We Own Nothing

"And said: Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away: as it hath pleased the Lord so is it done: blessed be the name of the Lord." (Job 1:21)

We brought nothing into the world and we surely take nothing away with us. In fact, when we die, we cast aside our body like so much garbage for someone else to take care of. Everything we have and are comes from Almighty God.

This spiritual maxims flows from last month's, "Or know you not, that your members are the temple of the Holy Ghost, who is in you, whom you have from God; and you are not your own?" (I Corinthians 6:19) We are not our own, therefore what we possess is not our's either.

We need to consider our relationship with God and the relationship of everything in this world and God. What has happened is that we are considering our relationship with our fellow man and the State and their rights and responsibilities in our own regard as well as our own rights and responsibilities in their regard. If I have a right, then everyone else has a duty to respect that right and not infringe upon it, as we considered last month. God has granted us these rights so that we may discharge our duties to God and our family and others.

God places goods into our hands to use for His greater honor and glory, which includes taking care of our own self and our family and others as the case may be. And so we should consider anything in our possession as merely a tool owned by God and given into our use for the moment. He may take it away at a moment's notice, as He wills.

When we begin considering goods as our own rather than placed in our care, it is easy to proceed to some sinful ideas. For instance, this is my house, therefore I may do what I please in it. This is not true, because this implies that I may violate the Commandments in my own house. True I might be able to violate the Commandments and in some cases, the State has no right nor duty to interfere, but I may not. Ability does not imply permission. This is why we need to choose our words carefully, because words carry meaning and a specific meaning. To misuse words is the beginning of a lack of communication and even of sin.

Also we can become over protective of what we consider our own property and defend it against all aggression. True the aggression may be an evil, but is it our duty to resist all of these evils? "And to him that striketh thee on the one cheek, offer also the other. And him that taketh away from thee thy cloak, forbid not to take thy coat also." (Luke 6:29) It looks like our duty is the exact opposite. Saint Paul says: "Already indeed there is plainly a fault among you, that you have law suits one with another. Why do you not rather take wrong? Why do you not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?" I Corinthians 6:7) And let us return to Jesus: "And if a man will contend with thee in judgment, and take away thy coat, let go thy cloak also unto him." (Matthew 5:40) And so, we should not go to court but rather give in. Let us remember these are only material things.

Let us look back at the lives of the martyrs. They were dragged before courts and sentence to great injustice, that is to martyrdom, when they had committed no crime and violated no true law, for a law is an ordinance of right reason, promulgated by lawful authority for the common good. What good can be found in killing those who are living by the Gospel? Jesus warned: "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall put you to death: and you shall be hated by all nations for my name's sake." (Matthew 24:9)

We have become far too defensive of our rights that we are neglecting our duties before God and man. Much has been said, especially since the Ides of March of 2020, about how some of the actions of the government violate our rights. Much time has been wasted on this, when there is no real way to change this. Instead, we should realize that we get the government we deserve, and that is why the government is exceeding its mandate and has for centuries. (Actually we deserve far more for our sins than we are receiving.) The solution to our problems is not in ranting and raving about the violations, but in repentance and conversion. We must lead by our holy lives others to repentance and conversion, then we can "sanctify the Lord Christ in your hearts, being ready always to satisfy every one that asketh you a reason of that hope which is in you." (1 Peter 3:15)

 The Funny Pharmacy

The Pope Speaks: June 2021

Question Everything?

In the mid 1960s to the mid 1970s, Catholics began questioning what was happening in the Spirit of Vatican II, and so we should have. These same Catholics took action, especially when what was coming from the pulpit was simply not Catholic, it was heresy. Saint John Chrysostom comments on Hebrews 13:17: "Obey your prelates, and be subject to them. For they watch as being to render an account of your souls; that they may do this with joy, and not with grief. For this is not expedient for you." He continues: "How then does Paul say, 'Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves'? Having said above, 'whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation' (c. ver. 7), he then said, 'Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves.' What then (you say), when he is wicked should we obey? Wicked? In what sense? If indeed in regard to Faith, flee and avoid him; not only if he be a man, but even if he be an angel come down from Heaven; but if in regard to life, be not over-curious."

