The following question is based upon the Gospel reading for this coming Sunday, July 1.
What was the disciples' response to Jesus' decision to by-pass a Samaritan village?
A. They understood that Jesus was on a mission to Jerusalem and simply followed him.
B. Because of the animosity between the Jews and the Samaritans, they threw rocks towards the village.
C. They asked Jesus if he wanted them to call down fire upon the village to destroy the people who lived there.
D. They were happy that they did not have to go into the evil Samaritan village.
The answer is C. There is a bit of truth in each of the answers. A. Jesus was determined to go to Jerusalem as part of his mission to declare the message of the Kingdom of God there. B. There was an historical hostility between Jews and Samaritans. D. Since there was no love lost between Jews and Samaritans, most Jews would have been much happier to simply avoid Samaritan villages altogether.
THOUGHTFUL REFLECTION: Why do you think the disciples suggested calling fire down on the Samaritans as a proper way to deal with them? What was the basis for Jesus' rebuke of his disciples?
Monday, June 25, 2007
Monday, June 18, 2007
ACE FOR JUNE 24, 2007
Where did Jesus send the Demons who possessed the man from the country of the Gerasenes:
A. Into the graves of the grave yard in which he lived.
B. Into the citizens of the local village.
C. Into a herd of pigs belonging to a local citizen.
D. Into a legion of Roman soldiers.
The answer is C. By sending the demons into the pigs, Jesus put an end to the demonization process in this Gentile city. Some believe that the usual exocism was simply turning the mob against a new victim. By sending the demons into the pigs, the city was temporarily denied a scapegoat for carrying their own demons or sins. Pigs were seen as unclean by Jews, but were a source of income for this Gentile town.
Here is a bonus question submitted by one of our Christ Church members:
What is the name of the person the Bible calls the first murderer?
A. Abel
B. Adam
C. Eve
D. Cain
The answer is D, Cain. Cain was the son of Adam and Eve and the brother of Abel. As it turns out, Abel was the first murder victim according to the Bible. The Bible tells this story of the first husband and wife and their sons as a way of explaining the source of violence and deceit in the world.
BONUS QUESTION: What is the name of the third son born to Adam and Eve after Abel was killed?
A. Cain II
B. Abel II
C. Adam Jr.
D. Seth
The answer to this question will appear in next week's ACE of Hearts.
If you would like to submit a question for ACE, please drop me an e-mail at rwcornner@aol.com or fill out one of the forms at church found at the back of the church and in the parish hall on the kiosk.
Where did Jesus send the Demons who possessed the man from the country of the Gerasenes:
A. Into the graves of the grave yard in which he lived.
B. Into the citizens of the local village.
C. Into a herd of pigs belonging to a local citizen.
D. Into a legion of Roman soldiers.
The answer is C. By sending the demons into the pigs, Jesus put an end to the demonization process in this Gentile city. Some believe that the usual exocism was simply turning the mob against a new victim. By sending the demons into the pigs, the city was temporarily denied a scapegoat for carrying their own demons or sins. Pigs were seen as unclean by Jews, but were a source of income for this Gentile town.
Here is a bonus question submitted by one of our Christ Church members:
What is the name of the person the Bible calls the first murderer?
A. Abel
B. Adam
C. Eve
D. Cain
The answer is D, Cain. Cain was the son of Adam and Eve and the brother of Abel. As it turns out, Abel was the first murder victim according to the Bible. The Bible tells this story of the first husband and wife and their sons as a way of explaining the source of violence and deceit in the world.
BONUS QUESTION: What is the name of the third son born to Adam and Eve after Abel was killed?
A. Cain II
B. Abel II
C. Adam Jr.
D. Seth
The answer to this question will appear in next week's ACE of Hearts.
If you would like to submit a question for ACE, please drop me an e-mail at rwcornner@aol.com or fill out one of the forms at church found at the back of the church and in the parish hall on the kiosk.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
ACE OF HEARTS
Most of the people who sought out Jesus were:
A. Very well to do.
B. Mostly land owners.
C. Poor people who feared being in debt.
D. Roman statesmen who found Jesus' message very interesting.
The answer to this week's ACE of Hearts is C. Jesus attracted many poor people to himself because he had real understanding and compassion for those who had lost their land and were in debt. The majority of people in this region of the world during the life of Jesus and afterwards were very poor having lost thier land to those who had political and economic power. Consider Jesus's prayer that he taught his disciples: "Give us this day our daily bread..." and "forgive us our debts as we forgive those who are indebted to others.
