The Letter of St. Paul to the Hebrews Chapter 2

The Letter of St. Paul 

to the 

Hebrews 

Chapter 

2

1. Therefore we must pay greater attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. 2. For if the message declared through angels was valid, and every transgression or disobedience received a just penalty, 3. how can we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? It was declared at first through the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him, 4. while God added his testimony by signs and wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, distributed according to his will.

(The Letter of St. Paul to the Hebrews Chapter 2 verses 1 to 4)

Oh God my Father indeed and in truth is the validity of the message of the 'Good News' even though others believe that it is not. However it is easy to refute the validity of the message, but what a surprise we will get when we find out that You are real and what is written in the Bible is also real Amen. 



5. For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you"? Or again, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son"?



(The Letter of St. Paul to the Hebrews Chapter 2 verse 5)



Oh God, my father I thank You for inviting us again and again to become Your Sons and Daughters. This is a very special invitation and we are to take you up on Your offer. Even if our background is full of negative experiences God is asking us to today to repent and become His adopted Sons and Daughters and this is an occasion to celebrate. If you feel this calling and if you may have been following a different religion now is the time to decide whether to accept God on His offer and become a Chrisitan or Roman Catholic and become an active member of Christ's body on earth and a gateway to heaven.



Click on link and celebrate in prayer



6. But someone has testified somewhere. "What are human beings that you are mindful of them, or mortals, that you care for them?" 7. You have made them for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned them with glory and honor 8. subjecting all things under their feet." Now in subjecting all things to them, God left nothing outside their control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to them, 9. but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.


(The Letter of St. Paul to the Hebrews Chapter 2 verses 6 to 9)



At times I turn on You and wonder how grateful I am to be to you for not making me born in a land where there is social strife and war and instability so much that people have to leave their homeland. I ask myself, what did I give or do to  You my God and Father that You love me so such and permitted me to migrate to Malta where there is peace and stability Amen.



Oh God my Father You are so humble and loving. For my sake and that of my sins, You chose to become human and take on You, our sinful and broken nature, however thus keeping Your divine nature. I pray oh God that we subject our sinful self to You in humility and not seek to be proud and mighty Amen.


10. It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.



(The Letter of St. Paul to the Hebrews Chapter 2 verse 10)


Oh God my Father, when You became human You set us the perfect example in order for us to experience salvation. You reached the peak of salvation through Your sufferings on our behalf, therefore instead of looking negatively at our misgivings and sufferings we are to consider them as being stepping stones leading to our salvation Amen.


11. For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father; For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters ¹² saying, "I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters, in the midst of the congregation I will praise you" ¹³ And again, " I will put my trust in him." And again, "Here am I and the children whom God has given me"


(The Letter of St. Paul to the Hebrews Chapter 2 verses 11 to 13)




Oh God my Father, since You are my Father, the rest of the world is my family, regardless of their skin colour or belief. I pray that we do not continue making acts of discrimination among our brothers and sisters, and learn to imitate You in Eucharistic love that is all giving and in Your never ending love Amen.


14. Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15. and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death.



(The Letter of St. Paul to the Hebrews Chapter 2 verses 14 to 15)


Oh God, my Father I thank You for becoming human and for wanting to be like us, for that is a perfect way to understand a person, and one's needs, hopes and aspirations. I also thank You for freeing me from the bondage of death. This is why I do not fear death for it is not the ultimate victory over humanity Amen. Thank You Jesus.


I invite you to click on the following link and join me in celebration and praise for Jesus You are alive and death has lost its sting it is powerless over us.


Song Jesus is alive


16. For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. 17. Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. 18. Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.



(The Letter of St. Paul to the Hebrews Chapter 2 verses 16 to 18)



Oh God, my Father one of the accusations made to priests is that since they are not married they do not know what it is like to be married. However, in another sense, You chose to become human so that You would know what it is like to be human and tested like a human. You did not spare yourself from the taunts and testing of the devil, who was always breathing down Your neck in order to hinder You from fulfilling Your mission of love and redemption. For my sake, oh God my Father I thank You for not giving up but fulfilled Your mission to the very end. Amen


Oh God my Father I would like to end this second chapter of St. Paul's letter to the Hebrews with the following prayer:



Thank You for making me a human, with all my strengths and even my weaknesses, for when I am weak You make me strong. When I am strong it is no thanks to myself, but to Your presence, that dwells within me. The merit is never mine. I thank You for having withstood many tests during Your life as a human. I thank You for being so caring, merciful and understanding and for wanting to be like me. You are my greatest source of encouragement and consolation Amen. Love You Jesus

The Letter of St. Paul to the Hebrews Chapter 1

The Letter of St. Paul 

to the 

Hebrews 

Chapter 

1

1. Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, 2. but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds.

