Matthew 22:15-21
Then the Pharisees met together to find a way to trap Jesus in his words. They sent their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are genuine and that you teach God’s way as it really is. We know that you are not swayed by people’s opinions, because you don’t show favoritism. So tell us what you think : Does the Law allow people to pay taxes to Caesar or not ?”
Knowing their evil motives, Jesus replied, “Why do you test me, you hypocrites ? Show me the coin used to pay the tax.” And they brought him a denarion. “Whose image and inscription is this ?” he asked.
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
Then he said, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-10/pope-angelus-faith-has-important-role-in-daily-life.html
Before the book of Haggai came the book of Zephaniah, short as well(, only three chapters). Then it’ll be the book of Habbakuk and Nahum. I don’t know why the estimated chronological order isn’t the official one :
The first chapter warns about our lack of fear towards God, reminding us that we deserve destruction for our misdeeds : Zephaniah 1:9-12
I will punish the one leaping on the threshold on that day, those filling the house of their master with violence and deceit.
On that day—says the LORD— an outcry will resound from the Fish Gate, wailing from the second quarter, a loud crash from the hills.
The ones who grind the grain will wail ; all the merchants will be silenced. I will eliminate all those weighing out silver.
At that time, I will search Jerusalem with lamps; I will punish the men growing fat on the sediment in their wine, those saying to themselves, The LORD won’t do good or evil.
And on the beginning of the second chapter :
Zephaniah 2:1-3
Gather together and assemble yourselves, shameless nation, before the decision is made—the day vanishes like chaff— before the burning anger of the LORD comes against you, before the day of the LORD’s anger comes against you.
Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land who practice his justice ; seek righteousness ; seek humility.
Maybe you will be hidden on the day of the LORD’s anger.
The third chapter of John’s Gospel : John 3:1-3
There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a Jewish leader. He came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could do these miraculous signs that you do unless God is with him.”
Jesus answered, “I assure you, unless someone is born anew, it’s not possible to see God’s kingdom.”
That’s interesting enough, but it even continues : John 3:4-8
Nicodemus asked, “How is it possible for an adult to be born ? It’s impossible to enter the mother’s womb for a second time and be born, isn’t it ?”
Jesus answered, “I assure you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, it’s not possible to enter God’s kingdom.
Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.
[Aren’t we born of the Creator ? Depends on how “born” is defined here i suppose.]
Don’t be surprised that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’ God’s Spirit blows wherever it wishes. You hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going.
It’s the same with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
That is very condensed and enough for today, but it doesn’t end there. I’ll post the rest of the conversation tomorrow.
Being born of water ? And even being born of flesh or spirit ? We may have a quick understanding of what it means but it’s different from a profound one.
It’s something that need to be understood in order to (partly )grasp what the Holy Spirit fully implies.
In the same text it also assimilate God’s Spirit as Providence/Destiny/Randomness/Causality/…, something common yet atheists wouldn’t accept to define God as such(, proving the existence of God is indeed only difficult under certain conditions, in this case it requires for God’s Spirit to have a conscious Will not unlike human’s will, i believe in the law of karma for example(, e.g., act as an asshole and others won’t like you)).
There’s also “seeing God’s kingdom”, i’m still not certain what God’s kingdom/city would entail, i’m associating it with the Paradise on Earth yet i’m not sure.
I’m thanking God for this chapter, and infinitely more for everything else.]
Surah 2:21-29 :
O mankind ! Worship your Lord, Who created you and those who were before you so that you may become Al-Muttaqûn(, the pious believers of Islamic Monotheism who fear God much(, abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which S.H…e has forbidden,) and love God much(, perform all kinds of good deeds which S.H…e has ordained)).
Who has made the earth a resting place for you, and the sky as a canopy, and sent down water/rain from the sky and brought forth therewith fruits as a provision for you.
Then do not set up rivals(, in worship,) unto God, while you know(, that He Alone has the right to be worshipped).
[Narrated ‘Abdullâh رضي الله عنه : I asked the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم , “What is the greatest sin in consideration with God ?”
He said, “That you set up a rival unto God, though He Alone created you.”
I said, “That is indeed a great sin.”
Then I asked, “What is next ?”
He said “To kill your son lest he should share your food with you.”
I asked, “What is next ?”
He said, “To commit illegal sexual intercourse with the wife of your neighbour.” (Sahih Al-Bukhâri, Vol.6, Hadîth No. 4).]
And if you(, arab pagans, jews, and christians,) are in doubt concerning that which We have sent down(, the Qur’ân,) to Our slave(, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), then produce a sûrah/chapter of the like thereof, and call your witnesses/supporters/helpers besides God, if you are truthful.
But if you do it not, and you can never do it, then fear ‘the Fire’/Hell, whose fuel is men and stones, prepared for the disbelievers.
And give glad tidings to those who believe and do righteous good deeds, that for them will be Gardens under which rivers flow. Every time they will be provided with a fruit therefrom, they will say: “This is what we were provided with before,” and they will be given things in resemblance(, i.e., in the same form, but different in taste), and they shall have therein purified wives, and they will abide therein forever.
Verily, God is not ashamed to set forth a parable even of a mosquito, or so much ‘more when it is bigger’/‘less when it is smaller’ than it.
And as for those who believe, they know that it is the Truth from their Lord, but as for those who disbelieve, they say: “What did God intend by this parable ?”
By it He misleads many, and many He guides thereby. And He misleads thereby only those who are rebellious/disobedient to God.
Those who break God’s Covenant after ratifying it, and sever what God has ordered to be joined, and do mischief on earth, it is they who are the losers.
How can you disbelieve in God ? seeing that you were dead and He gave you life.
Then He will give you death, then again will bring you to life(, on the Day of Resurrection,) and then unto Him you will return (See V.40:11)
S.H…e it is Who created for you all that is on earth.
Then S.H…e rose over towards the heaven and made them seven heavens and S.H…e is the All-Knower of everything.
Saint of the day : St. Mark, Bishop of Jerusalem
[He wrote the first Gospel]
