Sacred Healing 12:30

Grace was bestowed upon Christ, not only as an individual, but inasmuch as He is the Head of the Church, so that it might overflow into His members; and therefore Christ's works are referred to Himself and to His members...(St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa III, 7:9, 8:5).   Thank you, Michelle S; Lori Z; Casey H; Michelle F; and Elma R, my newest Friends of the Show, for loving and lifting me! LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin. L - Listen (Receive the Word.) O - Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.) F | Franciscan - Listen to this musical rendition of Job 19:25-26 and 1 Corinthians 15:20 from Handel's Messiah.  I | Ignatian - Take some time to go to Confession and Adoration this week, keeping especially in mind how Jesus is your mediator in Confession and redemption. A | Augustinian - In what matter or circumstance do you especially need to experience Jesus as your mediator right now? A relationship? A financial, or medical, or other difficult circumstance? How, also, can you mediate for someone else this week? T | Thomistic - How do you know your Redeemer lives? List some concrete reasons for your faith. V - Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.) Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O - Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin. E - Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!) For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at last he will stand upon the earth; and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then from my flesh I shall see God. Amen + . *LOVE the Word® exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or "prayer forms," explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types. Come with Us Share the LOVE Share the LOVE on the Facebook community. Tell me your #LOVEtheWordtakeaway for this week's show.   Read the Transcript You can download a complete, word-for-word transcript here, thanks to Dora Donovan who does our transcripts for you.

The word "compassion" means to suffer with. More than Jesus' healings, teachings, and even post resurrection-appearances, the Bible emphasizes Jesus' passion. Theological reflection suggests that communion in suffering, "compassion," is really what Jesus offers humankind. It seems the gospel writers, particularly, were most inspired to remember that Jesus came to be with us, inseparably. No illness, no loss, no death, no suffering, no storm, no scandal, no sin, no unruly feelings, no craziness, no darkness of spirit, no self-hate can drive him away. Not just over us or ahead of us - but with us - he saves us. Job teaches us that when others are going through trials, the last thing they need is for us to tell them what we think we know about God or to try and speak on God’s behalf. Instead, in our service to those who grieve, we imitate Christ, and simply "suffer with" them.   Thank you, Elizabeth B; Trish R; Julie L; Maryanne C; Jackie S; Jerry C; Michelle S; and Sharon R, my newest Friends of the Show, for loving and lifting me! LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin. L - Listen (Receive the Word.) O - Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.) F | Franciscan - Is there another icon in so many pockets and purses, hung on more bedroom walls, gracing as many sanctuaries, as the crucifix? The attraction of the crucifix attests to our need for the compassionate companionship of God-become-human. Take some time to touch the five wounds of Christ on a crucifix, remembering the times He has suffered with you personally. I | Ignatian - Using all your senses, imagine you are Job, sitting in your pile of ashes, mourning the loss of your children and property, scratching your oozing sores with a piece of pottery, listening to the droning of your wife and "friends." What can you sense about Job's state of mind and heart? How does he feel? How do you feel? A | Augustinian - If you’re going through your own personal trial of some kind right now, will you ask God to deepen your relationship with Him? Will you tell God that you no longer want to seek answers, but that you want to seek Him? If you know someone else who is suffering right now, how can you "suffer with" them? Will you pray for God to deepen that person’s relationship with Him through this trial? What action can you take to show your willingness to suffer with them through their trial? T | Thomistic - The Thomists often have a more difficult time building and experiencing community than other temperaments, therefore they need community as much or even more than others. Let's get you out of your comfort-zone, Thomist: resolve to approach someone whom you know is experiencing trials right now. Ask them how they are feeling, and patiently listen to all they are willing to share with you. Perhaps you repeat their feelings back to them to show your understanding. If you are the one experiencing suffering, use your Verbalize step to talk to God about your emotions, knowing that expression is a necessary part of the grief process. V - Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.) Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O - Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin. E - Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!) Dearest Jesus, who wept at the death of your friend and taught that they who mourn shall be comforted, grant us the comfort of your presence in our loss.