In matters of Faith we must judge and flee those who deliver another Gospel as Saint Paul said: "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach a gospel to you besides that which we have preached to you, let him be anathema." (Galatians 1:8) As We wrote in Our book, Will the Real Catholic Church Please Stand Up, we must make such judgments in matters of Faith, and if we have left the Conciliar Church under George Bergoglio, who claims to be Pope Francis in any manner, we have already judged. This includes those in the Apostles of Jesus and Mary under their public title, the Sacerdotal Fraternity of Saint Pius X (SSPX) at one end to the Congregation of Mary Immaculate Queen (CMRI) at the other end and any group in between. We have voted with our feet that George Bergoglio and the bishops and priests in union with him are not our pastors, but have deserted us by heresy. No other reason justifies departing from obedience to them.

Now after making the judgment that the Vatican II Conciliar Church is not the Catholic Church some Traditional minded Catholics have begun educating themselves and become experts in Sacramental Theology and Canon Law, judging whether or not someone is a valid priest or bishop or whether or not such a priest or bishop has any authority in the Catholic Church. And this includes priests and bishops of the Traditionalist movement making such judgments. However, judgment in many matters is reserved exclusively to the Church herself.

Today people are more concerned about valid Sacraments than they are in making sure they are truly in the Church founded by Jesus Christ, the Catholic Church. The sign out front might say Catholic, but we already know that many of these buildings are not actually run by Catholics, but by someone else. That is why we left the Conciliar Church, which has stolen not only our properties, but also our name, Catholic.

We hear Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus, (EENS) outside of the Catholic Church there is no salvation, and yet those speaking of this may be outside of the Catholic Church themselves. From our basic catechism we learn about the Church. We should also study the Roman Catechism also called the Catechism of the Council of Trent or the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Trent Edition. In there we learn: "It is the unanimous teaching of the Fathers that this visible head is necessary to establish and preserve unity in the Church." Jesus founded a hierarchical Church on Peter and the Apostles, when He said: "He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you." (John 20:21) A Pope is necessary to send others into the vineyard to preach as Saint Paul observes: "And how shall they preach unless they be sent, as it is written: How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, of them that bring glad tidings of good things!" (Romans 10:15)

Read the tenth chapter of Saint John's Gospel. In the first verse we read: "Amen, amen I say to you: He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up another way, the same is a thief and a robber." And so how can we know who has entered by the door? First of all, who has the keys to that door? To Peter and his successors Jesus said: "And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 16:19) Some may say, but you have just proven that there is no Pope. No, what we have proven is that the claimant in Rome is not Pope. A Pope is still necessary, it is simply not necessary that he be in Rome as history has proven in the past. The claimant in Rome, such as Anacletus II may be an Antipope, while the true Pope, such as Innocent II, is in exile elsewhere. Authority comes from Jesus through his Vicar the Pope through the Bishops ruling the various dioceses on down to the Pastors and other priests and deacons in those dioceses.

When there is confusion in who is truly Pope, one looks for the Pope. When one does not find him in Rome, one looks elsewhere. When one does not find him at all, then the the next step is to elect a Pope, because only a Pope can restore order. The result of ordaining priests, which Archbishop Lefebvre began doing in the 1970's did not restore Order. The consecration of Bishops, which began with Bishop Peter Martin Ngo-Dihn Thuc in 1981 did not restore Order. Both actions led to more fragmentation, when a Godly action will lead to unity. Pope Leo XIII states: "But the Epsicopal order is rightly judged to be in communion with Peter, as Christ commanded, if it be subject to and obeys Peter; otherwise it necessarily becomes a lawless and disorderly crowd." (Satis cognitum, paragraph 15) Aren't the Traditionalist bishops a disorderly crowd with no unity among them. Even those of the same mindset in regard to the status of the Papacy, the sedevacantists are not in union with each other, which shows that their position is at best incomplete.

We have wandered from our point. There are certain things all Christians must make decisions on. When we hear heresy, we leave, because the apparent Pastor bringing us heresy has left Jesus and His holy Church. However, many things are beyond our competence to judge as Christians, but belong exclusively to the hierarchy of the Church.

Let us consider some of the burning questions often discussed and who has the authority to give an authoritative answer:

Was Archbishop Lefebvre validly ordained and consecrated by the Mason Lienart? The answer to this question is reserved exclusively to the Pope for an authoritative answer.

