Free Republic

Deuteronomy 13:17 " And there shall cleave not (Or, be no personal profit) of the cursed thing to thine hand: that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers;" 2 Corinthians 6:17 "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the LORD, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." 1 Peter 2:11 " Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;" Jude...

Daily Readings from the USCCB“God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” John 3:16We continue, today, to read from the conversation that Jesus had with Nicodemus, the Pharisee who ultimately converted and is venerated as one of the early saints of the Church. Recall that Jesus challenged Nicodemus as a way of helping him to make the difficult decision to reject the malice of the other Pharisees and to become His follower. This passage quoted above comes from Nicodemus’ first conversation with...

30 April 2025Wednesday of the 2nd week of EastertidePope Pius V Church, in Saint Louis, MissouriReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: C(I).First readingActs 5:17-26The men you imprisoned are in the Temple, preaching to the peopleThe high priest intervened with all his supporters from the party of the Sadducees. Prompted by jealousy, they arrested the apostles and had them put in the common gaol. But at night the angel of the Lord opened the prison gates and said as he led them out, ‘Go and stand in the Temple, and tell the people all about this new Life.’ They did as...

“‘But I say to you, love your enemies’” (Matthew 5:44). People tend to base love on the attractiveness and likeability of the one loved. They love the so-called beautiful people, enjoyable activities, nice houses, and sharp cars. That list could go on, but Jesus’ kind of love is need oriented. In His parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:29, 36–37), the Samaritan showed tremendous love because he sacrificed his own convenience, safety, and finances to help a desperately needy man. The love our Lord sets forth here is translated from the Greek agape-, the noblest and best New Testament love....

Daily Readings from the USCCBNicodemus answered and said to him, ‘How can this happen?” Jesus answered and said to him, “You are the teacher of Israel and you do not understand this? Amen, amen, I say to you, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony.” John 3:9–11As we reflected upon yesterday, Nicodemus is one of the only Pharisees who ultimately converted, became a follower of Jesus, and is today considered a saint. The only other Pharisees who were recorded by name as converts to Christianity...

29 April 2025 Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin, Doctor on Tuesday of the 2nd week of Eastertide St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, Kissimmee, FLReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: C(I).Readings for the feriaReadings for the memorialThese are the readings for the feriaFirst readingActs 4:32-37The whole group of believers was united, heart and soulThe whole group of believers was united, heart and soul; no one claimed for his own use anything that he had, as everything they owned was held in common. The apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power, and they...

“‘Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you’” (Matthew 5:42). Secular people also hold tightly to the concept that property rights are sacred. But such self-centered possessiveness is merely another symptom of humanity’s sinfulness. Even believers forget that whatever they have belongs to God and that they are simply stewards of their wealth. We do have certain legal rights in most countries to manage property as we wish. But we must be willing to sacrifice those rights on the altar of Christian obedience and submission (cf. Rom. 12:1–2)....

Daily Readings from the USCCBThere was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you are doing unless God is with him.” John 3:1–2Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews, is mentioned three times in the Gospel of John. The passage above comes from the first time he’s mentioned. The second time is when he reminds the Sanhedrin that Jesus should be heard by them before...

“‘Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two’” (Matthew 5:41). The concept of liberty is much cherished in the United States and other democratic nations. The Declaration of Independence famously speaks of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Patrick Henry of Virginia used the bold oratory, “Give me liberty or give me death!” These sentiments were derived from biblical principles, although sometimes altered from those ancient origins. God’s intention from the beginning was for mankind created in His image to live in perfect liberty, both spiritually and physically. But the Fall ruined this ideal and introduced...

28 April 2025 Monday of the 2nd week of EastertideSt. Peter Chanel Catholic Church - Roswell, GAReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: C(I).First readingActs 4:23-31They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim the word of God boldlyAs soon as Peter and John were released they went to the community and told them everything the chief priests and elders had said to them. When they heard it they lifted up their voice to God all together. ‘Master,’ they prayed ‘it is you who made heaven and earth and sea, and everything in them; you it is...

