Fifth Sunday of Lent (Cycle A)

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The Raising of Lazarus Lectionary:  34 Reading 1 -  Ezekiel 37:12-14 Responsorial Psalm -  Psalm 130:1-8 Reading 2 -  Romans 8:8-11 Verse - John 11:25a, 26 Gospel -  John 11:1-45 Lazarus, come out! LESSON: The Power of God Through Those Who Believe We’re a week away from the start of Holy Week. Our Lord now has his sights set on Jerusalem, and the pace is quickening. In these next two weeks, we’re living just one part of the Gospel passage from today: an encounter with the reality of suffering and death. Jesus is asking us to have faith in him. In today’s First Reading the prophet Ezekiel reminds us of the Lord’s promise to not only to bring us back to life but to bring us home. The background of this passage is the famous "Valley of Dry Bones." The people of Israel were in exile in Babylon. They weren't just sad; they were spiritually and nationally "dead." Their common saying was: "Our bones are dried up, our hope is lost, and we are cut off." They d...
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Review: Torat Ahava - Loving Torah

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Torat Ahava - Loving Torah Torat Ahava - Loving Torah by Rabbi Avi Weiss

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a five (5) volume work covering the Jewish Torah (aka The Pentateuch or the first five(5) books of the Christian Old Testament). Right off the bat you recognize that this is an ambitious effort that eventually runs well over 658 pages. Each volume is dedicated to one of the five (5) books and within each volume, the chapters basically cover a specific story within that book, which is further divided into brief commentaries on specific elements within the story. As I come from a different tradition than what can be extracted from these commentaries, I can’t really evaluate how faithfully that represent concepts within the Jewish tradition; however, I can say that I found them to be very thought provoking and enjoyable. Most Christian analysis of these books tend to focus on extracting understanding and support for the message presented about Jesus in their New Testament and in many cases have ignored how our cousins in faith have interpreted their own scriptures … and I think we have lost something there. Mostly, however, what I gained from these book is the idea that there are many different ways to interpret, understand and apply the ideals and concepts presented in scripture and they can all be useful for the spiritual pilgrim.

The Book of Genesis

  • Chapter 1: Bereishit
  • Chapter 2: Noach
  • Chapter 3: Lech Lecha
  • Chapter 4: Vayera
  • Chapter 5: Chayei Sarah
  • Chapter 6: Toldot
  • Chapter 7: Vayetzei
  • Chapter 8: Vayishlach
  • Chapter 9: Vayeshev
  • Chapter 10: Miketz
  • Chapter 11: Vayechi


The Book of Exodus

  • Chapter 1: Shemot
  • Chapter 2: Va’era
  • Chapter 3: Bo
  • Chapter 4: Bechalach
  • Chapter 5: Yitro
  • Chapter 6: Mishpatim
  • Chapter 7: Terumah
  • Chapter 8: Tetzaveh
  • Chapter 9: Ki Tisa
  • Chapter 10: Vayakhel
  • Chapter 11: Pekudei


The Book of Leviticus

  • Chapter 1: Vayikra
  • Chapter 2: Tzav
  • Chapter 3: Shemini
  • Chapter 4: Tazria
  • Chapter 5: Metzora
  • Chapter 6: Acharei Mot
  • Chapter 7: Kedoshim
  • Chapter 8: Emor
  • Chapter 9: Behar
  • Chapter 10: Bechukotai 


The Book of Numbers

  • Chapter 1: Banidbar
  • Chapter 2: Naso
  • Chapter 3: Beha’alotcha
  • Chapter 4: Shelach
  • Chapter 5: Korach
  • Chapter 6: Chukat
  • Chapter 7: Balak
  • Chapter 8: Pinchas
  • Chapter 9: Mattot
  • Chapter 10: Masei


The Book of Deuteronomy

  • Chapter 1: Devarim
  • Chapter 2: Va’etchanan
  • Chapter 3: Ekev
  • Chapter 4: Re’eh
  • Chapter 5: Shoftim
  • Chapter 6: Ki Tetzei
  • Chapter 7: Ki Tavo
  • Chapter 8: Nitzavim
  • Chapter 9: Vayelech
  • Chapter 10: Ha’azinu
  • Chapter 11: V’zot Haberachah


I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

#ToratAhava #LibraryThing

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