I am examining how Jesus treated sinners ......
"If this man were a prophet, He would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner."
And Jesus answering said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you."
"And he answered, "What is it, Teacher?"
"A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and
the other fifty. When they could not pay, he forgave them both. Now
which of them will love him more?"
"Simon answered, "The one, I suppose, to whom he forgave more."
"And He said to him, "You have judged rightly."
"Then turning toward the woman He said to Simon, "Do
you see this woman? I entered your house, you gave me no water for My
feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her
hair. You gave Me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not
ceased to kiss My feet. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has
anointed My feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which
are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven
little, loves little." (Luke 7:36-47 RSV)
I understand the logic of this. As one who has more deficiencies is more joyful when those deficiencies are lifted.
Made me think of the Great Saints -- Mother Teresa -- John Paul
II...... Do they love less because are forgiven less? Well, as I
understand it, they went to confession weekly.
First, let me
say, that I am not trying to boast, as I first was feeling awkward about
this line. ''Surely those who love God, have such great love for Him
that they abide by His will.'' ......
But, I then
reconsidered, no matter how spiritual we are, we are always through our
nature, sinners. Sinners, Sinners, Sinners as we are in no way
perfect. Not the greatest Pope, not the greatest Saint. We can not
hide from our sins and weaknesses, they are a part of us like skin and
nails.
So then, what are we who feel as though we are not great sinners to do?
Jesus answers us, ''Be forgiven!''
Never think you are sinless, Never think you are perfect.
Pursue the Love of Christ in Confession, as often as you feel in your
heart is right. Maybe it could be good to try to always receive the Eucharist with a
pure heart after Confession.
Love the Sacrament of Confession, it is our way to be forgiven, forgiven, forgiven! So that we may Love! Love! Love!
Happy Saint Patrick's Day (Especially my crew from Cork)
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Video Catalog - Faith and Reason Leads to BELIEF!
THE MISTAKE IS OFTEN MAde.... THAT FAITH AND REASON ARE AT ODDS WITH EACH OTHER....
THE MISTAKE IS THAT THEY ARE TWO SEPARATE THINGS, BUT SHOULD BE WEDDED AND BEAUTIFIED WITH EACH OTHER.. COMPLETED
AS A MAN AND A WOMAN.
I WANT TO INTRODUCE THE MARRIAGE OF FAITH & REASON BY THIS VIDEO:
MANY OF THESE VIDEOS ARE LONG... BUT I CHALLENGE YOU TO WATCH ALL OR MOST BEFORE EASTER
WHY GOD? EVIDENCE? PROBABILITY? FAITH IS UNREASONABLE?1) MANY OF YOU WILL SEE, NOT EVEN THE SMARTEST SCIENTIST (STEPHEN HAWKINGS PARTNER) CAN DEBATE AGAINST GOD....
http://vimeo.com/15383112
2) SCIENCE AND THE RATIONALITY OF GOD: TWO one long and more detailed
SHORTER: http://youtu.be/ETBssDRsM74
3) PHILOSOPHICAL RATIONALITY OF GOD:
SO THAT IS GOD? OKAY, SO WHAT ABOUT RELIGION? WELL SURELY THERE ARE SOME GREAT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ALL RELIGIONS.... THOMAS MERTON IS A GOOD SOURCE.. BUT HERE
THE JESUS QUESTION
4) WERE THE GOSPEL WRITERS EYE WITNESSES? OXFORD PROFESSOR SAYS YES
http://youtu.be/r5Ylt1pBMm8
5) DID JESUS RESURRECT? PROMINENT BIBLICAL SCHOLAR USES REASON AND PROBABILITY:
http://youtu.be/W0Dc01HVlaM
6) DOES THE BIBLE SAY JESUS CLAIMED TO BE GOD?
http://youtu.be/Wa-dzR943po
7) I NEVER REALLY SOUGHT THIS OUT, BUT FOUND A JEW WHO CONVERTED, WELL, SEE WHY
http://youtu.be/gsKz6QEFFmg
8) INSPIRING MESSAGE- JESUS' SHOCKING LIFE
http://youtu.be/2qNlTiRB7JA
SO WHAT DID JESUS COME FOR? ANSWER: TO BE THE NEW MOSES, BUILD HIS REALM ON EARTH (CHURCH)
9) THE CHURCH OF PETER
http://youtu.be/VXCUSAEVNIE
10) UNDERSTANDING THE SACRIFICE - THE EUCHARIST - THE LAMB OF GOD
http://youtu.be/OfGw8G9P4_Y
11) MIRACLE OF THE EUCHARIST, TODAY!!!!
http://youtu.be/N6SH93arrIE
12) SERIES SHOWING WHAT IS THE CATHOLIC CHURCH:
12A - BUILDER OF CIVILIZATION
http://youtu.be/OhARNW4l13g
12B - CATHOLICISM SERIES
http://youtu.be/yXz7CiIovJ8
ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS... CONFESSION, CRUSADES, INQUISITION, WHAT IS GRACE, MORALITY OF THE BODY......