Join us as we study in the book of Romans. The first half hour is worship. The message starts at about the 1:25:00 minute mark as near as I can figure and is is a total of 1:57:55 minutes long, including music worship, prayers etc.

1 Corinthians 7:29 "But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as through they had none;" Job 14:1-2 "MAN that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. (2) He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not." 1 John 2:17 "And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever." 1 Corinthians 15:22, Vs. 54 (22)"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ...

“‘If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also’” (Matthew 5:40). Most people in New Testament times owned just one coat and likely just one or two shirts. Shirts were undergarments, and coats were outer garments that also served as blankets overnight. This kind of coat was important, what the Mosaic law required be returned to its owner “before the sun sets, for that is his only covering; it is his cloak for his body” (Ex. 22:26–27). Jesus’ reference here is not to a theft, when someone wants to steal another’s garment, but...

Daily Readings from the USCCBToday is the Feast of all Feasts! It is the Feast of Mercy! This Feast originated from the private revelations given to Sr. Maria Faustina Kowolska, a Polish cloistered nun who died in 1938. In the year 2000, she was canonized by Saint Pope John Paul II, and the Feast of Mercy was instituted as a universal Feast of the Church. To better understand this Feast, let’s read some of the private revelations Jesus gave to Saint Faustina: “Whoever approaches the Fountain of Life on this day will be granted complete forgiveness of sins and punishment”...

27 April 2025 Divine Mercy Sunday (2nd Sunday of Easter) Church of Santa Zita, Torino, ItalyReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: C(I).First readingActs 5:12-16The numbers of men and women who came to believe in the Lord increased steadilyThe faithful all used to meet by common consent in the Portico of Solomon. No one else ever dared to join them, but the people were loud in their praise and the numbers of men and women who came to believe in the Lord increased steadily. So many signs and wonders were worked among the people at the hands of the apostles...

Join with hundreds of FReepers to pray daily on FR for President Donald TRUMP, Vice President,J.D. Vance, and AMERICA. Praying daily since 2015:I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone: for kings and all those in authority that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ~ 1 Timothy 2:1-2 Religion Forum Threads labeled [Prayer] are closed to debate of any kind. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (I John 5:14)

Genesis 21:1 "And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken." Psalm 62:8 "Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah." 1 Samuel 30:6 "And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God." Genesis 50:24 "And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely...

By Dr. John BergsmaThis coming Sunday is the Second Sunday of the Octave of Easter, also known as “Divine Mercy Sunday.” The theme of God’s mercy runs through the readings. 1. In the First Reading, we see an outpouring of God’s mercy through the hands of the Apostles, who are given a gift of God’s power for the healing of physical illnesses and those plagued by evil spirits: Reading 1: Acts 5:12-16Many signs and wonders were done among the people at the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon’s portico. None of the others dared to join...

26 April 2025 Easter SaturdayBasilica of St. Trudpert's Abbey, Salzburg, AustriaReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: C(I).First readingActs 4:13-21We cannot promise to stop proclaiming what we have seen and heardThe rulers, elders and scribes were astonished at the assurance shown by Peter and John, considering they were uneducated laymen; and they recognised them as associates of Jesus; but when they saw the man who had been cured standing by their side, they could find no answer. So they ordered them to stand outside while the Sanhedrin had a private discussion. ‘What are we going to do with these men?’...

“‘Whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also’” (Matthew 5:39). God has created every human being in His image, and therefore He demands that we treat one another with basic respect, dignity, and consideration. But in a sinful world, this will not always happen, so believers can expect to suffer persecution simply because of their basic testimony (cf. Matt. 10:16–23; John 15:18–16:3). This leaves one inevitable issue to deal with: how should Christians respond to ridicule, insult, or physical abuse. The Lord Jesus, of course, is the perfect example of how to behave when personally...