Readings, Feb 25, 2007

Deuteronomy
Chapter 26 4 The priest shall then receive the basket from you and shall set it in front of the altar of the LORD, your God. 5 1 Then you shall declare before the LORD, your God, 'My father was a wandering Aramean who went down to Egypt with a small household and lived there as an alien. But there he became a nation great, strong and numerous. 6 When the Egyptians maltreated and oppressed us, imposing hard labor upon us, 7 we cried to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and he heard our cry and saw our affliction, our toil and our oppression. 8 He brought us out of Egypt with his strong hand and outstretched arm, with terrifying power, with signs and wonders; 9 and bringing us into this country, he gave us this land flowing with milk and honey. 10 Therefore, I have now brought you the first fruits of the products of the soil which you, O LORD, have given me.' And having set them before the LORD, your God, you shall bow down in his presence.

Romans
Chapter 10 8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we preach), 9 for, if you confess 1 with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. 11 For the scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, enriching all who call upon him. 13 For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Table of Contents Romans 10

Luke
Chapter 4 1 1 Filled with the holy Spirit, 2 Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert 2 for forty days, 3 to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." 4 Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone.'" 5 Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. 6 The devil said to him, "I shall give to you all this power and their glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. 7 All this will be yours, if you worship me." 8 Jesus said to him in reply, "It is written: 'You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.'" 9 4 Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written: 'He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,' 11 and: 'With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.'" 12 Jesus said to him in reply, "It also says, 'You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.'" 13 5 When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time. Table of Contents Luke 4

Catholic Fundamentalist Interpretation:

One must respect what the Lord has done. Our zeal for gain must not cause us to disrespect His work. David was spiritual enough to respect God's prior decisions. Abishai was not. The two perfectly illustrate the difference of being in God's Kingdom and out of it.

God continues to work inside the minds of men, even when they are asleep.

David, as all of us, find favor with The Programmer for respecting Him and His programs.

God initially programmed Adam's physical operating systems. They were made in such a way that He could later download Adam's spiritual capacities, which He did.

We have choices that determine what part of our natures will predominate, the earthly or the spiritual. This ties in with The Kingdom of God, or, to Catholic Fundamentalists, to The Program.

If we choose the spirit, we have a different operating system, as David in the OT reading, was more obedient to God than was Abishai, with his worldly operating system.

The Program, in absolute and perfect human form, gives operating instructions to those who choose to move into The Programmer's Program.

They are to subjugate their emotions and love of material objects. They are to rise above all differences caused by the things that were programmed. They are supposed to focus only upon the Programmer.

We gain no credit with The Programmer for being adept at dealing with the things and people of the earth who choose to focus on programmed things.

If you prove that you are above worrying about things that have been programmed, The Programmer will reward you accordingly.

And, rising above a selfish concern for material, programmed things, and the pleasure they bring will be rewarded exactly as YOU determine.

Makes us want to be good.