PLEASE VISIT CATHOLIC ANSWERS AT WWW.CATHOLIC.COM OR ON YOUTUBE FATHER BARRON
LOADS, LOADS, LOADS OF ANSWERS AND DISCUSSIONS ARE RIGHT HERE ON THE INTERNET
I PERSONALLY LIKE THE CONVERSION STORIES OF STEVE RAY AND DR. SCOTT HAHN
Friday, February 22, 2013
Need for Confession
"All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Cor. 5:18)
Why Confession?
Short Answer: Jesus told the Apostles that they can absolve sin on Earth. ( It is a bit funny, Protestants say ''Sola Scriptura,' but you can find the Sacraments in the bible)
Conversation: If you are honest, you can surely admit that we keep many 'sins' or transgressions to ourselves. And we even hide many from OUR OWN SELVES! We humans are very much wired to protect our selves. Protect that which we love. Protect that which angers us. Protect us from that which scares us. What scares us more than telling a priest ( a man in cloth) what we have done to others, the ones we love, and ourselves. It is a very vulnerable moment.
The practice of Reconciliation is a bit to do with courage. Imagine that you have passed away. You face Jesus, and He will tell you your sins. Would you be ready for that? Isn't that much more scary than telling a priest? We are very aware we deceive ourselves, and there is no time left for deception or question. We are told to go to confession so we can be confident. It is a gift to which we can not give ourselves. With this confidence, can we have a bit more peace in our hearts when we meet our judge. This should not be taken lightly. The sacraments bring us closer to God through the Holy Spirit and prepare us for the moment we are to be judged. If you do not feel you are ready to meet Jesus, you are (probably,surely) not. Then open your heart to the reality of confession in the presence of the Holy Spirit in the sacred sacrament of Confession. The protest against Reconciliation, in its roots, is the very protest of man against God. We put everything in earthly terms. We tell ourselves, ''Why do I have to tell a priest what I have done?'' What we should say, ''If I can not tell a priest what I have done, will I be honest enough to face my judgement?''
I would like to suggest some ways we deceive ourselves in maybe two ways of many: 1) We want forgiveness more than we are sorry for our sins. We seek forgiveness and peace and not really have sorrow. 2) We obstruct truth, we purposely forget, we tell ourselves that things are Ok despite the feelings or perception of others. We project little problems to our actions because we justify things to ourself. ''No, I shouldn't be sorry, because I was only angry because they made me angry. OR Well, I really didn''t truly mean what I said, so they may be mad, but I know what I truly feel. OR I didn't lie. I just didn't think they needed to know my business.''
Aside from us deceiving ourselves, I think it is worth the discussion to mention how we are social creatures, and how our faith is to lived outwardly towards others. Jesus said,'' Love your neighbors as yourself.'' In Reconciliation we can meet this requirement by being honest with our neighbors and sharing our transgressions bravely and confidently with a neighbor in body, but a neighbor in spirit through a priest. The more we give the more we receive, the more we give up our pride and insecurity and confess our transgressions, the more we receive a communion with the Holy Spirit and with others! When we live out our faith, our faith is also growing outwardly, and thus our faith is inviting our neighbors into our faith. What love for neighbor can be better than inviting the community into your faith. Don't be fooled, we are social creatures, we are to live socially, and we are to pray socially, and we are to live out our faith socially.
The more we put into society, the more we get out. The more we put into faith, the more we get out. Reconciliation is a call for outward faith. A faith that says, do not hide your religion within, live it out, even when you sin. Forgiveness is one of the greatest aspects of love. When we confess, we should not be afraid, we should honor the love of God. It is the way we are to live. Honor God, trust in His words, when His priest absolve our sin, we should leave confident that our souls are healed that we no longer face our past, but move onward with a but more strength in spirit.
ANOTHER'S COMMENTARY
http://voices.yahoo.com/defending-catholic-faith-confession-218027.html
Why should I believe that a priest has the power to forgive my sins? Why can't I just tell my sins to Jesus in private without confessing them to a priest? What is the purpose of Reconciliation anyway? There are many difficult questions when discussing Confession, also known as the Sacrament of Reconciliation. But Jesus does give us the answer within the Bible and we can look to his powerful words to give us clues as to why the Sacrament of Reconciliation exists.
First, however, we should think about why we need the Sacrament of Reconciliation and penance. Reconciliation, or confession, of our sins is necessary to know absolutely, 100% for sure that our sins that we commit here on Earth are forgiven. Sure, we could confess our sins in the privacy of our own homes in our hearts to God, but there are a couple complications to that process. First, how often would we truly use this practice? One could go years without actually confessing sins to God in their own heart. Confessing one's sins with a priest helps us to make the sacrament real. Second, when and if we do confess our sins in our heart instead of within the confines of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, is one really sure that he or she is cleansed of that sin? When one enters the confessional, however, and goes through the Sacrament of Reconciliation with the priest, he or she is absolutely certain that their sins are forgiven.