"The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!" (Job 1:21). Job shows us that God gave Satan access to the world, but not control over the world: he can only do what God allows him to do, he can only go where God allows him to go, he can only touch what God allows him to touch. Before the enemy can even drive up in your driveway, he must have permission from God! Thank you, Theresa VdP, Gina G, Debbie P, Carol R, Kristine R, Paulene E, and Sheri G, my newest Friends of the Show, for loving and lifting me! LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin. L - Listen (Receive the Word.) O - Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.) F | Franciscan - Perhaps, after this study, you realize the suffering of someone near you is more attack of the enemy than personal fault. What action did you feel inspired to take to help ease that suffering? Take the time, now or sometime this week, to do what was in your heart. I | Ignatian - Using all your senses, imagine you are Job, watching the scene in the Throne Room of heaven when Satan appears before God and accuses you of loving God selfishly. What are your thoughts when God Himself says there is no one who fears God and turns away from evil like you? A | Augustinian - Listening to the show, what current circumstance in your life did you discern might be an attack of the enemy? How will you change the way you approach the people and "stuff" involved in that circumstance? T | Thomistic - What did the author of Job mean by the word "satan" in Job 1? What is the definition of "satan"? In some translations, the word is "Satan", with a capital letter. Which do you think the Holy Spirit meant in Job 1? Verbalize. V - Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.) Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O - Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin. E - Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!) St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits, who prowl the world seeking souls whom they may devour. Amen + . *LOVE the Word® exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or "prayer forms," explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types. Episode Resources Share the LOVE on the Facebook community. How does this week's show make you see suffering differently? Tell me your #LOVEtheWordtakeaway for this week's show.   Read the Transcript You can download a complete, word for word transcript here, courtesy of Kristie Hynniman who does our transcriptions for you.

As we begin our series, we discover the author of Job seems to be attempting to explain to his audience how the Babylonian catastrophe could happen to “good” people too, why faithful Hebrews can suffer with the bad, how the innocent get caught up in the painful judgments of the wicked. I certainly had no idea that any of our current events would occur when I chose this new study series, but I think the state of our Church is exactly why the Holy Spirit guided us to this biblical contemplation of suffering. Perhaps He is guiding us away from a focus on our Church’s catastrophe, to that of our individual faith and purity, and back again to a collective view. How faithful are we, as the American Catholic Church? How and why am I suffering, myself? How alive is my personal faith, really? When was my faith pur-er and real-er? Job is a pointed finger into the awfullest parts of our lives. I think we are going to find a great deal of hope in this series for these worrisome times. Thank you, Lori S and Elizabeth P, my newest Friends of the Show, for loving and lifting me! LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin. L - Listen (Receive the Word.) O - Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.) F | Franciscan - If, for some reason, like Pope Francis, you feel inclined to remain silent in the face of someone else's suffering, I pray you resist that temptation. As you listened to this week's show about the development of suffering as a theology, whose suffering came to mind? What action did you feel inspired to take to help ease that suffering? Take the time, now or sometime this week, to do what was in your heart. I | Ignatian - Imagine you are the author of Job, hoping to comfort your people after a national religious catastrophe. Try to see your parish church raided and destroyed by people with total contempt for your faith. Imagine the tabernacle, altar, statues - everything - desecrated. Using all your senses in turn - sight, sound, touch, taste, smell - how do you feel? What might you say in an effort to comfort others and help them through the tragedy you are all experiencing? A | Augustinian - The Catholic Church is experiencing an upheaval similar to what the author of Job experienced and attempted to address. It has been said that if the priest is a saint, his people will be holy; if the priest is holy, his people will be good; if he is good, his people will be lukewarm; if he is lukewarm, his people will be bad; if the priest is bad, his people will go to hell. How does this "wisdom maxim" apply to your own family? How can you get back to a pur-er faith with God? What small, additional action can you take to cover your priest in prayer? T | Thomistic - Define the biblical wisdom genre in your own words. How does this genre uniquely address the deepest human experiences, such as suffering? What can you do to support your parish priest? V - Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.) Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O - Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin. E - Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!) Thank you Lord Jesus for giving us your word to help us through this valley of tears, when the foundations of our faith are shaken by our own unfaithfulness and the unfaithfulness of others. Amen + . *LOVE the Word® exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or "prayer forms," explored in Prayer and Temperament,

