Good morning. Great is His faithfulness.
NOTE: Greek word of the day: καταφρονέω kataphronéō, kat-af-ron-eh'-o; from G2596 and G5426; to think against, i.e. disesteem:—despise.
Matthew 6:24: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
1st Reading is from Isaiah 13:1-22
Here there are several layers of meaning - it prophesies the downfall of Babylon, it also prophesies Christ's Passion and Resurrection, when Christ would be lifted up on the cross and the hosts of heaven will battle the powers of darkness - ( see vv. 9-13 and compare with Matthew 27:51-54; Luke 23:44-45- all posted bellow) it also describes the anger of Christ at the Last Judgment.
Other sources used for Matthew 27:51-54- Ezekiel 37:1.-14, Hebrews 11:10, Hebrews 12:22-23 and Revelation 21:2-22:5
BABYLON was a very beautiful city it was glorious which will be utterly destroyed. Sometimes a metaphor for sin. Demons who will dance in the desert is presenting harsh image of hell, the ultimate place of rebellion. (See, Isaiah 14:23; Isaiah 34:14; and Revelation 18:2).
THE DONKEY-CENTAURS, is from Greek mythology, are from the waist up a man, from the waist down a horse, and sometimes are seen as symbols of rebellion against divine order and hostility to civilization. It's usually translated "wild beast" and likely a symbol for demons.
2nd Reading Genesis 8:4-21
Genesis 8:10-11: 10 And he waited yet another seven days, and again he sent the dove out from the ark. 11 Then the dove came to him in the evening, and behold, a freshly plucked olive leaf was in her mouth; and Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth.
The dove is foreshadowing the Holy Spirit - (Matthew3:16), and it was the Holy Spirit who caused the Holy Virgin to conceive Christ in her womb, and the olive leaf is directly speaking of the Virgin herself - (Luke 1:35; Akath). The olive leaf is also a token of man's reconciliation to God foreshadowing the fulfillment of grace in the Holy Mysteries- (Sacraments) of the Church- (Service of Baptism). "God remembered Noah" (Genesis 8:1), see v. 20- Noah also remembered God. Salvation is a two- way street. It's said the Psalms, "I remembered Your name in the night, O Lord, / And I kept Your law" -(Psalm 118 (119):55). Noah built an altar to God. The sacrifices by Noah were a sweet aroma to the Lord God. The Church also has an altar on which she offers the sweet aroma of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord - (see also Genesis 8:21, and Hebrews 13:10, 15).
3rd Reading is From Proverbs 10:31-11:12- other sources used for Proverbs 11:10- Galatians 5:19-23.
"The Fruits of Righteousness"
Numbers 6:24-26
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
26 The Lord [a]lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.” ’
In Christ love ❤️ Jared W Campbell
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