Kecewa Pada Kebrutalan Islam, Kurdi Kembali Peluk Zoroaster

Warga Irak Yazidi merayakan tahun baru di Lembah Lalish

Abad ke-7, ketika Islam menjadi agama dominan di wilayah itu, agama Zoroaster dianggap punah. Kini, untuk pertama kalinya setelah lebih dari 1000 tahun, para penduduk lokal Provinsi Sulaemaniah pada 1 Mei lalu melakukan upacara kuno, di mana para pemeluk Zoroaster mengenakan ikat pinggang yang menyimbolkan bahwa mereka siap menegakkan dan mengamalkan ajarannya.

Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles ~ 29 June 2015 (Solemnity)

The feast commemorates a solemn celebration in honour of Saints Peter and Paul, two of the great apostles and the principal Patrons of the Church of Rome. Peter, was one of the earliest of twelve apostles chosen by Jesus, and he also was our first pope. Saint Paul never met Jesus prior to Jesus� death and resurrection, but had a conversion experience with the risen Christ while on the road to Damascus which converted him from a persecutor of Christians to become �Apostle to the Gentiles.� Peter, preached of the Gospel among the Jewish people and Paul, the mission among the Gentiles. We celebrate this day made holy for us by the apostles� blood. Let us embrace what they believed, their life, their labors, their sufferings, their preaching, and their confession of faith.

Peter, prior to Jesus calling was known as Simon, a fisherman by trade. Jesus called Peter, along with his brother Andrew, James, and John, to leave everything behind to become His followers, �Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men�(Matthew 4:19). Paul, prior to Jesus calling was known as Saul, an educated Jew and a member of the Pharisee, as well as being a Roman citizen. Saul persecuted the Christians savagely, but was converted by the risen Christ the one that he had been persecuting after seeing Jesus in a vision on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:4). Peter being martyred in 64 AD, by crucifixion upside down because he said he was not worthy to be sacrificed in the same manner as Christ. Peter was martyred in 67 AD, he was beheaded. Like St.Paul, we must always be on fire for the Lord, and proclaim Him to everyone and in every situation, no matter how difficult it can sometimes be to do so. St. Peter demonstrates to us how difficult discipleship can truly be, but is also an example of the Lord choosing the weak and making them strong in bearing witness to Him. 

Faith in Christ is the light of our life as Christians and as ministers in the Church. Let yourselves be consumed by love for Christ and his Gospel, to become all things to everyone. It is your task to hold nothing back, to go outside of yourselves in the service of the faithful and holy people of God.

The words in the passage from the Gospel of Matthew 16:13-23 below, shows us the confirmation of faith made by Peter in Christ, and the words from the reading from 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18, reveals to us Paul's confirmation of love in Christ.

Matthew 16:13-23

Peter�s Declaration about Jesus

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare'a Philippi, he asked his disciples, �Who do men say that the Son of man is?� And they said, �Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli'jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.� He said to them, �But who do you say that I am?� Simon Peter replied, �You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.� And Jesus answered him, �Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.� Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, �God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you.� But he turned and said to Peter, �Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men.�

Grant, we pray, O Lord our God, that we may be sustained by the intercession of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, that, as through them you gave your Church the foundations of her heavenly office, so through them you may help her to eternal salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Reading 1

Acts 12:1-11

In those days, King Herod laid hands upon some members of the Church to harm them.

He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword,

and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews

he proceeded to arrest Peter also.

�It was the feast of Unleavened Bread.�

He had him taken into custody and put in prison

under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each.

He intended to bring him before the people after Passover.

Peter thus was being kept in prison,

but prayer by the Church was fervently being made

to God on his behalf.

On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial,

Peter, secured by double chains,

was sleeping between two soldiers,

while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison.

Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him

and a light shone in the cell.

He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying,

�Get up quickly.�

The chains fell from his wrists.

The angel said to him, �Put on your belt and your sandals.�

He did so.

Then he said to him, �Put on your cloak and follow me.�

So he followed him out,

not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real;

he thought he was seeing a vision.

They passed the first guard, then the second,

and came to the iron gate leading out to the city,

which opened for them by itself.