Were the Consecration performed by Bishop Peter Martin Ngo-Dihn Thuc in 1981 valid or was Ngo-Dihn insane? The answer to this question is reserved exclusively to the Pope for authoritative answer.

Is the New Rite of Ordination valid? The answer to this question is reserved exclusively to the Pope.

Any today are usurping Papal Authority by rendering their own decisions in these matters and then proceeding on their conclusion. They appeal to the alleged emergency, but have failed to do anything to end the emergency in question. They appeal to several Canonical principles. However, the legitimacy of such application is reserved exclusively to the Pope. In fact, the Catholic Church has two forms of authority, ordinary and delegated. Ordinary authority is attached to an offices, such as Pastor, Bishop and Pope. Delegated is delegated by Canon Law or by someone with Ordinary authority, which is why the Bishop of a Diocese is also called an Ordinary. Traditionalists have stretched Canon 209 or performed what one priest before Vatican II called Canonical Gymnastics in order to establish a third form of authority, supplied. However, it is debatable whether one is permitted to use such authority in the cases mentioned in Canon 209. In regard to the validity of the Sacraments, we are obliged to take the safest course.

True, some of these things may apply to current cases, but only the Pope may judge on these matters. The duty of Christians is to find Christ's Vicar and submit to his authority. Even if one makes an incorrect decision here, God will supply here as He did in the Western Schism. No one in the Western Schism desired to not be subject to the Pope. Their only question was, who was Pope, for we desire union with Jesus through His Vicar. Today we should have the same desire and stop questioning everything.

Saints from East and West

16 June - Saint Tikhon, Bishop of Amathis.

Sainted Tikhon, Bishop of Amathis (Amaphuntum), was born in the city Amathis on the island of Cyprus. His parents raised their son in Christian piety, and taught him the reading of Sacred books. There is an account extant that the gift of wonderworking appeared in Saint Tikhon at a still quite youthful age.

His father was the owner of a bread bakery and he sent his son to distribute bread. The holy lad gave bread free to the needy. Learning about this, his father became angry, but the son answered that he had read in the holy books that "in giving to God one receiveth back an hundredfold." "I too," said the youth, "gave to God the bread which was taken," and he persuaded his father to go to where the grain was stored. With astonishment the father saw that the granary which formerly was empty, was now filled to overflowing with wheat. From that time the father did not hinder his son from distributing bread to the needy.

A certain gardener brought from the vineyard the dried prunings of vines. Saint Tikhon gathered them, planted them in his garden and besought the Lord that these branches might take root and yield salubrious fruit for the health of people. The Lord did so through the faith of the holy youth. The branches took root, and their fruit had a particular and very pleasant taste and was used during the lifetime of the saint and after his death for the wine in making the mystery of the Holy Eucharist.

They accepted the pious youth into the church clergy, made him a reader, and afterwards the bishop of Amathis, Memnon, ordained him to the dignity of deacon. After the death of Bishop Memnon, Saint Tikhon by universal agreement was chosen as bishop of Amathis. The ordination was headed by Sainted Epiphanios, Bishop of Cyprus (+403).

Saint Tikhon laboured zealously for the eradication of the remnants of paganism on Cyprus - he destroyed an idolatrous temple and spread the Christian faith. The sainted-bishop was generous, his doors were open to all, and with love he listened to and fulfilled the request of each person who came to him. Fearing neither threats nor tortures, he firmly and fearlessly confessed his faith before pagans.

In the service to Sainted Tikhon it is pointed out that he foresaw the time of his death, which occurred in the year 425.

27 June - Saint Ladislaus of Hungary.

If Hungary owed the establishment of its monarchy and the organization of its church to Saint Stephen I, it was almost equally indebted to another sainted king of the same house of Arpad. For Ladislaus extended its borders, kept its enemies at bay, and made it politically a great state. But it is not for such activities that men are canonized (if, indeed, Ladislaus ever was formally canonized, which appears to be doubtful); and it is for his private life and work for Christianity that reverence is due to his memory.

After a childhood and youth whose background was political intrigue and dynastic violence, Ladislaus (Laszlo) came to the Hungarian throne in 1077; but his rights were contested by his kinsman Solomon, whom eventually he defeated in battle.