This morning's email did not include the audio, so I am re-emailing - I am sorry! I wanted to catch you up on my news in preparation for the new series. Today, we talk about my trips to Israel and Poland, E-Sword Bible software, a car accident, and websites. Our Job series starts next week! Forward this email to your friends who are suffering. Thank you to, Lisa D, Laura T, Katrina H, Dawn B, Carmela, Angelica, Patricia H, MaryKatherine, Christine A, Rosemary D, Cieara, Lori C, Angela C, and Maria A, my newest Friends of the Show, for loving and lifting me! This Week's Show E-Sword Tutorial  Free E-Sword Bible study software and downloads Episode Resources Holy Land Pilgrimage Share the LOVE on the Facebook community. Tell us your #LOVEtheWordtakeaway.   Redeem your Mondays, and be the first to get every new show: Sign up here and get each episode automatically delivered to you every Monday morning. Show series are public for a limited time. Archived shows are premium content, and available to all Friends of the Show as part of their membership package. Read the Transcript You can download a complete, word-for-word transcript here, when it becomes available, courtesy of Kristie Hynniman who does our transcriptions for you.

Catching you up on my news today, in preparation for the new series on Job, which starts next week! We talk about my trips to Israel and Poland, E-Sword Bible software, a car accident, and websites. Thank you to, Lisa D, Laura T, Katrina H, Dawn B, Carmela, Angelica, Patricia H, MaryKatherine, Christine A, Rosemary D, Cieara, Lori C, Angela C, and Maria A, my newest Friends of the Show, for loving and lifting me! This Week's Show E-Sword Tutorial  Free E-Sword Bible study software and downloads Episode Resources Holy Land Pilgrimage Share the LOVE on the Facebook community. Tell us your #LOVEtheWordtakeaway.   Redeem your Mondays, and be the first to get every new show: Sign up here and get each episode automatically delivered to you every Monday morning. Show series are public for a limited time. Archived shows are premium content, and available to all Friends of the Show as part of their membership package. Read the Transcript You can download a complete, word-for-word transcript here, when it becomes available, courtesy of Kristie Hynniman who does our transcriptions for you.

When my sister was little, she ran to my mother after a nightmare. Attempting to soothe her fears, my mother told her she should pray to Jesus and remember He is always with her. With worry wrinkling her forehead, my sister replied, “But Mama, I need somebody with skin on ’em!” The tabernacle and its Ark of the Covenant were the Old Testament expression of God’s desire to be present with His people. Jesus, our new Covenant, and Mary our new Ark, carry this expression forward into the Church, where God is still present on His throne. Thank you, Terrie and Patricia C, my newest Friends of the Show, for loving and lifting me! LOVE the Word™ is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin. L - Listen (Receive the Word.) O - Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.) F | Franciscan - As you listened to this week's show about the ark, what action did you feel inspired to take? Take the time, now or sometime this week, to do what was in your heart. I | Ignatian - Imagine you are St. John, now a 90 year old man, to whom Jesus "gave" His mother from the cross when you were still a teenager. In Ephesus, you provided for and loved her on His behalf for years, but she has gone to heaven to be with Him now, and you have been exiled to an island for your faith. As you are "in the spirit on the Lord's Day" (Sunday), you receive a consoling vision from God. Using all your senses in turn - sight, sound, touch, taste, smell - imagine the vision: "Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm. A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head" (Revelation 11:19-12:1). A | Augustinian - The OT ark of the covenant was the throne from which God ruled. The Old Testament ark of the covenant, Mary, Jesus, the Church collectively, and you and I individually all express this idea. Jesus said “the Kingdom of God is within you,” meaning, your soul should be the throne of God. Is Jesus the ruler of your heart and life, completely? What are you holding back? T | Thomistic - See if you can identify the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the OT and NT ark: Who is the OT arks; who is the NT ark? What is the OT ark; what is the NT ark? And so on... V - Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.) Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O - Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word journal. Or get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin. E - Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!) Thank you Lord Jesus for giving us your mother to be our own. Help us honor You, by honoring her as You do. Amen + . *LOVE the Word™ exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or "prayer forms," explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types. Notes and References Exodus 25:10-22, the exquisite description of the mysterious contents of the Holy of Holies Exodus 20:4-5, “You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth…” Numbers 3:29-31, The Levite tribe of Kohath was responsible for carrying the ark on t...

