The Old Testament meets The New, and me and you: “Be Catholic!”
2 Kings 5:14-17 tells how Naaman, Commander of the Syrian Army, was cured of leprosy by obeying The Prophet Elisha by (Prophesy #1) washing seven times in The River Jordan. That is God’s prelude to the Seven Catholic Sacraments that have healed Catholics for 2,000 years: Baptism, Confession, Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders, and Last Rites.
That confirms Prophecies that came true in Today’s Psalm, 98:1-4; “(#2) The Lord has revealed to the nations His Saving Power.” and Catholics gratefully “(#3) Sing to The LORD a new song, for He has done wondrous deeds; (#4) His Right Arm (Jesus!) has won victory for Him, His holy arm.”
Catholics most clearly see: “(#5) The LORD has made His Salvation known; (#6) in the sight of the nations, He has revealed His justice. (#7) He has remembered His kindness and (#8) His faithfulness toward the house of Israel.” by makng Isaiah 7:14 (#9) come true when a Virgin of The House of David (#10) birth to The Messiah in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).
In Today’s Old Testament Readings, 10 of more than 300 Messianic Prophecies have already come true, which is why Catholics around the world are living fulfillments of “(#11) Sing joyfully to The Lord, all you lands.”!
More Prophecies lead us to “Trust in Jesus” in Today’s Second Reading! 2 Timothy 2:8-13, refers to Numbers 23:19, “(#12) God is no man that He should lie.” It instructs Catholics to live by The Church-Creating Word of The Second Person of The Holy Trinity to His First Catholic Pope! (#13) sums up all Preceding Prophecies: “And I say unto you thou art Peter and on this rock I build My Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I give you the keys to The Kingdom of Heaven.”
Today’s Gospel is a Prophecy (#14) that God would love people of every race. He “cured ten lepers”, symbolizing the Ten Northern Tribes of early Protestants who left God to build a temple of their own in Samaria. One of the Samaritans “returned and fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked Him.”
May all be blessed to follow the example of one Samaritan! He is the (#15) the Living Prophecy of a hundred billion grateful Catholics in the last 2,000 years because He alone was told, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”
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Today’s Simple Rhyme: “Catholics most clearly see / God’s Holy, Blessed Prophecies.”
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