What is truth?

 

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John 18

New International Version

Jesus Arrested

18 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.

2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”

5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.

“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.

8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”[a]

10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)

11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him 13 and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.

Peter’s First Denial

15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, 16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.

17 “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.

He replied, “I am not.”

18 It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.

The High Priest Questions Jesus

19 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. 21 Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”

22 When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.

23 “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” 24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter’s Second and Third Denials

25 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”

He denied it, saying, “I am not.”

26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” 27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.

Jesus Before Pilate

28 Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”

30 “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”

31 Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”

“But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. 32 This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.

33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”

35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

38 “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. 39 But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?”

40 They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.

Footnotes

1. John 18:9 John 6:39

Jesus dances with Dinosaurs

 The asteroid hadn't hit yet. The air was thick, humid, and vibrant with the chirps, roars, and rustles of a world teeming with primeval life. Jesus, sandals dusty and robe shimmering with an inner light, stood on a small rise overlooking a verdant valley. He wasn't supposed to be here, not in this time. But the Father, in his infinite wisdom and amusement, had sent him on a mission. He wasn't entirely sure what the mission was, only that it involved bringing joy. And possibly evolving better head feathers on the Parasaurolophus.

He saw them first, a trio of Brachiosauruses gently browsing the canopy. Their immense forms were graceful despite their size, their long necks swaying like reeds in a breeze. Jesus smiled, a warmth spreading through him. He knew they were sentient, in their own way, connected to the earth in a primal understanding.

He began to hum, a simple melody that resonated with the very core of the planet. The ground vibrated subtly. The Brachiosauruses lifted their heads, their massive eyes widening in curiosity. They lumbered closer, drawn to the music.

Then, a Tyrannosaurus Rex, undeniably the most intimidating creature within a ten-mile radius, emerged from the jungle. It roared, a sound that shook the trees and rattled Jesus’ bones. He didn't flinch. He just kept humming, his melody unwavering.

The T-Rex stopped, its tiny arms flailing slightly. It tilted its massive head, its predatory gaze softening, confused. It was used to eliciting fear, not… this.

Suddenly, Jesus began to dance. It wasn’t a religious dance, not a solemn ritual. It was a joyous, exuberant expression of life. He twirled, he leaped, he swayed, his robe swirling around him like a halo of light. He moved with a freedom that defied gravity, a lightness that belied his earthly form.

The Brachiosauruses, initially bewildered, started to sway their necks in time with the music. The T-Rex, after a moment of stunned silence, began to tap its enormous foot. It looked utterly ridiculous, a prehistoric apex predator tentatively keeping rhythm to a divine jig.

Soon, other dinosaurs started to gather. A cluster of Ornithomimuses, curious and bird-like, pecked at the ground in time with the beat. A herd of Triceratops, usually grumpy and territorial, watched with mild interest, their frills vibrating slightly.

Jesus beckoned the T-Rex closer. The creature hesitated, then cautiously approached. Jesus reached out and took one of its tiny arms. "Come on," he said, his voice filled with laughter, "Let me show you how it's done."

The T-Rex, bewildered but unable to resist the invitation, allowed itself to be led. Jesus showed it a simple two-step, a modified version of the hora he’d learned at a wedding in Galilee. The T-Rex, surprisingly coordinated, caught on quickly, its enormous bulk moving with an unexpected grace.

Soon, the entire valley was a chaotic, joyful mess. Brachiosauruses swayed, Ornithomimuses peed, and even the Triceratops were begrudgingly tapping their feet. Jesus danced with them all, laughing and singing, filling the valley with an unheard symphony of joy.

The asteroid still loomed in the future, a dark inevitability. But in that moment, under the warm, prehistoric sun, surrounded by dancing dinosaurs, Jesus had brought a moment of pure, unadulterated joy to a world that would soon be gone.

He looked up at the sky, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Maybe I should teach them the Macarena," he muttered to himself, before spinning into another joyful leap, his sandals kicking up dust as he danced with the dinosaurs, a shepherd of a truly unique flock. His mission, he realized, wasn't just about joy, it was about celebrating life, even when it was fleeting, even when it was prehistoric, even when it involved dancing with a Tyrannosaurus Rex. And in that moment, he knew the Father was smiling

 

Who Is Most on Jesus’ Heart as He Faces the Cross?

