MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

Execute Justice and Righteousness in the land.

Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. (Jeremiah 23:5).

The Lord comes; he comes to rule the earth. He shall rule the world with justice and the peoples with his constancy. (Psalm 96:13)

Surely, the Lord shall do justice for his people; on his servants he shall have pity. (Deuteronomy 32:36)


Right to defend himself and face his accusers.

When I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and demanded his condemnation. I answered them that it was not Roman practice to hand over an accused person before he has faced his accusers and had the opportunity to defend himself against their charge. (Acts 25:15-16)


Prayer

Give the king thy justice, O God, and thy righteousness to the royal son! May he judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with justice! (Psalms 72:1-2)

For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. (Psalms 72:2-13)



Published:
May 13, 2016, 8:40 AM
December 31, 2015, 9:27 AM
December 08, 2010, 6:40 AM

MINISTRY OF SOCIAL WELFARE

DISASTER AND CALAMITIES

35 Close at hand is the day of their disaster and their doom is rushing upon them! 36 Surely, the Lord shall do justice for his people; on his servants he shall have pity.

39 “Learn then that I, I alone, am God, and there is no god besides me. It is I who bring both death and life, I who inflict wounds and heal them.” 41 I will sharpen my flashing sword, and my hand shall lay hold of my quiver. With vengeance I will repay my foes and requite those who hate me.” -- Deuteronomy 32:35-36, 39, 41


Pericope:
Deuteronomy 32:35-36, 39, 41

MINISTRY OF PEACE AND ORDER

It is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.

JOHN 11:50

CRIME AND CORRUPTION

1 Woe to the bloody city, all lies, full of plunder, whose looting never stops! 2 The crack of the whip, the rumbling sounds of wheels; horses a-gallop, chariots bounding, 3 cavalry charging, the  flame of the sword, the flash of the spear, the many slain, the heaping corpses, the endless bodies to stumble upon! 6 I will cast filth upon you, disgrace you and put you to shame; 7 till everyone who sees you runs from you, saying, “Nineveh is destroyed; who can pity her? Where can one find any to console her?” -- Nahum 3:1-3, 6-7


SACRIFICE OF ONE FOR THE GOOD OF THE MANY

As a leader of the nation, do you conspire with other political leaders who think only of themselves? Are you willing to sacrifice yourself for the good of the nation and its people?

Jesus died for the nation and not only for the nation, but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God.

47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we going to do? This man is performing many signs. 48 If we leave him alone, all will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our land and our nation.” 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing, 50 nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.” 51 He did not say this on his own, but since he was high priest for that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, 52 and not only for the nation, but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God. 53 So from that day on they planned to kill him. 54 So Jesus no longer walked about in public among the Jews, but he left for the region near the desert, to a town called Ephraim, and there he remained with his disciples. 55 Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before Passover to purify themselves. 56 They looked for Jesus and said to one another as they were in the temple area, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast?” -- John 11:47-56

Here I am; I came to you as a shepherd. You know I would be happy to give my life for you. -- St. Josaphat of Polotsk





Lord, you are my Master and I am just a mere public servant. Cleanse me from the sin of pride, selfishness, and greed. Create in me a heart of humility and compassion that I may serve your people for the praise and glory of your Name. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.



Pericope:
John 11:47-56
Nahum 3:1-3, 6-7
 
Published:
March 30, 2012 3:39PM
December 18, 2012 6:39 AM  
 

MINISTRY OF FINANCE

PAYMENT OF TAXES
 
"Take the first fish that comes up. Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax. Give that to them for me and for you.” (Matthew 17:27)

24 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said, “Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?” 25 “Yes,” he said. When he came into the house, before he had time to speak, Jesus asked him, “What is your opinion, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax? From their subjects or from foreigners?” 26 When he said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him, “Then the subjects are exempt. 27 But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax. Give that to them for me and for you.”

Jesus confronts the question of legitimate authority. All sorts of people have and exercise authority in our lives. Jesus makes it clear that when an authority is a legitimate one, then we have a duty to obey it. It is not up to us to decide what we want to do at any particular time. This curbing of absolute freedom can be seen to be for the common good. It is the common good of humanity that recognizes that we cannot have absolute freedom as this would preclude any sort of human community to which we could belong. Absolute freedom is known by the name “anarchy.” -- Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

Jesus is not an anarchist; He submits to the reasonable demands of the law. There is no way He would let any secular law override His conscience judgment. Therefore, paying taxes is one of the duties of any member of society. We demand that the government provides certain services — they have to be paid for — hence, taxes. We cannot necessarily pick and choose what taxes to pay because that would result in chaos and probably very few taxes being  paid. Paul teaches us that secular governments can make demands upon us (Romans 13), provided they do not infringe on the rights of our consciences. -- Kerygma


Pericopes:
PAYMENT OF THE TEMPLE TAX - Matthew 17:24-27

Giving Up Customs and Traditions

Sold themselves to do Evil

From them came forth a sinful root, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king; he had been a hostage in Rome. He began to reign in the one hundred and thirty-seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.

In those days lawless men came forth from Israel, and misled many, saying, "Let us go and make a covenant with the Gentiles round about us, for since we separated from them many evils have come upon us." This proposal pleased them, and some of the people eagerly went to the king. He authorized them to observe the ordinances of the Gentiles.

So they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem, according to Gentile custom, and removed the marks of circumcision, and abandoned the holy covenant. They joined with the Gentiles and sold themselves to do evil. -- 1 Maccabees 1:10-15

One People, One Religion

Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people, and that each should give up his customs. All the Gentiles accepted the command of the king. Many even from Israel gladly adopted his religion; they sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath. -- 1 Maccabees 1:41-43

Now on the fifteenth day of Chislev, in the one hundred and forty-fifth year, they erected a desolating sacrilege upon the altar of burnt offering. They also built altars in the surrounding cities of Judah, and burned incense at the doors of the houses and in the streets. -- 1 Maccabees 1:54-55

Book of the Covenant

The books of the law which they found they tore to pieces and burned with fire. Where the book of the covenant was found in the possession of any one, or if any one adhered to the law, the decree of the king condemned him to death. -- 1 Maccabees 1:54-55

STAND FIRM!

But many in Israel stood firm and were resolved in their hearts not to eat unclean food. They chose to die rather than to be defiled by food or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die. -- 1 Maccabees 1:62-63

Prayer

They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from thy law (Ps 119:150). Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget thy law (Ps 119:61). Redeem me from man's oppression, that I may keep thy precepts (Ps 119:134).

Housing Projects and Land Reform

"Therefore, behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when men shall no longer say, `As the LORD lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,' but `As the LORD lives who brought up and led the descendants of the house of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.' Then they shall dwell in their own land" (Jeremiah 23:7-8).

Safe and Secured Living Conditions

In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: `The LORD is our righteousness' (Jeremiah 23:6).