Matthew 5:14-16

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.

- Proverbs 3:7

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. - Romans 12:3

If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else,

- Galatians 6:3-4

The story of the parishioner

Perhaps you have heard the story of the parishioner who received recognition for being the humblest man in the church? They gave him a pin to wear. The following Sunday he wore it and they took it away from him for being proud. One wonders sometimes if humility is like this. As soon as we think we are humble, we are not.

from : http://www.bible.com/bibleanswers_result.php?id=120

Place where Jesus was born

We all know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but where exactly? This is the spot where our Lord was born.

This silver star, beneath the altar in the Grotto of the Nativity, marks the spot believed to be the Birthplace of Jesus.

The upper part of the Altar of the Nativity.

View of Church of The Nativity from Manger Square

Where was Jesus crucified?

One day i was in my thoughts, and suddenly a random thought came in. Where is the exact spot where Christ was crucified? I went to check on the net for pictures of it and maybe one day i may visit the spot. These are what i found. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem contains many holy artifacts and revered sites all in one. They include the rock where Jesus was crucified on (Golgotha's rock), the site where Jesus was laid called the stone of unction or the stone of anointing (where his body was prepared for burial), and his tomb as well (where on the third day the stone covering his tomb was moved by angels)

Below are photos of the Golgotha's rock where Christ was crucified upon

The rock can be viewed under glass on either side of the central altar, and the site of the Crucifixion can be touched under the central altar.

Crack in Calvary, said to be the one caused by the earthquake that occurred at the Crucifixion

Next the place where Christ's body was laid and prepared for the burial

Mosaic depicting the anointing of Christ's body after the Crucifixion, on the outer wall of the Catholicon behind the Stone of Unction.

View of the edicule from above. This boxy chapel dates from the 19th century and replaces earlier freestanding structures on this site. The small dome is above the Tomb of Christ.

Sunlight streams in the dome over the Tomb of Christ in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Painting of the edicule as it appeared in 1891. In the Israel Museum, Jerusalem.

Entrance to the edicule, which contains the tomb of Christ.

The first of two small rooms inside the edicule, known as the Chapel of the Angels. This altar contains a stone believed to be part of the large stone that was rolled away from Christ's tomb on Easter morning. The archway in the back leads to the Tomb of Christ itself.

The holiest site in Christianity: the tomb of Christ inside the edicule of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This slab is believed to be where Jesus' body was laid in the tomb. The vase of candles marks the place where his head was. The banner behind it varies with the liturgical seasons: this one is after Easter and says "Christ is Risen."

Please click the link below for the photo tour around The Church of Holy Sepulchre

source: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/israel/jerusalem-holy-sepulchre-photos/

Note: There is also another alleged site where Christ's tomb was and its called the Garden Tombs and is favored by Protestants to be the actual site of Christ's tomb outside the city walls.

Next, The Church of Nativity, where the spot for Christ's birth is hold.

Proverbs 4:23

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

True Cross

The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a Christian tradition, are believed to be from the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.^[1]

According to post-Nicene historians, Socrates Scholasticus and others, the Empress Helena (c. AD 250 – c. AD 330), mother of Constantine, the first Christian Emperor of Rome, travelled to the Holy Land, dated by modern historians in 326-28, founding churches and establishing relief agencies for the poor. It was afterwards claimed, in the later fourth-century history by Gelasius of Caesarea followed by Rufinus' additions to Eusebius' Ecclesiastical History, that she discovered the hiding place of three crosses, believed to be used at the crucifixion of Jesus and the two thieves — St. Dismas and Gestas — who were executed with him, and that through a miracle it was revealed which of the three was the True Cross.

Many churches possess fragmentary remains that are by tradition alleged to be those of the True Cross. Their authenticity is not accepted universally by those of the Christian faith and the accuracy of the reports surrounding the discovery of the True Cross is questioned by some Christians.^[2] The acceptance and belief of that part of the tradition that pertains to the Early Christian Church is generally restricted to the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. The medieval legends that developed concerning its provenance differ between Catholic and Orthodox tradition. These churches honour Helena as a saint, as does also the Anglican Communion.

The proving of the True Cross, Jean Colombe in the Très Riches Heures.