COMMENTARY: The mystical and moral tradition of the Church suggests to us that the heart of the Lord was fixated on one person.

Jacques de l’Ange, “The Taking of Christ,” c. 1640-1644, National Museum of Capodimonte, Naples, Italy (photo: Public Domain)

Father Jeffrey Kirby CommentariesMarch 27, 2024

As the Sacred Triduum approaches, our hearts are filled with sorrow, dismay, hope, and then exuberant joy as we walk through the dolorous Passion, Death and glorious Resurrection of the Lord Jesus. 

As we look at the spiritual movements within our own hearts, we can ask what is taking place within the heart of the Lord as he brings forth the new and everlasting covenant by which redemption will be offered to the human family. 

As heart speaks to heart, we can inquire what is swelling within Our Lord’s own Sacred Heart. In answer, the mystical and moral traditions of the Church suggest to us that the Heart of the Lord is fixated on one person, one apostle. 

The mystical tradition is based on the visions, insights, apparitions, holiness of life, and spiritual wisdom of our saints through the ages. The moral tradition is grounded on the interior life that flows from our cooperation with grace and the nurturing of a friendship with God by which we are given an awareness of the ways and actions of God among us.

The two traditions can be summarized by the exhortation of St. Paul:

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God — what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:1-2).

The mystical and moral traditions point us to one apostle who was heavy on the Lord’s own heart. The apostle himself was of great concern to the Lord, but he also stood as a symbol of all those who would be like him throughout history and so be very close to the Lord’s heart. 

In attempting to know which of the 12 apostles was most pressing on the Lord’s soul, we might be quick to respond that it was Simon Peter. As chief apostle, he would carry the responsibility of leading the Church in the Lord’s name. Or perhaps we would guess that it was James the Less, who would serve as the first bishop of Jerusalem during the early apostolic era. Both of these men served as early leaders in pivotal areas of the Church. They both died martyrs for the Lord. Was it one of them?

The mystical and moral tradition say No. 

Maybe it was James the Greater. He was the first apostle to shed blood for the Gospel. He carried the Gospel all the way to Spain, where his body still rests. During his apostolic journey, he saw Our Lady standing on a pillar and speaking to him. This was the only apparition given during Our Lady’s life on earth. In commemoration of this apparition, she is still hailed as Our Lady of the Pillar and is one of the patrons of Spain under this title to this day. So was it James the Greater?

The mystical tradition and moral tradition say No. 

Perhaps then it was John the Beloved, who is depicted in classical art as laying his head upon the chest of our Lord in the Upper Room? John was young and his affection was spontaneous. He was the only apostle not to die a martyr. Many in the early Church thought that John would live to see the return of the Lord. Such a grace was not given to him, but he was blessed with older age and was able to guide the early Church into the second century of our faith. Was it John?

The mystical and moral tradition say No.

Then it must be Thomas. He doubted the Lord’s resurrection and would not believe unless he touched the very wounds of the Lord. St. Thomas repented and came to believe. The apostle carried the Gospel to India, where his body still rests to this day. He became so strong in his belief in Jesus Christ that he died a martyr for the faith. And so, is it Thomas?

Still, the mystical and moral traditions of the Church say No. But with Thomas, we are getting closer to the answer.

We are told by our mystical and moral traditions that the apostle dearest to the Lord’s heart as he initiated and suffered through his passion and death was Judas, the traitor. 

The Lord’s affection was directed to the one who would betray him with a fraternal kiss and for a bag of 30 silver pieces. The Lord’s internal gaze was on the apostle who denounced him, condemned him, double-crossed him, and deceived him. The Lord was sorrowful for the person who turned on him, took advantage of his kindness, exploited his love, and capitalized on his openness and trust.

The Lord’s attention to Judas was not for judgment or condemnation. It was a focus compelled by merciful love. It was the Lord as Savior and Friend, Redeemer and Companion, who held Judas in the fiery furnace of his tender heart. 

Judas was on the heart of the Lord because of the Lord’s desire to offer salvation to all people. Judas was the recipient of the Lord’s goodness because the Lord knew of the horror of despair and the hellacious, damning fires of a heart that believes it is unloved and irredeemable. 

