Forward to chapter 26

We will continue working on last week's questions, #9 - #14,

9. How does it help the King to make the positive judgement first, for those on his right, and after that, to make his negative judgement?
   
10. What is the significance of the word inherit, compared to, for instance, in Ch. 9, where Jesus commands the healed man to take up his mat?
    
11. If a person does more than just to visit a prisoner, more than just to feed a hungry family, more than just to put a roof over a man's head, if a person does more than that, what kind of person is that? How would you describe that person?
    
12. For whom was the kingdom prepared? For whom was the eternal fire prepared?
    
13. Have you ever known someone who helped an enemy, someone who was down, even though under normal circumstances they would be persona non grata?
    
14. What does it tell you that Jesus left this last direct prophetic message as the last one before the events of crucifixion, starting in Ch. 26?
    

then push forward into the passion of the Messiah, chapter 26. For starters, here are a few questions to work with:

1. Matthew writes, "When Jesus finished all these words..." and then Jesus points out that in two days will be a celebration, the Passover. How is the last part of "all these words" -- the last judgement of Matthew 25:31-46 -- related to the escape from Egyptland?
   
2. Why do these goombahs have to plot in secrecy?
   
3. Does the high priest Caiaphas fear the Lord more than the people of Jerusalem?
   
4. Jesus is a son of Abraham, a son of David. Who was it in the story of the Exodus that wanted to kill off the sons of Abraham?
   
5. 
   Does the woman with the jar of perfumed oil have a malady of some kind?
   
6. When Moses died, did he have a public burial, with all the rituals, for all to see?
   
7. How would it come about that this woman acquires enduring fame, even though she is nameless?

Let's start with these questions today, maybe have some coffee, too, and ask the Holy Spirit to help us see into the perfect law of freedom, God's Word!

Deeper into the 25th chapter of Matthew

We finished last Thursday during a discussion of the Eucharist. We will extend that discussion today, plus a few more areas, viz.

1. How many individuals were involved in the parables of the vigilant handmaidens and the parable of the talents? How many in this prophetic description of the last judgement?
   
2. What effect is there from the presence of all his holy angels?
   
3. Jesus the King will separate the righteous from the unrighteous. Does that remind you of an parable of the kingdom?
   
4. Which is easier:
   1. to visit a prisoner, or
      
   2. to set the prisoner free?
5. Why didn't the ones on the King's left share their bread, their drink, their clothes, their presence?
   
6. Why does Jesus the King call them the "least" of his brothers?
   
7. Have you ever heard a story about a king who walked about in his kingdom disguised as a beggar? What is it about that kind of story that rouses your interest?
   
8. Can a poor man be on the King's right by reason of having shared something with another poor man? What could he share?
   
9. How does it help the King to make the positive judgement first, for those on his right, and after that, to make his negative judgement?
   
10. What is the significance of the word inherit, compared to, for instance, in Ch. 9, where Jesus commands the healed man to take up his mat?
    
11. If a person does more than just to visit a prisoner, more than just to feed a hungry family, more than just to put a roof over a man's head, if a person does more than that, what kind of person is that? How would you describe that person?
    
12. For whom was the kingdom prepared? For whom was the eternal fire prepared?
    
13. Have you ever known someone who helped an enemy, someone who was down, even though under normal circumstances they would be persona non grata?
    
14. What does it tell you that Jesus left this last direct prophetic message as the last one before the events of crucifixion, starting in Ch. 26?

Well, there is a lot to think about, a lot to take into our heart and execute. Let's have some coffee and talk it over this Thursday morning.

Findings

Findings from some of the Thursday morning questions, concerning the judgement in Matthew 25:31-46.

2. Is there matching truth in the Beatitudes of Matthew ch. 5?
   Len: the King divides the sheep from the goats on the basis of pure hearts. That is, the sheep had pure hearts, and the goats did not.
   
   Ken: the persecution that comes when people mock you for serving the poor and doing the right thing.
3. BRAIN-BURNER: Is there any place in the Old Testament that correlates with the actions that the Son of Man rewards?
   Len: the 4th commandment has a reward.
4. In all the actions rewarded by th Messiah, note that there is no teaching or preaching mentioned. Why is that?
   Al: As St. Francis said, sometimes the preaching of the gospel comes in with ones actions, as the King describes the actions of the righteous.
   
   Len: It's because Jesus is THE teacher; also because the Natural Law exists.

Thursday this week we will continue with discussion of the Eucharist.

The judgement of the nations, Matthew 25

We have a section of Matthew's gospel, ch. 25, verses 31-46, that is loaded with importance. Here are a few questions to help us look into it and put it into action:

1. How does the Our Father jibe with the judgement of the nations in this section?
2. Is there matching truth in the Beatitudes of Matthew ch. 5?
3. BRAIN-BURNER: Is there any place in the Old Testament that correlates with the actions that the Son of Man rewards?
4. In all the actions rewarded by th Messiah, note that there is no teaching or preaching mentioned. Why is that?
5. In the "make my day" miracle of healing, where the four men lowered their friend by ropes through the roof to Jesus, were they acting in the manner that finds reward in this section of Matthew's gospel?
6. What does this passage tell us about the Eucharist?

We are only walking in the foothills of this mountain, but these few questions can get our feet headed upward, especially if accompanied by some coffee this Thursday morning!

Doing the Word, March 7, 2012

I gave a word of encouragement to my son yesterday, on his way to school.