The wise Apostles who Freely Received and Freely Gave!
In the old days when I was growing up and going to church with my family at St. Cyril’s & Methodist Catholic Church there was a dividing rail between the altar and the pews. On that rail where signs with the names of the Apostles.
I think all twelve were present but I am not sure, especially unsure about Judas. I liked to kneel and take communion in front of Andrew the Apostle’s sign. Like the apostles some names were common growing up and I knew another Andy at school but never a Judas.
Peter & Andrew, James 1 & John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James 2, Thaddeus, Simon, and Judas. Two pairs of brothers; A Simon who changed his name to Peter and a second Simon; and two James. Some names I guess were common in those days too.
“Freely you have received, freely give” was the ironic Pepperdine University motto on my MBA graduation watch. Tuition paid, higher salary expected now (actually back then in 1984, the year of the LA Olympics and our son Joseph’s birth). Really, is education freely given? Spiritual truths and principles surely are…
“Be therefore as wise as serpents, and guileless as doves.” I get a dove being innocent but a serpent being wise? Maybe I grew up eating too many Wise potato chips. The founder Earl Wise, Sr. choose an owl as the company mascot, a creature reputed to be “wise” at the time—which was 1921. Somehow I don’t think I would have felt as good eating the chips had a serpent been on the bag.
Let your peace return to you…
Day 10: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; The wise Apostles who Freely Received and Freely Gave!
Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Gospel of Saint Matthew Chapters 10-11.
Bible Notes:
The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew
Saint Matthew, also known as Levi, was a Galilean by birth.
Tax Collector at Capharnaum
Christ called him to become a disciple, and later an Apostle
After the Holy Ghost came down on the Apostles on Pentecost, Matthew preached the Gospel in Judea.
He wrote his Gospel to prove to his readers that Christ was the Messiah foretold by God in the Old Testament
“Do not be anxious how or what you are to speak: for what you are to speak will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who are speaking, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks through you.”
Matthew Chapter 10: Power given to the Apostles; The names of the Apostles; Instructions to the Twelve; Opposition foretold; Disciple not above his teacher; Confidence in divine protection; We must give up all for Christ; Blessings for the Apostles’ benefactors.
He gave them power…
Now these are the names of the Twelve Apostles: first Simon, who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee; and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alpheus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot, he who betrayed Him.
Peter & Andrew, James 1 & John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James 2, Thaddeus, Simon, and Judas. Two pairs of brothers; A Simon who changed his name to Peter and a second Simon; and two James. Some names were common in those days too.
Freely you have received, freely give.
No wallet for your journey.
Let your peace return to you…
“Behold, I am sending you forth like sheep in the midst of wolves. Be therefore as wise as serpents, and guileless as doves.
Guileless—devoid of guile (sly or cunning intelligence), innocent and without deception.
Do not be anxious how or what you are to speak: for what you are to speak will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who are speaking, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks through you.
And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake; but he who has persevered to the end will be saved.
“No disciple is above his teacher, nor is the servant above his master. It is enough to be like his teacher, and for the servant to be like his master.
“Therefore do not be afraid of them. For there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.”
“And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather be afraid of him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (Satan, the Evil One).”
“Therefore, everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I in turn will disown him before my Father in heaven.”
“He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake, will find it.”
Matthew Chapter 11: The Baptist’s deputation; Christ’s witness concerning John; The inconsistencies of the Jews; The impenitent towns; Jesus draws men gently to himself.
And blessed is he who is not scandalized in me.
What did you go out in the desert to see?
“Behold I send my messenger before thy face, who shall make ready thy way before thee.”
The day of judgment.
And him who the Son chooses the reveal Him.
“come to me all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
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