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The first Proclamation
Let us read the scripture passage 1 John 4/19-5/4 meditatively.
Prayerful Awareness
O Holy Spirit! Over-shadow us to grasp the subtle realities brought forward by the Incarnate Word ... give us the wisdom to seek with an open heart and mind the saving grace of the Lord.
Let us contemplate on the meaning of faith. Whether we perceive it or not, we are fundamentally creatures of Beliefs - having faith in whatever we believe in. We may believe that we are rational or otherwise; that we believe in God, or otherwise. If we look at ourselves carefully enough, we will come to the understanding that everything we know, understand, or perceive is based on this singular element - Faith. Granted, we weave/construct our beliefs mostly (but not limited to) in and through the inputs we receive by our senses.
Nobody would be able to deny what you consider to be the structure of reality - even though what you consider to be True could differ markedly with what someone else holds true. Force, violence, or even torture will not cause you to give up your beliefs if you do not want to. If the external environment is forceful enough or causes you adequate pain, you may change your behavior on the surface so as to reduce the pain or confrontation, albeit retaining your beliefs internally. Once again, we reiterate that we are fundamentally creatures of beliefs/faith. As followers of Christ Jesus, we humbly accept (believe) that we are, all of us, afflicted and tainted by original sin and by the sin of our forefathers. We are also ground down by the society, by the sin embedded within the very structure/framework of our inter- relationships. We perceive that we are also bound through and through due to our personal sins. We captives need to be freed in all the areas where we are bound up and are captivate - bodily, mentally, socially and spiritually. This is the negative face of our being.
The positive face of our being is such that the Lord God has given us two wonderful gifts - that of Life and Free Will; and calls on us to reach for His sonship. He believes in us and trusts that we will reach His own Holiness; and thereto, embeds His Eternal Word within us, and sends the Holy Spirit to envelop and co-habit, empowering us.
Shall we start believing in ourselves, in that we are able to be children of God - that we are able to surmount all that is thrown at us by the Jealous One, whose earnest desire is to deny us what he has lost .. that we are able to do everything in Him who strengthens us?
Jesus our Lord stands ever ready to lift us up from the mire of sin ... the bonds of slavery..
Prayer Starter
Jesus, You are merciful to me; I want to sincerely believe that I am saved. I thank You from the bottom of my being. You have made me a co-heir in Your Kingdom. I will praise You throughout the earth. Help me to understand Your liberating message to the afflicted and to become free and strong, becoming Your messenger, heralding freedom to the afflicted in all the corners of the globe.
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