The stunning vintage samplers crafted by my mother’s respectful fingers might take your breath away. Hundreds of thousands of colorful hand-stitches and hours of painstaking concentration and deliberation go into these linens of love, such as this Quaker Sampler called "Vierlande 1826." Doesn’t it make your soul sigh just to look at the joy that left her hand? Delicate finery is fearfully, wonderfully made. The Old Testament tabernacle veil teaches that you, Dear One, are also uniquely “stitched” together with a similar unrepeatable purpose, careful respect, and wondrous appreciation. Do not doubt your wonderful nature, for you are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). Thank you, David, and Hank and Theresa, my newest Friends of the Show, for loving and lifting me! LOVE the Word™ is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin. L - Listen (Receive the Word.) O - Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.) F | Franciscan - As you go into the marketplace, practice really seeing and looking into the people you speak to. I | Ignatian - Spend some time in Adoration this week. Using all your senses, try to "see" and sense Jesus in the monstrance. What happens? A | Augustinian - Mother Teresa of Calcutta spoke repeatedly about Jesus in “distressing disguise.” While she spoke specifically of the poor, it is also true of other people. Who in your life is currently most distressing to you? T | Thomistic - Maybe you'd like to ask your priest to offer a special blessing over you and your family. V - Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.) Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O - Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word journal. Or get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin. E - Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!) Thank you Lord, that we "live and move and have our being" in You (Acts 17:28). Amen + . *LOVE the Word™ exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or "prayer forms," explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types. Notes and References Old Testament Veil Exodus 26:31-35, directions and description of the tabernacle curtain Genesis 3:24, Cherubim guard the way to the Tree of Life. Numbers 4:5, The tabernacle veil was used to wrap the ark of the covenant for protection when the Israelites journeyed through the wilderness. New Testament Veil in Christ’s Flesh Psalm 22:6, “I am a [tola] worm, and no man; scorned by men, and despised by the people.” Matthew 27:46, Jesus quotes Psalm 22 on the cross as prophetic of Himself. Exodus 40:21, In Hebrew, the word used to describe the veil is sakak, translated twice in this verse as “screen(ed).” It is sometimes also translated in the Scriptures as “covered,” “woven” or “knit.” Psalm 139:6, “You ‘stitched’ me together in my mother’s womb.” John 2:19-22, Jesus’ own flesh veils the Presence of God. Luke 9:28-36, The transfiguration reveals the presence of God beneath Jesus’ veil of flesh. Matthew 27:46-51, In the agony of His Passion, just after Jesus quotes Psalm 22:1 “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”, the veil in Herod’s Temple was split from top to bottom. Hebrews 9, The Holy of Holies was a type of Heaven,

