A survey in the Diocese of Basel Switzerland has shown that a majority of Catholics seek advice in God’s Word (54%). Also the Word of God, but in the form of the liturgy or reading the Bible, increased 44 percent. When asked in which moments they experience a good dialogue in the church in their environment, 17 percent give a self-written answer. Individual and concrete examples were often mentioned (e.g. in the monastery shop or the common Bible group).
Europe is changing
Subcultures are establishing themselves in Europe. The same rights no longer apply to everyone.
France’s Directorate-General for Internal Security has mapped 150 districts “owned” by a group: neighbourhoods and enclaves where Islamic fundamentalists rule. Continue reading Europe is changing
Live as children of light
(Ephesians 5:1-20)
We are set free to a new life as God’s beloved children (Ephesians 5:1). Jesus accepted the consequences of our transgression by offering himself as a sacrifice on the cross (Ephesians 5:2).
This does not mean, however, that we should now live haphazardly, but that we should live as children of the light (Ephesians 5:8). This life is marked by love (Ephesians 5:4), gratitude (Ephesians 5:4), goodness, justice, truth (Ephesians 5:9) and wisdom (Ephesians 5:15).
Instead of spreading meaningless gossip (Ephesians 5:6), we always give thanks to Heavenly Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:19).
We have been transported from the kingdom of death into the kingdom of God where Jesus lights the way for us. Paul does not say: You were in darkness, but: You were darkness. Now you are light (Ephesians 5:8).
But the darkness has not been eradicated, not even among the new people in Christ, otherwise the author would not have to mention it.
The environment of the church in Ephesus at that time was characterized by immorality, greed and ungodly gossip. That is why Paul encourages an opposite way of life.
We should keep the clarity and radiance, even if everyone around us lives something else.
Symbolism of the numbers in the Bible
Numbers play a special role in the Bible. They often serve as a link and reminder of certain events or symbols. But they are not absolute statements in the sense of an oracle or a hidden prophecy.
The one (Hebrew: echad) is associated with the concept of the unity of God (Deuteronomy 6: 4). Man and woman are also to become “one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). The unity of God stands against man’s distrust of God and his benevolence, a “no longer wanting to be one with God”. But we are to become one with God’s way of thinking (John 17:21). But always in the awareness of the differences. The absolute one is jachid. Each personality only exists once and is part of a larger unit in which we complement each other. Everything is designed to be complement. Continue reading Symbolism of the numbers in the Bible
When people ignore God
The new king doesn’t know the story of Joseph. It has been 300 years since Joseph stood up for Egypt. We see: it is always dangerous if we ignore history and do not want to learn from it. This is why the Bible is good to read because it shows what happens when people ignore God.
The Israelites are not oppressed because they rebel, but because they are doing well and are blessed by God, as God has promised to Abraham (Gen. 12: 3), Isaac (Gen. 26: 4) and Jacob (Gen. 28:14).
If we feel threatened, then we have no appreciation or a good word for others. Instead of togetherness, there is an opposition. Continue reading When people ignore God
David Arzouni
Good news
The angels announced to the shepherds in Luke 2: 10-11: ” I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
What’s the good news?
God loves (Hosea 14:4), seeks (Genesis 3:9 / Ezekiel 34:12) and visits us (Luke 1:68).
He does not impose himself on us, but he waits until we open the door for him (Revelation 3:20) or we turn to him (Isaiah 1:4).
Jesus died on the cross and rose again for our transgressions towards his life-enhancing instructions (John 3:16).
The Heavenly Father and Jesus come to us personally through the Holy Spirit (John 13:20). We are changed to the person God created us to be.
The key question is if we are open to God and if he knows us (Matthew 7:23). He knows us when we reveal ourselves to him.
Rejoice daughter of Zion
“Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!” Zephaniah 3:14.
The prophet Zephaniah called on Jerusalem, like all Israel, to rejoice in the presence of the Lord: “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save” (Zephaniah 3:17). Salvation is in Hebrew: Yeschuah / Jesus is Yeschua and means saviour.
This almighty God has forgiven his people the guilt: “The Lord has taken away the judgments against you … The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst” (Zephaniah 3:15). “Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” (John 19:19).
The joy of this is shared. Not only of the people of Israel, but God himself shares the joy of his people: “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing” (Zephaniah 3:17). ” And you shall again obey the voice of the Lord… For the Lord will again take delight in prospering you, as he took delight in your fathers” (Deuteronomy 30: 8-9).
The promises of the First Testament are fulfilled in the coming of Jesus into this world.
Paul writes that the reason for joy is the closeness of God revealed in Jesus. ” Rejoice in the Lord always … The Lord is at hand” (Philippians 4: 4-5). The closeness of God in Jesus is the cause of hope and joy. And we always need it.
The mysterious Aleph Tav
Edit William H. Sanford and Chuck Missler spread the idea that behind the Hebrew Aleph-Tav symbol there is a reference to Jesus. The combination Aleph-Tav includes Y’shua haMashiach (Jesus the Messiah). They come to this conclusion because Jesus says in Revelation 1: 8 that he is the alpha and the omega (the first and last letters in the Greek alphabet). In Revelation 21: 6 this is also combined with the statement that he is the beginning and the end. In the Hebrew alphabet, the aleph and the tav are the first and last letters.
Behind this interpretation stands a kabbalistic interpretation of the Bible. Kabbalah is searching for secret messages behind the written text. It is a search for something that the text does not say. But the focus should be on the content of the text.
The Paradox of the Pious
The Pharisee thanks God that he is not like the tax collector. He is religious. Even thank God. But he doesn’t need God. His prayer revolves around himself, and he can do without God. He evaluates and condemns other people.
The tax collector, on the other hand, Continue reading The Paradox of the Pious