A. Very well to do.
B. Mostly land owners.
C. Poor people who feared being in debt.
D. Roman statesmen who found Jesus' message very interesting.
The answer to this week's ACE of Hearts is C. Jesus attracted many poor people to himself because he had real understanding and compassion for those who had lost their land and were in debt. The majority of people in this region of the world during the life of Jesus and afterwards were very poor having lost thier land to those who had political and economic power. Consider Jesus's prayer that he taught his disciples: "Give us this day our daily bread..." and "forgive us our debts as we forgive those who are indebted to others.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
PAUL'S PREVIOUS LIFE
ACE FOR JUNE 10, 2007
St. Paul speaks of his former life in Judaism in our reading from the letter to the Galatians. What was the nature of this former life:
A. Paul was called Saul and he was very interested in following Jesus.
B. Paul was a Roman General in charge of troops in Jerusalem.
C. Paul was a member of the high priesthood in Jerusalem.
D. Paul violently persecuted members of the Church.
Galatians 1:11-24
I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus.
Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days; but I did not see any other apostle except James the Lord's brother. In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie! Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, and I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; they only heard it said, "The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy." And they glorified God because of me.
This is Paul’s spiritual autobiography. He heard the call of God early and using the norms of his people followed energetically. God got him by the collar on the road to Damascus in order to redirect all that energy. As Gentile Christians we can give thanks for his energy and faithfulness. From the book of Acts we know that many people were involved in Paul’s life as a follower of the way.
Only two other people are named here. James the brother of the Lord was a voice of authority in Jerusalem. But who is this Cephas character? I encountered the name elsewhere when Paul, in a snit, demanded to know why he couldn’t take along a wife as Cephas did. Interest piqued and whiskers a twitch I went searching for the answer. It is terribly prosaic. Cephas is just another translation of the word rock, petra, Peter. Yes, that Peter, the one with the mother-in-law in the gospel of Mark. Of course he had a wife, one does not acquire a mother-in-law without a spouse. Mark makes no mention of her, neither does anyone else until Paul carries on in 1 Corinthians 9:5. But it is all a hint, if not an outright declaration, that a whole lot went on in the earliest days that we do not know about. People carried the good news. People with all their idiosyncrasies, needs and warts were and are God’s chosen instruments to the world.
St. Paul speaks of his former life in Judaism in our reading from the letter to the Galatians. What was the nature of this former life:
A. Paul was called Saul and he was very interested in following Jesus.
B. Paul was a Roman General in charge of troops in Jerusalem.
C. Paul was a member of the high priesthood in Jerusalem.
D. Paul violently persecuted members of the Church.
Galatians 1:11-24
I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus.
Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days; but I did not see any other apostle except James the Lord's brother. In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie! Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, and I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; they only heard it said, "The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy." And they glorified God because of me.
This is Paul’s spiritual autobiography. He heard the call of God early and using the norms of his people followed energetically. God got him by the collar on the road to Damascus in order to redirect all that energy. As Gentile Christians we can give thanks for his energy and faithfulness. From the book of Acts we know that many people were involved in Paul’s life as a follower of the way.
Only two other people are named here. James the brother of the Lord was a voice of authority in Jerusalem. But who is this Cephas character? I encountered the name elsewhere when Paul, in a snit, demanded to know why he couldn’t take along a wife as Cephas did. Interest piqued and whiskers a twitch I went searching for the answer. It is terribly prosaic. Cephas is just another translation of the word rock, petra, Peter. Yes, that Peter, the one with the mother-in-law in the gospel of Mark. Of course he had a wife, one does not acquire a mother-in-law without a spouse. Mark makes no mention of her, neither does anyone else until Paul carries on in 1 Corinthians 9:5. But it is all a hint, if not an outright declaration, that a whole lot went on in the earliest days that we do not know about. People carried the good news. People with all their idiosyncrasies, needs and warts were and are God’s chosen instruments to the world.
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