Even as the Lord Jesus was betrayed by Judas, he still sought Judas’ redemption and reconciliation. He desired Judas’ repentance and conversion.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines despair as a sign against hope and explains:

By despair, man ceases to hope for his personal salvation from God, for help in attaining it or for the forgiveness of his sins. Despair is contrary to God’s goodness, to his justice — for the Lord is faithful to his promises – and to his mercy (2091).

The Lord taught about the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, and he knew the spiritual sufferings of a soul caught in its web. 

The infamous blasphemy of the Holy Spirit wreaks havoc in the soul of a person and leads him to the darkest place of self-condemning despair. The Catechism again explains:

‘Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.’ There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept his mercy by repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit. Such hardness of heart can lead to final impenitence and eternal loss (1864).

The Lord’s love was for the person of Judas but it was also for all those who throughout human history who would find themselves in the throes and the loss of despair. The Lord suffered in part for those who would struggle to believe and to turn to him for mercy and reconciliation. The Lord grieved for Judas and for all those who would falsely accept that they were not loved and were not redeemable.

Simon Peter betrayed the Lord and when the Lord looked at him, the chief apostle was thrown into intense anguish. Such sorrow led him to repent:

The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, ‘Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly  (Luke 22:61-62).

For Judas, however, there was no response to the graces of repentance. He fell under the nefarious spell of despair. The man’s soul felt dead and damned and so he did the ultimate violence against himself:

Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself  (Matthew 27:5).

The Lord’s Passion and Death included his oftentimes unknown mourning and lamenting over the despair of Judas and the despair of all those throughout the ages who do not know how much they are loved, how immense is the mercy that is offered to them, and how gracious is the Lord Jesus to all, especially to those who are in the darkest of sins and the greatest of turmoil. 

As we walk through the Sacred Triduum with the Lord Jesus, let us remember and pray for those stuck in despair and who are in great need of hope in the Lord’s grace and mercy. In our own lives, let us run to the Lord Jesus, repent, weep bitterly, and accept the immense love he has for us.

• Keywords:
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Father Jeffrey Kirby Father Jeffrey Kirby is the pastor of Our Lady of Grace parish in Indian Land, South Carolina, and the host of the daily devotional podcast Morning Offering With Father Kirby.

ChatGPT wrote a Bible verse about Jesus accepting trans people & it's gone viral

 And a woman, whose heart was divided between spirit and body, came before him. In quiet despair, she asked,’Lord, I come to you estranged, for my spirit and body are not one. How shall I hope to enter the kingdom of God?’

Jesus looked upon her with kindness, replying, ‘my child, blessed are those who strive for unity within themselves, for they shall know the deepest truths of my Father’s creation. Be not afraid, for in the kingdom of God, there is no man nor woman, as all are one in spirit. The gates of my Father’s kingdom will open for those who love and are loved, for God looks not upon the body, but the heart.

Life of Jesus

 

Тијело Христово

 

Тијело Христово

“Тијело Христово примите,

Источника бессмертнаго вкусите.

Тијело Христово примите

Источника бессмертнаго вкусите.

Вкусите и видите,

Јако благ Господ.

Алилуја, алилуја, алилуја.”

https://lyricstranslate.com

Russian translation

Тело Христово

Тело Христово примите,

Источника бессмертного вкусите.

Тело Христово примите,

Источника бессмертного вкусите.

Вкусите и узрите,

Как благостен Господь.

Аллилуйя, аллилуйя, аллилуйя.

https://lyricstranslate.com

Revelation 1

Revelation 1 New International Version (NIV)

Prologue

1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

Greetings and Doxology

4 John,

To the seven churches in the province of Asia:

Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits[a] before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,”[b]
    and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;
    and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”[c]
So shall it be! Amen.

8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

John’s Vision of Christ

9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”

12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man,[d] dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

19 “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels[e] of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Footnotes:

1. Revelation 1:4 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
2. Revelation 1:7 Daniel 7:13
3. Revelation 1:7 Zech. 12:10
4. Revelation 1:13 See Daniel 7:13.
5. Revelation 1:20 Or messengers

New International Version (NIV)

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