"I KNOW WHO YOU ARE - THE HOLY ONE OF GOD!"They came to Capernaum, and on the Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.
In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit. He cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” The unclean spirit convulsed the man and with a loud cry came out of him.
All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” Jesus' fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.
WE BELIEVE IN A GOD WHO COMMUNICATES WITH US
All Christians of whatever denomination (Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical, and Born Again) believe in a God who communicates with us, human beings, who are His privileged creatures. He is not only the “Architect of the universe” and the Author of the “intelligent design” in whatever exists, and especially the miracle of life, but also one who has a very personal relationship with humankind and every member of it.
God has initiated a “dialogue” with the human beings since the creation of mankind. In this protracted dialogue, which theologians call “Revelation,” the Lord God has gradually revealed Himself, what He expects from us, and what His plans for us are.
He has done that both in deeds and words, in a complementariness, whereby the deeds accompany and confirm the words, while the words explain the meaning of the deeds. (See Dei Verbum, the dogmatic constitution on Divine Revelation issued by Vatican II in November 1965.)
Among the “deeds of God” are the majesty, beauty, and order of creation. God has also intervened on many occasions in the history of mankind, and especially in the history of the Jewish people, starting with Abram/Abraham, their forefather.
HOW THE LORD GOD SPOKE TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL
From among the Jews, the Lord God chose and called some special people to convey His messages especially to His people. These “accredited ambassadors” are called “prophets,” a word that means “those who speak in behalf of another,” in this case, “in behalf of God.”
The Lord God spoke to His people also through other people who were not called “prophets” but who, like them, enjoyed God’s special assistance and inspiration. These were historians, poets, wise men, preachers, novelists, and authors of other types of literary works.
The messages conveyed by the Lord God through the prophets and other sacred authors varied in content, nature, and purpose, depending on the concrete historical situations of the times.
Depending on the nature and content of the message, the means used by the Lord to make known His message to the sacred authors varied considerably.
The Lord also enabled His “messengers” to perceive a special meaning in events that took place in their time or in the past. He also gave them special insights into the future. They were, thereby, capable of foreseeing events, such as punishments or acts of liberation that concerned individuals, or groups, or the whole people.
Euchalette, 1 February 2009
WORD AND LIFE PUBLICATIONS
MCPO Box 1820, Makati City 1258, Philippines
He has done that both in deeds and words, in a complementariness, whereby the deeds accompany and confirm the words, while the words explain the meaning of the deeds. (See Dei Verbum, the dogmatic constitution on Divine Revelation issued by Vatican II in November 1965.)
Among the “deeds of God” are the majesty, beauty, and order of creation. God has also intervened on many occasions in the history of mankind, and especially in the history of the Jewish people, starting with Abram/Abraham, their forefather.
HOW THE LORD GOD SPOKE TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL
From among the Jews, the Lord God chose and called some special people to convey His messages especially to His people. These “accredited ambassadors” are called “prophets,” a word that means “those who speak in behalf of another,” in this case, “in behalf of God.”
The Lord God spoke to His people also through other people who were not called “prophets” but who, like them, enjoyed God’s special assistance and inspiration. These were historians, poets, wise men, preachers, novelists, and authors of other types of literary works.
The messages conveyed by the Lord God through the prophets and other sacred authors varied in content, nature, and purpose, depending on the concrete historical situations of the times.
Depending on the nature and content of the message, the means used by the Lord to make known His message to the sacred authors varied considerably.
The Lord also enabled His “messengers” to perceive a special meaning in events that took place in their time or in the past. He also gave them special insights into the future. They were, thereby, capable of foreseeing events, such as punishments or acts of liberation that concerned individuals, or groups, or the whole people.
Euchalette, 1 February 2009
WORD AND LIFE PUBLICATIONS
MCPO Box 1820, Makati City 1258, Philippines
