The Last Seven Words of Jesus on the Cross   1]          One of Seven   And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.   Then said Jesus , Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:33-34).   Luke wrote this gospel to one name Theophilus to share with him what Theophilus was hearing about Jesus and his followers.   Luke tells of the compassion Jesus had for his people, compassion for the Jewish leaders who wanted Jesus crucified, envious and out of their way and who stood by watching relieved of the fear of losing control of the people and their position before Rome.   Jesus had compassion for those gathered around, the soldiers and Jews who had a week before singing songs of “Hosanna” mocking and criticizing him.   And the compassion Jesus had those in sorrow and ...

  WHO ARE WE   The Gospel reading today was taken from John 8:1-11, the narrative of the woman caught in adultery and taken to Jesus by the religious leaders of Israel.   Most of you may be familiar with this event that took place, the religious leaders, men said to Jesus that the law of Moses stated that the woman before them was to be stoned to death.   This means that the woman was criminally accused.   The religious leaders, according to John’s gospel were putting Jesus to the test – hoping Jesus would agree with their views?   I wrote about the above event in John 8 earlier in my blog titled, Throwing Stones (kassiquan.blogspot.com).   Today, I am not looking at “throwing stones” but, maybe I am. I am sure you are familiar with the adage, “religion and politics do not mix.”   Looking back at Israel’s history from the time the people left a life of slavery in Egypt to their stop at Mt. Siani, the people had reunited in worship of God -...

THE VINEYARD: VINE & BRANCHES I am currently washing sheets and before placing them in the washer, I had to remove a few stains with Shout.  I thought about today's devotional reading from Our Daily Bread, the writer discussed stains that need to be removed; not just in laundry but in ourselves when we offend God, including each other.  The Scripture passage used was the book of Jeremiah chapter 2, verses 1-5 and 21-22.  At the end of the reading is a section called Insight discussing Jeremiah's words regarding the nation of Israel as the choice vine planted by God in which the people corrupted themselves turning their backs on God and going after idols.  As a result, God chastised the people but, God promised to bring them back to their land. Jesus used the image of the vineyard.  He told a parable, a story regarding a vineyard in which the tenants killed the owner's servants and eventually killing his son (Matthew 21:33-41).  Jesus, in John chapter 15...

Sacrifice Most of us are familiar with the adage, “we all must make sacrifices.”   What are some of the sacrifices that most of us make?   We may spend more time at our jobs than we do at home; spend more time with our friends than we do with our families or on our relationships with our children.   And, for many of us who speak Spanish, “ocupado mas con los visios que en los cosas de Dios (material wants/ vices other than the things of God; sacrificing the most important and valued of all relationships.   When you think about it, many of us will sacrifice our own dignity to get ahead. My mother and I are spending two weeks visiting with my aunt, my mother’s sister.   Being able to go to church this morning was truly a blessing which inspires my blog for today.   The message today, which is a topic series, “Contending for the Faith,” is based on the Book of Jude of only 25 verses.   The pastor shared with the congregation four points listed in vers...

  REMEMBERING 9/11 Today is Monday, September 11, 2023.   I am watching and listening to the televised Remembering 9/11 on CBS.   As I hear the names being read by those who lost loved ones on that day, Tuesday, September 11, 2001.   I hear those reading the list of names give tribute to their own family members they lost on that day; and from those family members born after the 9/11 attacks.   Comments made in honor of family lost on that day recognizing them as heroes, keeping their memories alive in their hearts, expressing how much they are loved and missed, grateful for the short amount of time spent with them, showing their patriotism to their country, expressing gratefulness in family sharing stories and media of those they never met, and reliving feelings and emotions in tears.   Although I did not lose any family, the memory of that day on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, is still etched forever in my mind and heart.   The following is what I ex...

  One of Those “Oh, Aha” Moments The eldest of my sisters sent my middle sister and me text message regarding the deed to her house.   Her comment was that the deed was not signed by the name of our Dad that we knew him by growing up but a different name.   This brought to my attention one of those “aha” moments that prompted an “Oh” response from my sisters.   The following is the information I share via text messages. My sisters are aware that I do research on our family tree, gathering documents and storied from family, especially on our Dad’s side.   Doing so only confirmed information we saw in my Dad’s paperwork as we prepared for his funeral and burial back in July of 1985.   My brother and two of my sisters always knew my Dad’s name to be Virgilio and hearing his family and friends calling him Bello.   Looking through my Dad’s paper work, I found his birth certificate, a recent copy with the name Benigno; when did his name change?   I ...