Saint Angela of the Cross Guerrero
Bible quote:
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by
Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect,
establish, strengthen, settle you.
- 1 Peter 5:10
<><><><>
Canticle 1 Peter 2
Christ's passion, freely chosen
Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, to follow in his path.
He committed no sin, in his speech there was no deceit;
when they cursed him, he did not curse them;
when he suffered, he did not threaten retribution, but committed them to
the
one just judge.
He endured our sins in the sufferings of his body on the tree,
so that we would die to our sins and live for righteousness -
and by his bruises you have been healed.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
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