The Bosom of the Father

How many priests do you see?

= 24

Why 24 priests ? Why ?

12 Priests represent the OLD Testament, and 12 Priests represent the NEW Testament 24 Priests represent the OLD + NEW Testaments

The Blessed Number represents the OLD Testament Church – 12 Tribes of God’s chosen people (Israel) 12 also represents the NEW Testament Church – 12 Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ also called Apostles 12N.T.Disciples 12O.T.Tribes

4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed: 5 of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed; 6 of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed; 7 of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed; 8 of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed. Revelations 7:4-8 12O.T.Tribes

 Peter  Andrew  John  James  Philip  Matthew  Bartholomew  Thomas  James the son of Alphaeus  Simon the Canaanite  Thaddaeus  Matthias (who was chosen instead of Judas) 12N.T.Disciples

Matthew 10:2-4 2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. Mark 3: Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, 15 and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons: 16 Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter; 17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”; 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; 19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. And they went into a house. Luke 6: Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles: 14 Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; 15 Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; 16 Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.

The Blessed Number represents, those who worship God (the Holy Trinity), everywhere (from the 4 corners of the world) 3 represents the Holy Trinity  Father  Son  Holy Spirit 4 represents all directions  East  West  North  South x 4 12

The Blessed Number = 12 x represents, those who worship God (the Holy Trinity), everywhere (from the 4 corners of the world) 24 represents, those who worship God, everywhere, in both the OLD Testament and in the NEW Testament 24 represents the Entire Church (O.T. Church + N.T. Church)

Lord Have Mercy

The 4 Living Creatures

Revelations And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “ Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”

LION MANEAGLE CALF

The 4 Gospels MAN Matthew LION Mark EAGLE John CALF Luke

4 Stages of Our Salvation MAN 1. Incarnation EAGLE 4. Ascension LION 3. Resurrection CALF 2. Crucifixion

Stages SALVATION Stages of our SALVATION 1.IN-CAR-NA-TION 1.IN-CAR-NA-TIONGod became Man 2.CRU-CI-FI-XION 2.CRU-CI-FI-XIONChrist died for us 3.RE-SUR-REC-TION 3.RE-SUR-REC-TIONChrist rose from the dead 4.A-SCEN-SION 4.A-SCEN-SIONChrist ascended to heaven

SALVATION SALVATION Christ’s 1 st COMING INCARNATION TO SAVE ASCENSION CRUCIFIXIONRESURRECTION

JUDGE & REWARD Christ’s 2 nd COMING

In the Liturgy … COMMUNION – taking B ody & B BB Blood of our Lord, we re-live Christ’s FIRST COMING We remember His: 1.I NCARNATION 2.C RUCIFIXION 3.R ESURRECTION 4.A SCENSION AND WE WAIT FOR CHRIST’S SECOND COMING