The young prince was said to be the embodiment of the outward graces and inner virtues of the ideal knight of chivalry. Towering head and shoulders above the crowd, he had the strength and courage of a lion, combined with a courteous affability that endeared him to all. His piety, which was as fervent as it was well balanced, expressed itself in his zeal for the faith, in the punctilious fulfilment of his religious obligations, in the strictness of his morals, and in the austerity of his life. Entirely devoid of personal ambition, he accepted the dignity thrust upon him from a sense of duty. In pursuance of a policy dictated alike by his religious and his patriotic instincts, Ladislaus allied himself closely with Pope Gregory VII and the other opponents of the German emperor, Henry IV. He espoused the cause of Henry's rival, Rupert of Swabia, and married Adelaide, the daughter of Rupert's chief supporter, Duke Welf of Bavaria. Within the boundaries of Hungary itself he had to face repeated invasions from the Kumans and others, but he successfully repulsed them all and did his best to win barbarian tribes to Christianity and civilization; at the same time he allowed civil and religious liberty to the Jews and the Ishmaelites, i.e. Mohammedans. It was at his solicitation that King Stephen I, his son Emeric, and the martyred bishop Gerard were recognized by the Holy See as worthy of veneration as saints.

Ladislaus governed with a firm hand in both civil and ecclesiastical affairs, as was seen at the diet of Szabolcs and when, in 1091, his sister Helen, the widowed queen of Croatia, appealed to him for help against the murderers of her husband. He marched in, restored some sort of order, and established the see of Zagreb. But when Helen died childless he annexed Croatia and Dalmatia, in the face of remonstrances from the emperor at Constantinople, the republic of Venice and the Holy See. Nevertheless Blessed Urban II looked for his help in organizing the First Crusade, and it was Ladislaus who was chosen by the kings of France, Spain and England to be the commander-in-chief of that expedition. However he was not destined to march with the rest, for he died rather suddenly at Nitra in Bohemia in 1095. He was fifty-five years old.

The body of Saint Ladislaus was taken for burial to Nagy Varad (Oradea Mare in Transylvania)-to the city and the cathedral which he had founded. From the moment of his death he was honoured as a saint and a national hero, and his deeds have formed the theme of many popular Magyar ballads and tales. His relics were solemnly enshrined in 1192.

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Melba's Favorite Raspberry Icebox Cake

Ingredients
24 graham crackers, crushed
⅓ cup butter
¼ cup packed brown sugar
1 (6 ounce) package raspberry flavored Jell-O® mix
1 cup boiling water
15 ounces frozen raspberries
20 large marshmallows
⅓ cup milk
1 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Mix graham cracker wafer crumbs, butter and brown sugar until well combined. Set aside 1/4 cup of this mixture for a topping and press the remainder into one 9x13 inch pan.
3. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
4. Dissolve raspberry gelatin in the boiling water and add the frozen raspberries, stirring until melted. Chill until partially set and spread on wafer base.
5. Melt marshmallows with the milk. When cool, fold in whipped cream and spread on top of raspberry mixture. Sprinkle with remaining crumbs. Chill for 3-4 hours before serving.

Video sermons and instructions: Timeless timely truths for living the Faith

Thy Kingdom Come

Learning to Fear the Lord: Deepening Your Awareness Of God’s Presence

 

The fear of the Lord is an awareness that you are in the presence of a holy, just, and almighty God and that He will hold you accountable for your motives, thoughts, words, and actions. To fear God is to desire to live in harmony with His righteous standards and to honor Him in all that you do.

We do not naturally seek to honor God, because our sinful natures lead us to pursue selfish pleasures instead of delighting in God and discovering the joy of knowing and loving Him. We must choose to walk in the fear of the Lord. The psalmist David prayed, “Conduct me, O Lord, in thy way, and I will walk in thy truth: let my heart rejoice that it may fear thy name. ” (Psalm 86:11).

Throughout the Bible, many promises are given to those who fear the Lord, such as Proverbs 22:4: “The fruit of humility is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.” It is wise to be governed by a healthy fear of God!

The following disciplines will help you comprehend more of His greatness and more of your dependence on Him, thereby learning the fear of the Lord.

Consider God’s Creation

When we look around at God’s creation—the majesty of towering mountains, the expanse of oceans with their high tides and low tides, the intricacy of delicate flowers, the brilliance of the sun, and the glory of our galaxy—we can catch a glimpse of how awesome our God is!