My pastor loves the liturgy; he uses incense like a fumigator when it’s called for. By the end of the weekend’s Masses you have to part the smoke with your hands to see the altar. The old ladies cough and sneeze and dab their rolling eyes, but I love the way it gets in my clothes and hair. I take it home and inhale the scent of prayer for the rest of the day. Combining incense, liturgy, sacrifice, and prayer was God’s idea! Thank you, Friends of the Show, for loving and lifting me :) LOVE the Word™ is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin. L - Listen (Receive the Word.) O - Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.) F | Franciscan - Perhaps you might plan an old-fashioned prayer meeting at your parish? Let's just pray for each other! I | Ignatian - Spend some time in Adoration this week. Take careful note of all you sense there. You might also burn liturgical incense in your home. How do you feel when you smell it? A | Augustinian - When do you find it difficult to pray? Consider how precious and potent your prayer is when you offer it as a sacrifice in those moments. What comes to mind? What was the most sacrificial prayer you remember ever praying? What has God said to you about your prayer habits through this week's show? T | Thomistic - Maybe you'd like to obtain some blessed salt, this week, and sprinkle it around your house. V - Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.) Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O - Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word journal. Or get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin. E - Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!) Thank you Lord, for granting us the petitions you have inspired us to ask, through Christ our Lord. Amen + . *LOVE the Word™ exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or "prayer forms," explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types. Notes and References Old Testament Incense Exodus 30:1-10, description of the tabernacle incense altar Exodus 37:29, second description of the tabernacle incense altar Incense included salt Ezekiel 16:4 – salting newborns 2 Kings 2:19-22, salt used to cleanse undrinkable (bitter) waters Numbers 18:19, “covenant in salt” 2 Chronicles 13:5, David is an eternal king through a salt covenant Psalm 141:2, incense = prayer Malachi 1:11, Old Testament prophecy of the time when Gentiles (non-Jews) would offer a “pure offering” accompanied by incense New Testament Incense Luke 1:8-11, Zechariah offers incense in the temple at the hour of prayer Mark 14:32-36, “Not my will but yours.” John 17, Jesus prays for us 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Pray without ceasing. James 5:16, The continual prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects. Heavenly Incense Revelation 5:8, incense = prayer Revelation 8:3-5, incense = prayer St. Therese of Lisieux, Autobiographical Manuscript C, 25: “For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and love, embracing both trial and joy.” Episode Resources Fulfilled, Uncovering the Biblical Foundations of Catholicism, Chapter 10, Holy Smoke Ignite,

The fulfillment and interpretation of all Old Testament things, Jesus is present in the Eucharist. He feeds us; we can live forever with God by becoming one with, eating, this new Bread of the Presence. Thank you, Friends of the Show, for loving and lifting me :) LOVE the Word™ is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin. L - Listen (Receive the Word.) O - Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.) F | Franciscan - Bake bread or make a special meal for someone you love or for a neighbor. I | Ignatian - Choose one of the references below (under Notes and References) and place yourself in the situation. What do you hear, see, feel, smell? A | Augustinian - How has God called you through this show to be broken bread and spilled out wine for others today and this week? T | Thomistic - Memorize the types of Old Testament bread listed below. V - Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.) Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O - Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word journal. Or get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin. E - Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!) Lord God, giver of bread, there can be no famine while the bread of Heaven endures, and help us to remember that when we are forgetful of Your infinite kindness. As we eat of the bread of Heaven we shall continue to prosper on earth. Kind Lord, feed me until I shall want no more. Amen + . *LOVE the Word™ exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or "prayer forms," explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types. Notes and References Exodus 25:23-30, Table of “presence bread,” also translated “bread of the Face”; “bread of propitiation”; “loaves of setting forth”; or “showbread.” Directly across from the golden lampstand in the tabernacle sanctuary, outside the holy of holies, it was a crowned, gold table, set to the right. Leviticus 24:5-9, 12 loaves of Presence Bread on the table for 12 tribes, a communal offering rather than a sacrificial one. Because the bread belonged to God, it was to be eaten by the priests every Sabbath “in the sacred place,” the sanctuary, as they replaced the previous week’s bread with fresh each week. Along with the bread, there were also offerings of incense, wine and oil. Other “types” of Old Testament bread Genesis 14:18, The first priest in the scriptures, Melchizedek, offers bread and wine Exodus 12, unleavened Passover bread Exodus 16:14-31, manna, “bread from heaven”; angels’ food “suited to each man’s taste” (Wis 16:20-21). The Eucharist – the anti-type of all Old Testament breads Matthew 4:4, Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 8:3, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by the word of God.” As a spiritual being, man cannot live only in the physical realm. John 6, Jesus teaches on the Eucharist before He institutes it for the first time, “I am the bread of life.” John 6:63, “the spirit gives life, flesh profits nothing.” Jesus means our flesh, not His flesh, which gives eternal life (John 6:54). The “spirituality” of the teaching does not make it merely symbolic. To be spiritual does not necessitate a “symbolic” meaning. In fact, in this case the exact opposite is true, according to Jesus in this chapter. Episode Resources Fulfilled,

