Christian Art | Parables Of Jesus | King James Audio Bible KJV
Luke 15: 1-10 | King James Audio Bible KJV | Parables Of Jesus | Week 31 Thursday
1 THEN drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3 ¶ And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
8 ¶ Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
The publicans (tax collectors) and other sinners are drawn to hear Jesus’ teaching. Perhaps they feel Jesus offers hope to them especially. While the scribes and Pharisees, despising sinners, find Jesus behaviour as he mixes with such people to be utterly objectionable, Jesus receives all humanity with love, understanding and, where there is faith and repentance, forgiveness. It is as if the people know that they are not condemned but can be accepted by Jesus. He offers them hope.
The scribes and the Pharisees murmur against Jesus, perhaps jealous of his influence over the crowds who flock to him, and Jesus teaches the parables that follow to instruct each one of us, challenging the Pharisee or the scribe or doctor of the Law which may lurk within us.
We are called as Christians not to permit in our lives the Pharisees’ jealous exclusivity and severity of outlook. We are bound to know that, no matter how great his sins may have been, a sinner can be recalled by God, change and become a saint. When we confess and are forgiven, nothing that has gone before matters in the eyes of God –indeed, our sins are not only forgiven; they are forgotten. This loving response of God is the model for us all.
In the parable of the lost sheep, the shepherd behaves in a way which many might regard as irrational and impractical. One sheep has been lost, but ninety nine remain. Will the shepherd really abandon his care of the ninety nine to go to seek out the one? What of the ninety nine while he searches? This might well seem dereliction of duty.
The parable emphasises in this way the great gulf between worldly thinking and the ways, and the power, of God. The ninety nine are safe, it is the one who is need of special attention. The sinner needs God’s special help. This is Jesus’ work. While the Pharisees and the scribes abandoned sinners and excluded them, Christ has come to call the least one of us home. Then there will be such rejoicing, we are all so precious.
‘Another fall, and what a fall! Must you give up hope? No. Humble yourself and through Mary, your Mother, have recourse to the merciful Love of Jesus. A Miserere, have mercy on me, and lift up your heart! And now begin again.’ St Josemaria Escriva
Concluding Prayer | Love Revealed By Jesus Christ
Almighty, ever-living God,
shed the light of your glory
on the peoples who are living in the shadow of death,
as you did long ago,
when our Lord Jesus Christ, the Sun of Justice,
came among us from on high.
We make our prayer through our Lord.
King James Audio Bible | Endnotes
An understanding of the meaning of parables is that within the context of engagement with the parables we are present with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane – toward crucifixion of Jesus and hence redemption
The Parable of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin, recorded in the Gospel of Luke 15:1-10, is a powerful teaching by Jesus about God’s mercy and love. In these parables, Jesus illustrates the lengths to which God will go to seek out and save those sinners who risk to become lost. The parables, as the Parable of the Prodigal Son, serve as lessons for Christians concerning the nature of God’s relationship with humanity.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep tells the story of a shepherd who leaves his 99 sheep to search for one that is lost. The story highlights the immense love and care that God has for each individual, and his willingness to go to great lengths to save those who are lost. Similarly, in the Parable of the Lost Coin, a woman searches for a lost coin, rejoicing when she finds it. This story highlights God’s joy when, through confession and penitence, a sinner returns to Him.
The Christian Cross, sign of Christian faith, depicts the crucifixion of Jesus and his ultimate sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins. This sacrifice is God’s love and mercy. It is central to the Church of Jesus Christ – to Christ’s Church. Through a personal relationship with God and acceptance of Jesus’ message, Christians attain salvation and may enter Heaven.
The Sermon on the Mount reflects the Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin, thinking also of the Parable of the Prodigal Son. We are powerfully recalled to God’s love and mercy, and to His desire for all individuals to attain salvation and enter Heaven.
Christian prayer encourages individuals to express their needs, gratitude, and hopes, and to seek guidance and wisdom from God. Through prayer, Christians can deepen their relationship with God and find comfort and hope in the face of life’s challenges.
An understanding of the meaning of parables is that within the context of engagement with the parables we are present with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane – toward crucifixion of Jesus and hence redemption.