• The psalmist David often expressed his awe of God by meditating on God’s handiwork. He wrote, “For I will behold thy heavens, the works of thy fingers: the moon and the stars which thou hast founded. What is man that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him?” (Psalm 8:3–4).

• When God gave His Law to the nation of Israel, He first revealed His mighty power through nature so that the people would learn to fear Him. “And all the people saw the voices and the flames, and the sound of the trumpet, and the mount smoking: and being terrified and struck with fear, they stood afar off, Saying to Moses: Speak thou to us, and we will hear: let not the Lord speak to us, lest we die. And Moses said to the people: Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that the dread of him might be in you, and you should not sin.” (Exodus 20:18–20).

• The Apostle Paul also recognized that God reveals His power to mankind through His creation. “. . . That which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:19–20).

Respect God’s Word

Having a high regard for the Bible, the Word of God, is an essential part of growing in the fear of the Lord. When we take time to read Scripture and commit to applying its universal, non-optional truths, we learn more about the nature of God, His ways, and our role as His creatures.

• All the people of Israel were to gather to hear the Word of God so that they would learn to fear Him. “And the people being all assembled together, both men and women, children and strangers, that are within thy gates: that hearing they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and keep, and fulfill all the words of this law: That their children also, who now are ignorant, may hear, and fear the Lord their God, all the days that they live in the land whither you are going over the Jordan to possess it.” (Deuteronomy 31:12–13). (See also Deuteronomy 4:10, 6:24, and 8:6.)

• ^"Thou shalt set him whom the Lord thy God shall choose ....And when he is made king,... he shall copy out to himself the Deuteronomy of this law in a volume, taking the copy of the priests of the Levitical tribe, And he shall have it with him, and shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, and keep his words and ceremonies, that are commanded in the law;" (Deuteronomy 17:15–19).

• Today, Christians have been made a “Kingdom of kings and priests unto God” (Revelation 1:6). We are to understand the worth of Scripture and to study it and apply it to our lives. “All scripture, inspired of God, is profitable to teach, to reprove, to correct, to instruct in justice, That the man of God may be perfect, furnished to every good work.” (II Timothy 3:16–17).

Learn From Scriptural Examples

God’s glory and holiness call for our worship and submission. When people in Scripture encountered God, they instinctively demonstrated a deep reverence for Him. We can learn from these examples in our quest to fear God as we should.

The thought of God’s judgments on sin should strike fear into every heart:

• David used strong language to describe God’s judgments. “Thy wrath hath come upon me: and thy terrors have troubled me.” (Psalm 88:16).

• The Apostle Paul spoke of God’s judgment as a motivation to preach the Gospel. "For we must all be manifested before the judgement seat of Christ, that every one may receive the proper things of the body, according as he hath done, whether it be good or evil. Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we use persuasion to men;. . .” (II Corinthians 5:10–11).

Supernatural demonstrations of God’s power often left people trembling with fear:

• "In the same hour there appeared fingers, as it were of the hand of a man, writing over against the candlestick upon the surface of the wall of the king's palace [God Himself wrote on the wall]: and the king beheld the joints of the hand that wrote. Then was the king's countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him: and the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees struck one against the other." (Daniel 5:5–6).

• On the morning of Jesus’ resurrection, an angel appeared and rolled back the stone from the door of the tomb: “And his countenance was as lightning, and his raiment as snow. And for fear of him, the guards were struck with terror, and became as dead men.” (Matthew 28:3–4).

When Godly men of the Old and New Testaments heard God’s voice and saw His glory, they were filled with the fear of the Lord:

• The prophet Isaiah responded with fear when He saw a vision of God in the temple. “And I said: Woe is me, because I have held my peace; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people that hath unclean lips, and I have seen with my eyes the King the Lord of hosts.” (Isaiah 6:5).

• When the prophet Daniel saw a vision, he testified that he had no strength and fell down prostrate: “And I being left alone saw this great vision: and there remained no strength in me, and the appearance of my countenance was changed in me, and I fainted away, and retained no strength. And I heard the voice of his words: and when I heard, I lay in a consternation, upon my face, and my face was close to the ground. And behold a hand touched me, and lifted me up upon my knees, and upon the joints of my hands. And he said to me: Daniel, thou man of desires, understand the words that I speak to thee, and stand upright: for I am sent now to thee. And when he had said this word to me, I stood trembling.” (Daniel 10:8–11).