Like Moses, his priesthood and elders, and the Jewish Sanhedrin after them, the Church is “watched over” and illuminated by the ministry of the priestly and apostolic Magisterium. The Deposit of Faith, which includes the Bible and Sacred Tradition, has been guarded and preserved for us for two millennia by the teaching authority of the Church. As Saint Paul commands, we need both scripture and tradition: “So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth [tradition] or by letter [scripture]” (2 Thess 2:15). The world needs this light and truth. “There is an organic connection between our spiritual life and the dogmas. Dogmas are lights along the path of faith; they illuminate it and make it secure. Conversely, if our life is upright, our intellect and heart will be open to welcome the light shed by the dogmas of faith” (CCC 89). Welcome Connie, Suzette, and Wayne, Bible Study Evangelista's newest friends of the show! Thank you for loving and lifting me :) LOVE the Word™ is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin. L - Listen (Receive the Word.) O - Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.) F | Franciscan - How can you be light to a neighbor today? Who can you actively serve? I | Ignatian - Choose one of the references below (under Notes and References) and place yourself in the situation. What do you hear, see, feel, smell? OR... If you were the priest in charge of the OT tabernacle sanctuary where the lampstand was, and had charge of keeping it lit, what would you be thinking as you entered through the curtain to fill the lamps? What might you hear? Smell? Feel? A | Augustinian - How will your light shine today and this week?  T | Thomistic - Research how the seven lampstands surrounding Jesus in the heavenly temple could be symbolic of the "seven eras" of church history. V - Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.) Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O - Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word journal. Or get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin. E - Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!) Jesus, Light of the World, For the many that have followed you today through the darkness of temptation, doubt, or pain, you are the promise of an eternal dawn. We give thanks for all that has been given to us through you, and we ask for the grace to be our faithful disciples. May we praise you all the days of our lives. Amen + . *LOVE the Word™ exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or "prayer forms," explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types. Notes and References Exodus 25:31-40, The golden lampstand, or menorah, in the tabernacle Exodus 27:20-21, Perpetual light Leviticus 24:3-4, The priests kept the wicks trimmed, the oil topped, and the lamps burning before the Lord continuously. Exodus 28:29-30, Urim and Thummim in the HIgh Priest’s breastplate of judgment. Urim = “Lights” and Thummim = “Perfect Truths” both superlative plural Sirach 45:10, together the names mean something similar to “Perfect Knowledge.” Numbers 27:21, used to consult God about His selection of leaders 1 Samuel 14:41, used to determine guilt or innocence  Ezra 2:63,

The Old Testament laver teaches us that cleansing and purity is necessary for all those who would approach God. The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus when John baptized Him in the Jordan River. The dove was real, not symbolic; the Holy Spirit was real, not symbolic. John the Baptist was a witness that Jesus’ baptism was literal, physical, and spiritual. I can know with certainty that through baptism in water the Holy Spirit descends upon me, follows me as the water-Rock in the desert, and reconfigures me into a “new creation” of Christ. Welcome Kelly K, Diane G, Amanda B, Mark C, Todd S, MaryKatherine B, Allyson M, Marianne F, and Catie W, Bible Study Evangelista's newest friends of the show! Thank you for loving and lifting me :) LOVE the Word™ is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin. L - Listen (Receive the Word.) O - Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.) F | Franciscan - What does this song inspire you to pray?  I | Ignatian - Have you ever taken a walk or hike, and suddenly realized how parched you were? What did that feel like? Imagine feeling that way, spiritually, for prolonged periods of time. Perhaps you have felt this way for a long time, either recently or in the past. How was/is Jesus your living water? A | Augustinian - How does this week's show make you understand and appreciate Baptism more? How is Jesus' gift of "living water" meant to help you pour yourself out for others? T | Thomistic - Perhaps you'd like to renew your baptismal promises: Baptismal Promises: Do you reject sin, so as to live in the freedom of God’s children? I do. Do you reject the glamour of evil, and refuse to be mastered by sin? I do. Do you reject Satan, father of sin and prince of darkness? I do. Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth? I do. Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father? I do. Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting? I do.  V - Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.) Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O - Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word journal. Or get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin. E - Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!) Holy Spirit, I come to You, the Fount of Life, to ask, with humility, that You fill my poor heart with those Living Waters. Let my heart overflow with love for everyone, with every intention of my will, with every word upon my lips, with every deed which I perform. May my heart be a Temple of the Most Holy Trinity, that all who approach me, may find within me, the living and abiding presence of Your love. May the Spirit of Your love never lay dormant within me, but pour forth to embrace, comfort, guide and sustain all the souls who You choose to have cross my path in life. This I ask through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen Amen + . *LOVE the Word™ exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or "prayer forms," explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs ...

