Progression, confidence

During our discussion last Thursday, we talked about one question at length: Why should we be confident before the judgement of God?

And now, children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not be put to shame by him at his coming. 1 John 2:28

Here is the progression of answers we came up with, each answer getting closer and closer to the center of the question.

1. Confident if we keep the commandments.
2. Confident if we acknowledge the Lamb.
3. Confident because it is nor a surprise -- it is something foretold.
4. Confident because of faith.
5. Confident because of the Messiah's sacrifice on the Cross.
6. Confident because it is based on God's love for us.

At that point, we could go no deeper into the matter: God's love for us is a sure and solid bedrock.

Or, as St. Paul said in the city of Athens, "in Him we live and move and have our being."

1 John 2 questions

To read through 1 John chapter 2, here are a few questions to get you thinking:

1. If Jesus is our advocate, our defense attorney before God the Father, then how is it that He is also the expiation of our sins? How many lawyers volunteer for that duty?
2. When you confess sins to God, does the power of the forgiveness depend on your personal power or skill?
3. Re-read Romans 8:26-32. Does this inspire confidence in God's power to forgive?
4. There is an unusual pair of sets of three questions in vv. 12-14. What do you make of them?
5. In v. 18, John mentions several antichrists. What are these antichrists attempting to do to John's flock?

These questions are only the beginning of our quest for God's wisdom and grace this Thursday morning.

Beginning

This week we start a study of John's first letter, A good set of starting questions is:

1. Re-read John's gospel, chapter 1. Does this chapter bear any resemblance to the concepts in Johns first letter, chapter 1?
2. Re-read John's gospel, chapter 15. Does this chapter bear any resemblance to the concepts in Johns first letter, chapter 1?
3. Re-read Revelation, chapter 22. Does this chapter bear any resemblance to the concepts in Johns first letter, chapter 1?

Every Thursday morning, we meditate on God's Word, and we pray for the Lord's wisdom to penetrate our minds. These questions will be a good start.

The question

In preparing for Thursday morning's study of 1 Peter 3, I will only suggest one question which Peter himself asks:

1. What sort of persons ought you to be?

This is Peter's final examination question for us. Good.

Moses and Peter

St. Peter, from 2nd century catacombs, and a sketch of Moses by Raphael

Our readings this Sunday included Exodus, Moses and the burning bush, when he was on Mount Horeb, the mountain of God and God spoke to him. It made me think about Peter's experience on Mount Tabor when he heard God's voice from the shining cloud. Peter mentions it several times in his two letters.

It is interesting to think about Peter's responsibility, as chief apostle, leading the elect, the early Church, toward the eternal kingdom of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

1. As Peter walked 30 miles up to Caesarea to see Cornelius, did he think about Moses traveling back to Egypt to help the Israelites?
2. When he reminded his flock to remember and never forget the manifold grace of God, did he think of Moses doing the same thing, telling the Israelites to place his words on their hearts?
3. Did he smile when he thought about Moses in the bulrushes, floating in his tiny papyrus boat, plucked out to safety and eventually to a rescue mission, just as he himself had been plucked out of his fishing boat to become a fisher of men?

As Deacon Al frequently suggests, it helps to meditate upon the lives of the people we meet in the Bible. Moses and Peter and their similar responsibilities are a good meditation.

His ways were revealed to Moses, mighty deeds to the people of Israel.

Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger, abounding in kindness.

But the LORD'S kindness is forever, toward the faithful from age to age.

He favors the children's children of those who keep his covenant, who take care to fulfill its precepts.

The LORD'S throne is established in heaven; God's royal power rules over all.

Bless the LORD, all creatures, everywhere in God's domain. Bless the LORD, my soul!

Re-reading

I was re-reading the 2 Peter chapter 2, and a word in Greek jumped out at me, concerning the false teacher's unscrupulous greed. Peter writes of the false teachers, "In their greed they will exploit you with fabrications."

Peter's word in Greek for "exploit" is εμπορευσονται -- in English letters, emporeusontai. That is the root word for our English word, emporium. So, in Greek, it is actually stronger and more vicious than just "exploit."

In Greek it means, make merchandise of: "In their greed they will make merchandise of you with fabrications."

Questions to consider

Tomorrow morning, we will dive into 2 Peter, chapter 2. Here are a few questions by which to direct your thoughts.

1. Peter writes that false teachers have greed and exploit believers. What is the object of greed for someone who exploits the faith by deception? What are they greedy for?
2. A false teacher sets up victims so that they eventually show contempt for lordship. Yet, does a false teacher still lord it over his victims in any way?
3. Who was Balaam?
4. Was Balaam's act similar to things we sometimes observe in this our day?

That is a good start, as we seek to make our faith deep and true early this Thursday morning.

Answers from final exam!

Some of the answers from the 1 Peter final exam:

3. What is an example of everyday spiritual sacrifice that a member of the royal priesthood can offer to God in this our day?
   Answers:
   1. Love one another.
   2. corporal works of mercy
   3. celebrate Mass
5. What is the most valuable lesson you learned from Peter in this letter?
   Answers:
   1. Evil happens that good may come out of it.
   2. Trust God.
   3. God the Father spoke to Peter directly.
   4. We are aliens in this world. We must work to keep away from earthly desires, wage war against the evil one, maintain good conduct, do good works and be Christ's feet, hands, eyes and ears.

Question 4 asked what Peter's examples were for being stewards of God's manifold grace. The options were

1. serving, with the strength that God Himself gives
2. figuring out calculus equations
3. going on a nice cruise to the Bahamas
4. retiring to Florida or Nordonia, Ohio

Curiously, no one selected options B, C or D. :)

Even though option B seems facetious, I include it as a serious point, that our covenant is available to little children, so it is not something that only an egghead scientist can savvy. It is simple enough for little ones to hold, yet lofty enough to rest the eloquent St. Thomas Aquinas. Good.