• At the time of the Apostle Paul’s conversion, he was astonished at Christ’s message to him on the road to Damascus. The revelation of God’s reality and glory overcame all previous misconceptions about Jesus’ identity: "Who said: Who art thou, Lord? And he: I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against the goad. And he trembling and astonished, said: Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" (Acts 9:5–6).

• When the Apostle John received the revelation about the end of the world and saw Jesus on the Isle of Patmos, he was filled with the holy fear of God: “And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And being turned. . . . And when I had seen him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying: Fear not...” (Revelation 1:12, 17).

When we encounter a power that is far greater that we are, we often respond with fear. This response was demonstrated by people who witnessed the supernatural power of Jesus Christ:

• The disciples were afraid when Jesus stilled the storm: “And they feared exceedingly: and they said one to another: Who is this (thinkest thou) that both wind and sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41).

• When Jesus cured a man possessed by many demons, the people feared Him: “And all the multitude of the country of the Gerasens besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear. . . .” (Luke 8:37).

• Jesus’ disciples were frightened when He appeared to them after His resurrection: “Now whilst they were speaking these things, Jesus stood in the midst of them, and saith to them: Peace be to you; it is I, fear not. But they being troubled and frightened, supposed that they saw a spirit.” (Luke 24:36–37).

Welcome God’s Chastening

When we rebel against God’s holiness, we will surely face consequences. God’s chastening of sin is painful, yet it is the expression of a loving Father’s care for His children.

• Scripture instructs us to embrace God’s discipline and learn from the reproofs of life: “My son, reject not the correction of the Lord: and do not faint when thou art chastised by him: For whom the Lord loveth, he chastiseth: and as a father in the son he pleaseth himself.” (Proverbs 3:11–12).

• The Body of Christ is challenged to receive God’s chastening and become more holy: “Persevere under discipline. God dealeth with you as with his sons; for what son is there, whom the father doth not correct? . . .Moreover we have had fathers of our flesh, for instructors, and we reverenced them: shall we not much more obey the Father of spirits, and live? And they indeed for a few days, according to their own pleasure, instructed us: but he, for our profit, that we might receive his sanctification. Now all chastisement for the present indeed seemeth not to bring with it joy, but sorrow: but afterwards it will yield, to them that are exercised by it, the most peaceable fruit of justice.” (Hebrews 12:7, 9–11).

• David expressed the pain of past failure in Psalm 51 and humbly sought God’s mercy and cleansing: “To thee only have I sinned, and have done evil before thee: that thou mayst be justified in thy words, and mayst overcome when thou art judged.. . . . Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.. . . . Create a clean heart in me, O God: and renew a right spirit within my bowels.” (Psalm 51:4–10).

Give a Offering From Your Increase

Along with supporting the work of the local parish, one of the purposes of giving is to learn to fear the Lord: Part of walking in the fear of the Lord is acknowledging that God is in control of every aspect of our lives, including our resources.

• The Apostle Paul reaffirms the same truth: “Now this I say: He who soweth sparingly, shall also reap sparingly: and he who soweth in blessings, shall also reap blessings. Every one as he hath determined in his heart, not with sadness, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound in you; that ye always, having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work,” (II Corinthians 9:6–8).

Recall the Chief Duty of Man

Israel’s King Solomon is renowned as the wisest man who ever lived, yet he made serious mistakes. Solomon forsook the fear God. Even though he received tremendous blessings from God, he disobeyed God’s Law in numerous ways and eventually worshiped false gods. God held Solomon responsible for these sins and brought judgment to the nation of Israel and to Solomon’s family because of them. (See Deuteronomy 17:14–17, I Kings 4:26, and I Kings 11:1–13.)

In the Book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon records his observations about the meaning of life. In the end, he states that the “conclusion of the whole matter” is the fear of the Lord. Let’s heed these words of warning from a man who knew the justice and judgment of God!

“Let us all hear together the conclusion of the discourse. Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is all man: And all things that are done, God will bring into judgment for every error, whether it be good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14).