The fire that fell from God’s presence onto the Old Testament altar is the same fire spoken of in the NT as the fire of purgatory which purifies, or sanctifies, us now on earth or after death (in the absence of mortal sin). Popes Gregory and Benedict XVI, along with such mystic Saints as Catherine of Genoa, Faustina, and John Paul II, have said the all-consuming fire of God’s presence, the fire of purgatory, and the fire of hell are the same fire: Trials on earth are bitter fire for the sinner, even as they purify the person of God. Life’s “fiery trials,” then, are the all-consuming, jealous fire of God probing and purifying us deliberately, deeply, and intimately, just as the altar fire once did in the OT sacrifices. If we offer them to God willingly in Communion with Jesus’ Cross, they contribute to our salvation to the degree that we can be wholly holy at death. When our trials are viewed this way, they become our sacred offerings of love, offered in participation in Jesus’ Cross. They “save” us. Welcome Alison W, Julie H, and Rachel M, Bible Study Evangelista's newest friends of the show! Thank you for loving and lifting me :) LOVE the Word™ is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin. L - Listen (Receive the Word.) O - Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.) F | Franciscan - Cradle a crucifix in your hand; touch His five wounds; pray a thanksgiving prayer on each one. I | Ignatian - Imagine you are offering an animal sacrifice at the tabernacle. What can you see around you as you lead your goat to the priest at the altar? As you lay your hand on its head and confess your sins over it, what else can you hear? What do you smell? How do you feel just before you cut its throat with your knife and bleed its blood into the pan? What are your thoughts as the priest pours the blood out around the base of the altar? A | Augustinian - How does this week's show make you understand and appreciate the Eucharist more? How is Jesus' gift of His Body and Blood meant to help you be more broken and spilled out for others? T | Thomistic - Make a list of anything new you learned about Old Testament sacrifices, and see if you can connect them to Jesus' sacrifice. V - Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.) Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O - Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word journal. Or get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin. E - Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!) Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. Enkindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your spirit, and there shall be a new creation, and you will renew the face of the earth. Amen + . *LOVE the Word™ exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or "prayer forms," explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types. Notes and References “For our God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:29). Fire in the OT: Genesis 15:1-17 God calls Moses from the burning bush Exodus 3:1-8 God leads from the pillar of cloud and fire Exodus 12:8-10 God descends on Mt. Sinai in a fire Exodus 13:17-21 God and Abraham make a covenant Exodus 19:18-19 the Passover lamb must be roasted and eaten Leviticus 9:22-24, And fire came forth from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat upon the altar. Leviticus 6:9-13 it is stressed three times that the altar fire, once lit, must burn continuously,