They emerged and made their way down an alley,

and suddenly the angel left him.

Then Peter recovered his senses and said,

�Now I know for certain

that the Lord sent his angel

and rescued me from the hand of Herod

and from all that the Jewish people had been expecting.�

Reading 2

2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18

I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation,

and the time of my departure is at hand.

I have competed well; I have finished the race;

I have kept the faith.

From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,

which the Lord, the just judge,

will award to me on that day, and not only to me,

but to all who have longed for his appearance.

The Lord stood by me and gave me strength,

so that through me the proclamation might be completed

and all the Gentiles might hear it.

And I was rescued from the lion�s mouth.

The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat

and will bring me safe to his heavenly Kingdom.

To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Gospel

Matthew 16:13-19

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi

he asked his disciples,

�Who do people say that the Son of Man is?�

They replied, �Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,

still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.�

He said to them, �But who do you say that I am?�

Simon Peter said in reply,

�You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.�

Jesus said to him in reply, �Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.

For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.

And so I say to you, you are Peter,

and upon this rock I will build my Church,

and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.

Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;

and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.�

From all their distress God rescues the just

Psalm 34:1-6

I will bless the Lord at all times;

his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul makes its boast in the Lord;

let the afflicted hear and be glad.

O magnify the Lord with me,

and let us exalt his name together!

I sought the Lord, and he answered me,

and delivered me from all my fears.

Look to him, and be radiant;

so your faces shall never be ashamed.

This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him,

and saved him out of all his troubles.

Alquran Adalah Kitab Gossip

Ketika seseorang berkata pada orang lain "Ehh... tau gk, si Anu kemarin jumpa dengan seorang wanita, pas istrinya lagi pergi. Pasti mereka itu Selingkuh".

Saudara, inilah yang disebut dengan kabar gosip.  Jadi jika anda ingin mengetahui permasalahan yang sesungguhnya, tanyakanlah langsung kepada sumbernya, agar informasi anda menjadi jelas.

Yesus Membongkar PenyamaranNya

Islam setuju bahwa Bapa (Sang Pencipta, Yang Maha Kuasa) yang dimaksud Yesus, itulah Allah sesungguhnya. Mereka hanya keberatan ketika Yesus itu dianggap sebagai Bapa.  Sebab jika Yesus itu adalah Bapa, berarti Dialah Tuhan Allah.

Yesus adalah Sutradara, Sekaligus Pemeran Utama

Islam sering kali menyerang posisi Yesus, dengan menyebut catatan Alkitab: Yesus  sebagai Nabi, Guru, Utusan, Hamba, Anak, Mati, Takut, dsb.  Tapi mereka lupa bahwa Alkitab juga menyebut Yesus sebagai Tuhan, baik secara langsung, maupun secara tidak langsung.

Apa Yang Membuat Islam Sulit Menerima Yesus ?

Yang membuat Alkitab menjadi sulit diterima Islam adalah, karena dalam pribadi Yesus ada 2 hal ini

Peradaban Yang Tinggi + Kerendahan Hati

Prayer of Confidence to Saint Anthony

Most holy St. Anthony, friend of Jesus, I place myself in your heavenly care. Be with me, especially in life's troubles and difficulties. Intercede before the Lord for me, so that I may confidently know I do not face my problems alone.

I join my prayers to yours, O great Saint, as I ask God to give me consolation in times of sorrow, courage when I am afraid, and healing from all the ills that afflict me.

Obtain for me from God, Most High, the grace to accept whatever is God's holy will for me and my loved ones. Strengthen my faith so that I will never despair, but always have hope in God's healing presence and power in my life. AMEN.

Catholic Liturgical Calendar

There is 6 season in the liturgical calendar which are Advent, Christmas, Lent, Paschal Triduum, Easter, and Ordinary Time. Advent (30 November or on the Sunday that is closest to this date) marks the beginning of the Catholic liturgical calendar and the Solemnity of Christ the King closes the liturgical year.

Advent begins on First Sunday of Advent through 24 December. Liturgical colours of Advent are Purple and Rose, with Rose being used only on the third Sunday of Advent.