YouTube: Ash Wednesday | T.S. Eliot | Audio Christian Poetry | Word Aloud Ash Wednesday, one of T.S. Eliot’s most profound and enigmatic poems, marks a significant transition in his life and work. Written in 1930, it is the first long poem Eliot composed after his conversion to Anglicanism in 1927. The poem, often considered one of Eliot’s masterpieces, delves into themes of faith, redemption, and spiritual struggle. It reflects the poet’s personal journey towards spiritual enlightenment and serves as a testament to his newfound religious beliefs. A reading of Ash Wednesday is an exploration of the poem’s religious, literary, and personal contexts, as of the poem’s complex structure and themes. Religious Context And Symbolism Ash Wednesday is deeply embedded in Christian symbolism and tradition. The title refers to the first day of Lent in the Christian liturgical calendar, a day marked by penance, fasting, and prayer. Ash Wednesday is a time for reflection on mortality and repentance, themes that are intricately woven throughout the poem. Eliot’s conversion to Anglicanism profoundly influenced his writing; ‘Ash Wednesday’ is an expression of spiritual awakening and quest for redemption. The poem is replete with religious imagery and references, drawing on Christian doctrine and scripture. The use of liturgical language, biblical allusions, and references to saints and spiritual figures creates a tapestry of faith that invites readers to contemplate deep spiritual truths with which Eliot is grappling. The repetitive and prayer-like quality of the verses echoes meditative practices of the faithful, in part enabling the contemplative nature of the poem. Literary Influences And Techniques T.S. Eliot was a master of literary allusion and technique, and Ash Wednesday expresses Eliot’s ability to blend various influences into a cohesive whole. The poem reflects the influence of Dante, particularly The Divine Comedy, which Eliot admired for its exploration of spiritual ascent and redemption. Dante’s journey through Hell, Purgatory and Heaven parallels Eliot’s own spiritual journey, and the structure of Ash Wednesday can be seen as a reflection of this pilgrimage. Eliot’s use of fragmented narrative, a hallmark of his earlier work such as The Waste Land, is also present in Ash Wednesday. However, in this poem, the fragmentation serves a different purpose. Instead of depicting the disintegration of modern society, it mirrors the fragmented and often painful process of spiritual rebirth. The disjointed structure reflects the internal struggle of the speaker, who is torn between the pull of worldly desires and the aspiration for divine grace. The poem’s language is rich and varied, combining the lyrical and the obscure, the personal and the universal. Eliot employs a range of poetic forms and devices, including free verse, rhyme and meter, to convey the tumultuous journey of faith. The shifting tone and style reflect the complexities and contradictions inherent in the spiritual quest, capturing moments of doubt, despair, hope, and transcendence. Personal Significance Ash Wednesday is a deeply personal work. Eliot’s conversion to Anglicanism marked a profound shift in his life, providing a sense of purpose and direction that had been missing. The poem can be read as a reflection of Eliot’s own struggles with faith and his efforts to reconcile his intellectual skepticism with his desire for spiritual certainty. Eliot’s personal experiences, including his troubled marriage and professional pressures, also inform the poem. Themes of renunciation and acceptance, sin and redemption, are not merely abstract concepts but lived realities for the poet. This personal dimension adds a layer of intimacy and urgency to the poem, which thereby resonates with readers who have faced their own spiritual crises. Thematic Exploration At its core, Ash Wednesday is a meditation on the possibility of spiritual renewal in a world that often seems devoid of meaning. The poem grapples with the tension between faith and doubt, reflecting the existential struggles of modernity. The poem acknowledges the difficulties of maintaining belief in an age of skepticism but ultimately affirms the possibility of redemption and grace. The central theme of renunciation is explored through imagery of ascension and purification. The speaker’s journey is marked by a series of renunciations, symbolizing the shedding of earthly attachments in pursuit of spiritual truth. This process is neither straightforward nor easy; it involves moments of intense struggle and introspection. Yet, through this arduous journey, the speaker moves closer to a state of spiritual clarity and acceptance. Ash Wednesday | T. S. Eliot Because I do not hope to turn again Because I do not hope Because I do not hope to turn Desiring this man’s gift and that man’s scope I no longer strive to strive towards such things (Why should the agèd eagle stretch its wings?) Why should I mourn The vanished power of the usual reign? Because I do not hope to know The infirm glory of the positive hour Because I do not think Because I know I shall not know The one veritable transitory power Because I cannot drink There, where trees flower, and springs flow, for there is nothing again Because I know that time is always time And place is always and only place And what is actual is actual only for one time And only for one place I rejoice that things are as they are and I renounce the blessèd face And renounce the voice Because I cannot hope to turn again Consequently I rejoice, having to construct something Upon which to rejoice And pray to God to have mercy upon us And pray that I may forget These matters that with myself I too much discuss Too much explain Because I do not hope to turn again Let these words answer For what is done, not to be done again May the judgement not be too heavy upon us Because these wings are no longer wings to fly But merely vans to beat the air The air which is now thoroughly small and dry Smaller and dryer than the will Teach us to care and not to care Teach us to sit still. Pray for us sinners now […]
Like and share this new collection of videos on YouTube. Each video features a young King David in the Temple, proclaiming a passage from Saint Matthew’s Gospel. Each is a striking reminder of deep connection between Jewish history, King David, and the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ [ … ]
Chapter 18 of Matthew’s Gospel records Jesus’ Discourse on the Church, or Discourse of the Community. This is Jesus’ teachings regarding how his Church is to be administered, how Christian communities are to conduct themselves. Jesus emphasises the humility that is necessary for Christian life, this in response to his disciples’ imperfect attitude, as they seek to know from Jesus who will be greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. This attitude, of pride and egotism, is completely contrary to life in Jesus. We are not called to try to be more important than other people, but to give ourselves in a spirit of poverty to a life of service [ … ]
