The daily Bible readings are fixed according to weekdays. So 2-year reading cycle consists of less than 2 times 365 days. Actually, it is 2 times 52 weeks. That is 2 times 364 days. Therefore, the readings today were read on 11th January, 2008 which was a Friday. Why? OK, let's do some simple arithmetic. 364 is one less than 365. Therefore, the Friday on 11th January 2008 would fall on 10th January 2009. However, 2008 is a leap year. Which means there were 366 days. Therefore, the Friday actually fell on 9th January 2009 and 8th January 2010. Q.E.D.
Biblical passages are actually reflections on events happened to Biblical people. The previous sentence needs qualifications.
First of all, not all "Biblical people" are real people. Some are fictitious and were made up by the authors. The Bible is actually a library of books and books come in different genres. Some are poetry, some narratives and some aphorisms. There are historical personalities on whom the authors invested a lot of idealized characters. There are larger than life legendary personalities which are prototypes. Their appearances on the stage carry the plot through.
Secondly, the events are selectively memorized to press a point. Take the nativity stories in Matthew and Luke as an example. I am sure many of the historical facts have not been fully recorded and presented in the two gospels. Matthew and Luke selected events to weave a plot to bring out their themes. Jesus is the anticipated kingly Messiah to fulfill the prophecies of old. Jesus is the rejected merciful Messiah for the poor and lowly. With these themes in their mind, Matthew and Luke wrote the nativity stories. Some details might have been invented as well.
Thirdly, the historical circumstances might be hostile to the authors. In such a situation, the authors had no choice but to write in codes. Historical figures were deliberately put into the wrong time frame. Names of places were encoded in riddles. Some enigmas could be understood by the readers at their times but their meanings might be forever lost to the modern readers.
Lastly, as readers, we interact with the passages and have the freedom to interpret them in a way befits our present situation. Therefore, Biblical passages are perennially new and relevant to us today. When we read them, we humbly ask God what He wants us to know at the moment. Therefore, before we read, we should pray to the Holy Spirit to open up our hearts to listen to the words of God.
First of all, not all "Biblical people" are real people. Some are fictitious and were made up by the authors. The Bible is actually a library of books and books come in different genres. Some are poetry, some narratives and some aphorisms. There are historical personalities on whom the authors invested a lot of idealized characters. There are larger than life legendary personalities which are prototypes. Their appearances on the stage carry the plot through.
Secondly, the events are selectively memorized to press a point. Take the nativity stories in Matthew and Luke as an example. I am sure many of the historical facts have not been fully recorded and presented in the two gospels. Matthew and Luke selected events to weave a plot to bring out their themes. Jesus is the anticipated kingly Messiah to fulfill the prophecies of old. Jesus is the rejected merciful Messiah for the poor and lowly. With these themes in their mind, Matthew and Luke wrote the nativity stories. Some details might have been invented as well.
Thirdly, the historical circumstances might be hostile to the authors. In such a situation, the authors had no choice but to write in codes. Historical figures were deliberately put into the wrong time frame. Names of places were encoded in riddles. Some enigmas could be understood by the readers at their times but their meanings might be forever lost to the modern readers.
Lastly, as readers, we interact with the passages and have the freedom to interpret them in a way befits our present situation. Therefore, Biblical passages are perennially new and relevant to us today. When we read them, we humbly ask God what He wants us to know at the moment. Therefore, before we read, we should pray to the Holy Spirit to open up our hearts to listen to the words of God.
This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood.
And the Spirit is the witness, because the Spirit is the truth.
There are three witnesses, the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree (1 John 5:6-8).
On what events was John reflecting when he wrote these lines? We may never know because John was advanced in age. Perhaps he could not remember clearly anymore. What he wrote probably reflects more of his feelings than facts.
These facts involve Jesus, water, blood, the Spirit, the witness of the Spirit and perhaps something more than was written down. There might be one single event or many related events. So, we will never know what exactly had happened and what prompted John to write these lines. Still, what does God want me to understand? I am confident that the Holy Spirit still bears witness in our hearts that Jesus is Christ.
And the Spirit is the witness, because the Spirit is the truth.
There are three witnesses, the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree (1 John 5:6-8).
On what events was John reflecting when he wrote these lines? We may never know because John was advanced in age. Perhaps he could not remember clearly anymore. What he wrote probably reflects more of his feelings than facts.
These facts involve Jesus, water, blood, the Spirit, the witness of the Spirit and perhaps something more than was written down. There might be one single event or many related events. So, we will never know what exactly had happened and what prompted John to write these lines. Still, what does God want me to understand? I am confident that the Holy Spirit still bears witness in our hearts that Jesus is Christ.
Jesus comes to us by water and blood. The Holy Spirit bears witness to this.
Jesus went through baptism though he needed not to. He wants to come to us in our baptism. Through baptism, we put on Christ.
Jesus comes to us by blood. He gave us his body and blood in the Last Supper. He wanted to come to us when we receive the Communion. Through the Holy Eucharist, we unite with Christ and all other members of the Mystical Body. In all these sacraments administered by the Church, the Holy Spirit comes to us as well. The Holy Spirit comes to abide in us, to tell us that Jesus is Christ and to remind us that Jesus is our Saviour through his passion and resurrection.
We are made sacraments for the world, for the needy in the world. Therefore, when people meet us and receive us, they receive God's grace through us. We are sacraments of the world. How? Through loving each other which John has been repeating so many times in his Epistle.
Jesus went through baptism though he needed not to. He wants to come to us in our baptism. Through baptism, we put on Christ.
Jesus comes to us by blood. He gave us his body and blood in the Last Supper. He wanted to come to us when we receive the Communion. Through the Holy Eucharist, we unite with Christ and all other members of the Mystical Body. In all these sacraments administered by the Church, the Holy Spirit comes to us as well. The Holy Spirit comes to abide in us, to tell us that Jesus is Christ and to remind us that Jesus is our Saviour through his passion and resurrection.
We are made sacraments for the world, for the needy in the world. Therefore, when people meet us and receive us, they receive God's grace through us. We are sacraments of the world. How? Through loving each other which John has been repeating so many times in his Epistle.
Dear Lord, You are the Primordial Sacrament of the world. May we partake in this Sacrament and become sacraments of neighbours. Amen.
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