In order to help us better prepare, I am providing the Scripture readings and some food for thought

Sunday’s Badarak – February 12, 2011

I pray that you will take some time to read and reflect on God’s Word before this Sunday.

God Bless: Der Krikor Sabounjian

"It is better to build children than to repair men." 

Gospel Reading

(John 7:37-52)

On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, 'Out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living water.' " Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified. When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, "This is really the prophet." Others said, "This is the Messiah." But some asked, "Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he? Has not the scripture said that the Messiah is descended from David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?" So there was a division in the crowd because of him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, "Why did you not arrest him?" The police answered, "Never has anyone spoken like this!" Then the Pharisees replied, "Surely you have not been deceived too, have you? Has any one of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law--they are accursed." Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, "Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?" They replied, "Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee."

Gospel Commentary

"The last day of the festival, the great day" is probably the 7th or 8th day of the Feast of Tabernacles, which included a procession from the pool of Siloam, carrying water and pouring it as a libation at the temple, commemorating the water which flowed from the rock which Moses struck in the wilderness and provided the context for the Lord's words, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me..." Living water is the gift of the Holy Spirit and the new life which springs forth by the power of the Spirit. Christ give the Holy Spirit and the believer's heart consequently flows with new life. Christ does not force us, but is always available if we desire Him. The enemies of Jesus increasingly scheme to destroy Him in the middle of the Feast. The officers of the temple who were sent to arrest Him return without Him saying, "Never has anyone spoken like this!" The officers were open to Christ's teachings and were captivated by them. The Pharisees and Scribes, however, witnessed everything also but were not open to it and therefore were preoccupied with removing Him.

Gospel Challenge

In order to be able to view our lives through the eyes of faith we need to be filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit. This week pray to our Lord each day that He send His Holy Spirit into your heart so that you may experience your world through the eyes of faith and that everything you think, say and do be guided by the Holy Spirit.