(The letter of St. Paul to the Hebrews Chapter1 verses 1 to 2)

Oh God how different was Paul's address to the Hebrews when compared to that of Titus and Thessalonians. In this case, Paul went to the point without making any salutations and giving blessings. This oh God may be due to the fact that Paul was of Hebrew background and origin and therefore may not have wished to irritate or anger them by the fact that he now was an apostle of Jesus and that it was by the same Hebrew Nation that You were crucified. 

Oh God my Father this is a great lesson in respect and love to others. We are to be respectful in what we do and say so that we will not show a lack of love to others Amen. 




3. He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's  very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4. having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.




(The Letter of  St. Paul to the Hebrews Chapter 1 verses 3 to 4)




Oh God my Father in human terms we have an expression that goes, 'Like father like son', therefore it stands that You reflect Your Father and whoever experiences You has also experienced God the Father. Oh God my Father I pray that as one of Your sons, You give me the grace to undress my sinful nature and put on one that is totally based on You. Amen.  




5. For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my son today I have begotten you? Or again, "I will be his father, and he will be my Son?




(The Letter of St. Paul to the Hebrews Chapter 1 verse 5)




Oh God my Father when You became human You were still with the nature of God, therefore You were still higher than the angels, however even though You are higher You are not proud and haughty but You are still humble and caring, if this was not so I would not surely never have been worthy of salvation, for my rank is and will ever be low especially when compared to You Amen.




6. And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him." 7. Of the angels he says, "He makes his angels winds and his servants flames of fire."


(The Letter of St. Paul to the Hebrews Chapter 1 verses 6 to 7)




Oh God may I forever be worthy of being called Your servant. I would like You to continue using me as You use the angels and the elements of nature. May  I also be a flame of Your love and mercy and may the love for You and the Good News keep on burning inside of me forever Amen.    




8. But of the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom.




(The Letter of St. Paul to the Hebrews Chapter 1 verse 8)




Oh God my Father if I was to find symbols of which to make a sceptre I would choose a cross and a heart sitting on the crossbow of the cross, for it was because You  love us so much that You gave up Your life for my redemption Amen. Thank You God my Father. 




9. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore, God has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions." 




(The Letter of St. Paul to the Hebrews Chapter 1 verse 9)




Oh God my Father even though I am still not free from sin, there are still moments when I experience the joy of the presence of the Holy Spirit. You have changed my attitude to life from a negative to a positive one Amen.  



10. And, "In the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands; 11. they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like clothing; 12. like a cloak you will roll them up, and like clothing they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will never end."



(The Letter of St. Paul to the Hebrews Chapter 1 verses  10 to 12)


Oh God my Father and all you who are praying on the verses of this book, please note that nothing is mentioned about evolution, because God is the 'Master Creator' of both the heavens and the earth, which unlike its creator has a beginning and an end and is subject to the forces of time and change and also the degrading elements of nature. However You are God my Father, remain the same loving, just and pure forever Amen. 




While on the subject of Charles Darwin and the "Theory of Evolution" I invite you to click on the following video clip:-




The truth about Charles Darwin




13. But to which of the angels has he ever said, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." 14. Are not all angels spirits in the divine service, sent to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?


(The Letter of St. Paul to the Hebrews Chapter 1 verses  13 to 14)



Oh God my Father even though there are many who try to challenge the faith in Your belief, You are able to challenge such false theories one by one. You raise Your Son Jesus above worldly comprehension and set Him at Your right hand as Your equal and Master Creator Amen.


Oh God my Father I would like to end the first chapter of St. Paul's letter to the Hebrews with the following prayer:




Oh God You are an awesome God, You are loving gentle just and mightier than the forces of the earth. You are my Father and even though at times  I do not see You at work in my life. I still believe that You are like the yeast alive in the dough that is active although we do not see it when mixed with the dough. Even though at times the Devil works on my feelings by trying to convince me not to forgive and give up my faith in God I pray that the flame of faith will never die out in me Amen.