Theodoret (died c. 457) in his Ecclesiastical History Chapter xvii gives what had become the standard version of the finding of the True Cross:

When the empress beheld the place where the Saviour suffered, she immediately ordered the idolatrous temple, which had been there erected, to be destroyed, and the very earth on which it stood to be removed. When the tomb, which had been so long concealed, was discovered, three crosses were seen buried near the Lord's sepulchre. All held it as certain that one of these crosses was that of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that the other two were those of the thieves who were crucified with Him. Yet they could not discern to which of the three the Body of the Lord had been brought nigh, and which had received the outpouring of His precious Blood. But the wise and holy Macarius, the president of the city, resolved this question in the following manner. He caused a lady of rank, who had been long suffering from disease, to be touched by each of the crosses, with earnest prayer, and thus discerned the virtue residing in that of the Saviour. For the instant this cross was brought near the lady, it expelled the sore disease, and made her whole.

Reliquary of the True Cross at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem.

One of the largest fragments of the True Cross is at Santo Toribio de Liébana in Spain.

A "Kreuzpartikel" or fragment of True Cross in the Schatzkammer (Vienna).

Reliquary of the True Cross at Notre Dame de Paris.

Base of reliquary of the True Cross and nail of the crucifixion. Notre Dame de Paris.

source: wikipedia

Let your speech be always with grace.

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. By thy words thou shalt be justified. The tongue of the wise is health.

Col. 4:6. Prov. 25:11,12. Eph. 4:29. Matt. 12:35. Matt. 12:37. Prov. 12:18

- Daily Devotionals from bible.com

http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455749&dtype=Scripture

Four Evangelists Symbols

Matthew the Evangelist, the author of the first gospel account is symbolized by a winged man, or angel. Matthew's gospel starts with Jesus' genealogy from Abraham; it represents Jesus' Incarnation, and so Christ's human nature.

Mark the Evangelist, the author of the second gospel account is symbolized by a winged lion - a figure of courage and monarchy. Mark has John the Baptist preaching "like a lion roaring" at the beginning of his Gospel. It also represents Jesus' Resurrection (because lions were believed to sleep with open eyes, a comparison with Christ in the tomb), and Christ as king. This signifies that Christians should be courageous on the path of salvation.^{[citation needed]}

Luke the Evangelist, the author of the third gospel account (and the Acts of the Apostles) is symbolized by a winged ox or bull - a figure of sacrifice, service and strength. Luke's account begins with the duties of Zacharias in the temple; it represents Jesus' sacrifice in His Passion and Crucifixion, as well as Christ being High priest (this also represents Mary's obedience). The ox signifies that Christians should be prepared to sacrifice themselves in following Christ.^{[citation needed]}

John the Evangelist, the author of the fourth gospel account is symbolized by an eagle - a figure of the sky, and believed to be able to look straight into the sun. John starts with an eternal overview of Jesus the Logos and goes on to describe many things with a "higher" level than the other three (synoptic) gospels; it represents Jesus' Ascension, and Christ's divine nature. This represents that Christians should look on eternity without flinching as they journey towards their goal of union with God.^{[citation needed]}

source: wikipedia

The Gospel symbols are based on the biblical imagery found in Ezekiel and Revelation.

The image of a man or angel represents the Gospel of Matthew and signifies Christ's human nature.

The lion represents the Gospel of Mark and is a traditional symbol of royalty and power and, therefore, denotes Christ the King.

The ox or calf, the sacrificial victim, represents the Gospel of St. Luke and highlights the priestly character of Christ's mission.

The eagle stands for the Gospel of St. John, the evangelist "who soars to the heavens," because his theology is much more developed than the three Synoptic Gospels. Just as an eagle soars above the earth, so John's theology soars above the other Gospels.

The symbols for the Synoptic Gospels probably come from how each one begins. The Gospel of Mark begins with the lines: "A voice cries out in the wilderness." In the wilderness you can hear the roar of the lion for miles around. Matthew's Gospel opens with the genealogy of Jesus, and represents Jesus' human roots. The Gospel of Luke opens with the story of Zechariah the high priest, who offered a sacrifice of a bull on behalf of the nation.

These symbols were developed as a way of helping people to remember the different Gospels and the perspectives that they took, especially at a time when most people could not read.

source: http://www.rc.net/philadelphia/st_patrick/symbols_of_the_four_evangelists.htm

2 Peter 1:5-11

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷ and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. ⁸ For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

¹⁰ Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, ¹¹ and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Jeremiah 17:9-10

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.