Christmas begins on 25 December through The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. The liturgical colour of Christmas is white. The liturgical colour of Ordinary Time is green, however, as in all seasons, other appropriate colours are worn on particular feast days.

Ordinary Time I (Ordinary Time after the Baptism) begins on the Monday after the Feast of the Baptism through Shrove Tuesday (Tuesday before Ash Wednesday). The liturgical colour of Ordinary Time is green; however, as in all seasons, other appropriate colours are worn on particular feast days.

Lent (inclusive Paschal Triduum) begins on Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday. The liturgical colours of Lent are violet or purple. the colour rose is used on Laetare Sunday (Fourth Sunday during Lent). The colour red is used on Passion Sunday (Palm Sunday), and on Good Friday. White or violet is worn on Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday.

Paschal Triduum is Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.

Easter begins on Easter Vigil though Pentecost Sunday. The liturgical colours of Easter are white, for most days, and red for Pentecost.

Ordinary Time I (Ordinary Time after Pentecost) begins on the Monday day after Pentecost Sunday through the Solemnity of Christ the King. The liturgical colour of Ordinary Time is green; however, as in all seasons, other appropriate colours are worn on particular feast days.

Advent ~ 4 weeks of preparation for Christmas.

Christmas ~ Birth of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour.

Holy Family ~ Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the Holy Family of Nazareth the proper to the Christian. family.

Mary the Mother of God (1 January) ~ Divine and virginal motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Epiphany ~ Christ's manifestation of Himself to the world.

Baptism of the Lord ~ Jesus' baptism by John in the river Jordan.

Ordinary Time I

Lent 

Ash Wednesday

Passion (Palm) Sunday

Paschal Triduum (Easter Sacred Triduum)

Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday)

Good Friday

Holy Saturday

Easter

Easter Vigil ~ The Resurrection of Christ.

Easter Sunday ~ Celebrate the Resurrection.

Second to Sixth Sundays after Easter

Ascension of the Lord ~ Seventh Sunday after Easter, the entry of Jesus� humanity into Divine glory in God�s heavenly Kingdom, 40 days after His Glorious Resurrection.

Pentecost Sunday ~ Marks the end of Easter season, the fiftieth day after Easter. Commemorates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, the Church's foundation, and the beginning of its mission to all nations and peoples. 

Ordinary Time II

Trinity Sunday ~ honouring the Holy Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, unite as One eternal God.

Body and Blood of Christ ~ recounts the events of the Last Supper when Jesus changed bread and wine into His Body and Blood.

Ordinary Time II (part 2)

Solemnity of Christ the King ~ the supreme authority of Christ over his creation especially human beings and their institutions.

Catholic dedication of weekdays and months

Weekdays

Sunday is dedicated to the Christ Resurrection and Holy Trinity.

Monday is dedicated to the Souls in Purgatory and Holy Spirit.

Tuesday is dedicated to the Guardian Angels (Holy Angels), Holy Face of Jesus and Saint Anthony of Padua.

Wednesday is dedicated to Saint Joseph.

Thursday is dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament.

Friday is dedicated to the Christ Passion, Sacred Heart of Jesus and Precious Blood of Christ.

Saturday is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and her Immaculate Heart.

Months

January is dedicated to the Holy Name and Holy Childhood.

February is dedicated to the Holy Family.

March is dedicated to Saint Joseph.

April is dedicated to the Holy Spirit and Holy Eucharist.

May is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

July is dedicated to the Precious Blood of Christ.

August is dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament and Immaculate Heart of Mary.

September is dedicated to Mary�s Seven Sorrows (Seven Dolours of Mary).

October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary.

November is dedicated to the Souls in Purgatory.

December is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, Advent and the coming of Christ.

THE THIRD COMMANDMENT

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work; but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work.

The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.

Sundays are, of course, the day for renewing Christ's once and for all Sacrifice during the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass. Because Christ rose from His tomb on Sunday, Sabbath was changed from Saturday to Sundays, or "the Lord's Day." On this day we fulfill God's Third Commandment, to "remember the sabbath day [which means "rest", not "Saturday"], to keep it holy." We refrain from unnecessary servile work and fulfill our "Sunday Obligation" to attend Mass.