Christ on the cross is the Christian East. When He says, “This is the cup of the new covenant in my blood that is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins,” He uses the same word for the pouring out of sacrificial blood in the tabernacle and covenant sacrifices. To eat and drink the blood of those sacrifices would have been to drink unto death, so God enacted a protective prohibition against such. But when Jesus came, He came to give us life (Joh 10:10); He is LIFE (Joh 11:25). Jesus made eating His flesh and drinking His blood the whole point of the New Covenant, because His sacrificial, resurrected, eternal life is literally and uniquely present there. “Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life” (Joh 6:54). Welcome Jennifer R, Bethany, and Roland, Bible Study Evangelista's newest friends of the show! Thank you for loving and lifting me :) LOVE the Word™ is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin. L - Listen (Receive the Word.) O - Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.) F | Franciscan - Cradle a crucifix in your hand; touch His five wounds; pray a thanksgiving prayer on each one. I | Ignatian - Imagine you are offering an animal sacrifice at the tabernacle. What can you see around you as you lead your goat to the priest at the altar? As you lay your hand on its head and confess your sins over it, what else can you hear? What do you smell? How do you feel just before you cut its throat with your knife and bleed its blood into the pan? What are your thoughts as the priest pours the blood out around the base of the altar? A | Augustinian - How does this week's show make you understand and appreciate the Eucharist more? How is Jesus' gift of His Body and Blood meant to help you be more broken and spilled out for others? T | Thomistic - Make a list of anything new you learned about Old Testament sacrifices, and see if you can connect them to Jesus' sacrifice. V - Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.) Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O - Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word journal. Or get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin. E - Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!) Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. Blood of Christ, inebriate me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me. Passion of Christ, strengthen me. O good Jesus, hear me. Within Thy wounds, hide me. Separated from Thee let me never be. From the malignant enemy, defend me. At the hour of death, call me. To come to Thee, bid me, That I may praise Thee in the company Of Thy Saints, for all eternity. + Amen. . *LOVE the Word™ exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or "prayer forms," explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types. Notes and References “For it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul by reason of the life” (Lev. 17:11). Directly inside the tabernacle courtyard gate was the first facility, a gigantic BBQ-grill-like structure. Exodus 27:1-8, God’s instructions regarding the altar are that it should be made of wood overlaid with bronze. Leviticus 1, The altar was the place where the bloody and burnt animal sacrifices were offered,

I have found in explaining my conversion that nothing irritates people like the priesthood. The priest is usually a person’s first direct exposure to Church hierarchy, and let’s face it, authority just rubs us all the wrong way when it doesn’t conform to what we think or want. Institutional priesthood is God’s idea. Welcome Todd, Kandy, Mandi, and Maribeth, Bible Study Evangelista's newest friends of the show! Thank you for loving and lifting me :) LOVE the Word™ is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin. L - Listen (Receive the Word.) O - Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.) F | Franciscan - Write a note of thanks and appreciation to your parish priest. I | Ignatian - Imagine you are present by the Sea of Galilee as Jesus chooses fishermen Peter, James, and John to follow Him. Use all your senses to imagine you are there. How do you feel when He chooses you, too? A | Augustinian - Did anything about today's show help you appreciate your priest and the priests you know, more? Did anything convict you about how you view and talk about your priest? T | Thomistic - Use the prayer in the E - Entrust step, below, to list by name the priests that come to mind as you read and pray. V - Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.) Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O - Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word journal. Or get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin. E - Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!) The Daily Prayer For Priests by St. Therese of the Child Jesus   O Jesus, I pray for your faithful and fervent priests; for your unfaithful and tepid priests; for your priests laboring at home or abroad in distant mission fields; for your tempted priests; for your lonely and desolate priests; for your young priests; for your dying priests; for the souls of your priests in Purgatory. But above all, I recommend to you the priests dearest to me: the priest who baptized me; the priests who absolved me from my sins; the priests at whose Masses I assisted and who gave me Your Body and Blood in Holy Communion; the priests who taught and instructed me; all the priests to whom I am indebted in any other way (especially …).   O Jesus, keep them all close to your heart, and bless them abundantly in time and in eternity.  + Amen. . *LOVE the Word™ exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or "prayer forms," explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types. Notes and References The institutional priesthood: “The priest’s office shall be theirs by perpetual statute. Thus you shall ordain them” (Ex. 29:9). The lay priesthood: Ex 19:3-6, 3 And Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel… 6 …you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” 1 Peter 2:5-9, And like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Numbers 16:1-11, the people rebel against the institutional priesthood,