1/29 Jesus and Passover Lamb

Passover Lamb (Correlation between Old and New Testaments) -- Fr. Marvin Deutsch, M.M.

The feast of the Passover was central to the Jewish faith. Each family sacrificed a lamb, the blood of which was painted on the door posts. The Angel of death Passed over these homes but not over the homes of the Egyptians. All the first born of the Egyptians died. The Jews were saved from the slavery of Egypt. The Jews renewed this event once every year....

When Jesus was 40 days old, he was brought to the temple to be bought back. All the first born had to be bought back in this way. It was a continual reminder of the importance of the Passover feast. (Luke 2:22)

The Jews celebrated this feast every year. It was during this celebration that Jesus when 12 years old, stays behind in the temple to declare his purpose. (Luke 2:41-52)

It is also central to the Christian Faith. Jesus is the New Passover.

He had to die on the eve of the Passover feast. He had to die in Jerusalem. He died while the lambs were being prepared for the feast. He was to become the New Lamb.

Jesus anticipated the feast of the Passover by celebrating it with his apostles on Thursday evening rather than on Friday evening.

Jesus is our Passover Lamb. By his blood we are saved from the Angel of death -eternal damnation in hell. We are saved from the slavery of sin.

We celebrate our Passover not only during Holy Week but every time we offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. At the consecration, the body and blood of Christ becomes present and is offered to the Father for us.

Read Exodus 12: 1-14

Luke 22:7; 14-20

When the day ofthe Feast ofthe Unleavened Bread arrived, the day for sacrificing the Passover lamb, he sent out Peter and John, instructing them, "Go make preparations for us to eat the Passover... When the hour came, he took his place at table with the apostles. He said to them, "1 have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell you that from this time on I shall not drink ofthe fruit ofthe vine until the kingdom ofGod comes." Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them saying, "This is my body which will be given for you; do this in memory ofme." And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you." Jesus becomes the new Lamb which is continually offered for us

John 1:29 -the Testimony ofJohn the Baptist"

Behold the Lamb ofGod who takes away the sin ofthe world

Revelation 7:13

Then one ofthe elders spoke up and said to me, "Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from? I said to him, "My Lord, you are the one who knows." He said to me, "These are the ones who have survived the time ofgreat distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood ofthe Lamb. "

Brothers and Sisters,

This week. Fr. Marvin Deutsch will lead us in the discussion of the Passover lab in the book of Exodus. How this passover lamb relates to Jesus who is the lamb of God.

Exodus 12, The Lord commend the whole Israel how to prepare the lamb for sacrifice in order to avoid the Angle of death. God saved Israeli and free them from Egypt.

Gospel of John 1:12, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." God sent his own son to save us from our sin. Jesus, the perfect sacrifice without blemish, has fulfill God's promise, died for us. He is the lamb for us to offer to the Lord our God.

Let us praise the Lord or God. As Christ our Passover lamb, Jesus, has taken away the sin for us. Hallelujah.

in Christ,
Dan

1/22 Genesis 20

Brothers and Sisters,
This week, we are continuing with the Chapter 20.

The story described in chapter 20 may happened well before chapter 18 that God promised Abraham/Sara a son. Apparently, whether the biblical events are in chronological order is not focus for the author.

The story takes us to the time when Abraham settled in Gerar. At the time, Abimelech who was the king of Gerar, laid eyes on Sara and took her. From the story, we realized how God is protecting his children even in such an desperate situation. The story also showed how weak Abraham is for he lie to Abimelech just to survive. Let's be honest, we probably all do when push comes to the shelf. However, God loves us regardless our sin. As long as we trust in him, God will lead our way out of trouble.

Once again, the author of Genesis uses Hagar to show God's mercy and takes care of his people. By sending messenger to show the well to Hagar, God kept his promise and never abandon us.

The highlight of part of story is God's test on Abraham. By asking Issac for the sacrifice, God put the most difficult test to his servant. Arguable, this is probably even harsher than the test for Job. How can God ask Issac for the sacrifice for Thy had just given him to me, Abraham must have been thinking back and forth. Apparently, Abraham overcome the struggle and decided obeying God's commend as a good servant. As a result, not only Abraham passed God's test, God reward him to be the father of great nation.

Often time, we are struggling and felt mistreated. How are we able to see through God's test and be his good servant. May God give us wisdom and courage to face whatever challenge he impose on us. And let us be an obeying servant.

in Christ,
Dan

1/15 Genesis 18

Brothers and Sisters,
This week, we are starting with the book of Genesis, chapter 18.

As Sarah laughed to herself not believing in what is going to happen, God spoke

"Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Shall I really bear a child, old as I am? Is anything too marvelous for the LORD to do? At the appointed time, about this time next year, I will return to you, and Sarah will have a son."

Nothing is impossible to God. For human is not possible, everything is possible to God. We are to learn obeying God's call. Although they might seem to be ridiculous and impossible to us.

The story turned 180 degree. We come to see how merciful God is. Abraham's repeating challenge to God's intended plan for the people in Sodom and Gomorrah. Arguable Abraham is not obeying God's will. Deep down, this passage shows the kindness of our God. He is willing to spare the whole city for one single good person.

Let's praise to Lord our God for he is kind and merciful.

in Christ,
Dan

Thanks from SJC Parish

1/8 Genesis 15

Happy New Year Brothers and Sisters,
We will start our 2010 Bible Study with Genesis Chapter 15


Genesis Chapter 15
The promises in the covenant

Abraham's faith in God's promises was regarded as an act of righteousness. Simply to say, Abraham expressed the "right" attitude of man toward God. That is trusting God with all your mind and all your hart. In return, God credited this to Abraham by giving him title to the fulfillment of God's promises.

This is a very important verse. We cannot please God because of our own efforts. We can only please God if we trust him. Then God made a covenant with Abraham to give the land to his descendants. This covenant is different from other covenants. As a covenant, someone on each side made promises. But in this one, only God made promises. Abraham did not make any promises. Abram just had to trust God. God would do everything else.

Genesis Chapter 16
God has heard

Three times we read that the angel of the Lord spoke to Hagar. It shows that God really cared about Hagar. Everything that he said was really important. God was sending her back to Sarai. That would be difficult for Hagar. She needed to receive confidence from God that it was right. God’s promise about many *descendants would encourage her. This was a wonderful promise for a woman who was just a slave.

Genesis Chapter 17
The covenant

This chapter is very important. God changed Abram’s name to Abraham. God also changed his wife’s name from Sarai to Sarah. God told Abraham more about his promises. God told Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. So Abraham would not only be the father of just one nation! Abraham was already living in the country that God promised to him. God added that he had promised ‘the whole country’ to Abraham. God told Abraham that there would be kings in his family. And God told him that Sarah, his old wife, would be the mother of his child. God said that this covenant will last always.
In two ways, God showed clearly that he had made the covenant. He gave new names to Abram (Abraham) and Sarai (Sarah). And he ordered the male members of their family to receive circumcision. That would show that they were joining into the *covenant with God.

God Bless

Happy New Year 2010