The Gospel of John has Jesus' words that institute the sacrament of Confession. Jesus commissions his disciples in Chapter 20, verses 22 and 23, to go out and forgive sins in this power of His name. Jesus says, "Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." This verse is pretty much self-explanatory because it gives Jesus' apostles the power to forgive sins. It is the basis for the Sacrament of Confession. Jesus passed the authority on to his Apostles, and this power has been conferred on to priests, bishops, and popes all throughout the ages.
In Jesus' words we find that He gave his Apostles the authority to forgive sins, and through that, established the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This sacrament, which gives us assurance that our sins are erased completely, has blessed the Catholic Church for many ages, and will continue to be a source of powerful healing for ages to come!
Why Confession?
Short Answer: Jesus told the Apostles that they can absolve sin on Earth. ( It is a bit funny, Protestants say ''Sola Scriptura,' but you can find the Sacraments in the bible)
Conversation: If you are honest, you can surely admit that we keep many 'sins' or transgressions to ourselves. And we even hide many from OUR OWN SELVES! We humans are very much wired to protect our selves. Protect that which we love. Protect that which angers us. Protect us from that which scares us. What scares us more than telling a priest ( a man in cloth) what we have done to others, the ones we love, and ourselves. It is a very vulnerable moment.
The practice of Reconciliation is a bit to do with courage. Imagine that you have passed away. You face Jesus, and He will tell you your sins. Would you be ready for that? Isn't that much more scary than telling a priest? We are very aware we deceive ourselves, and there is no time left for deception or question. We are told to go to confession so we can be confident. It is a gift to which we can not give ourselves. With this confidence, can we have a bit more peace in our hearts when we meet our judge. This should not be taken lightly. The sacraments bring us closer to God through the Holy Spirit and prepare us for the moment we are to be judged. If you do not feel you are ready to meet Jesus, you are (probably,surely) not. Then open your heart to the reality of confession in the presence of the Holy Spirit in the sacred sacrament of Confession. The protest against Reconciliation, in its roots, is the very protest of man against God. We put everything in earthly terms. We tell ourselves, ''Why do I have to tell a priest what I have done?'' What we should say, ''If I can not tell a priest what I have done, will I be honest enough to face my judgement?''
I would like to suggest some ways we deceive ourselves in maybe two ways of many: 1) We want forgiveness more than we are sorry for our sins. We seek forgiveness and peace and not really have sorrow. 2) We obstruct truth, we purposely forget, we tell ourselves that things are Ok despite the feelings or perception of others. We project little problems to our actions because we justify things to ourself. ''No, I shouldn't be sorry, because I was only angry because they made me angry. OR Well, I really didn''t truly mean what I said, so they may be mad, but I know what I truly feel. OR I didn't lie. I just didn't think they needed to know my business.''
Aside from us deceiving ourselves, I think it is worth the discussion to mention how we are social creatures, and how our faith is to lived outwardly towards others. Jesus said,'' Love your neighbors as yourself.'' In Reconciliation we can meet this requirement by being honest with our neighbors and sharing our transgressions bravely and confidently with a neighbor in body, but a neighbor in spirit through a priest. The more we give the more we receive, the more we give up our pride and insecurity and confess our transgressions, the more we receive a communion with the Holy Spirit and with others! When we live out our faith, our faith is also growing outwardly, and thus our faith is inviting our neighbors into our faith. What love for neighbor can be better than inviting the community into your faith. Don't be fooled, we are social creatures, we are to live socially, and we are to pray socially, and we are to live out our faith socially.
The more we put into society, the more we get out. The more we put into faith, the more we get out. Reconciliation is a call for outward faith. A faith that says, do not hide your religion within, live it out, even when you sin. Forgiveness is one of the greatest aspects of love. When we confess, we should not be afraid, we should honor the love of God. It is the way we are to live. Honor God, trust in His words, when His priest absolve our sin, we should leave confident that our souls are healed that we no longer face our past, but move onward with a but more strength in spirit.
ANOTHER'S COMMENTARY
http://voices.yahoo.com/defending-catholic-faith-confession-218027.html
Why should I believe that a priest has the power to forgive my sins? Why can't I just tell my sins to Jesus in private without confessing them to a priest? What is the purpose of Reconciliation anyway? There are many difficult questions when discussing Confession, also known as the Sacrament of Reconciliation. But Jesus does give us the answer within the Bible and we can look to his powerful words to give us clues as to why the Sacrament of Reconciliation exists.
First, however, we should think about why we need the Sacrament of Reconciliation and penance. Reconciliation, or confession, of our sins is necessary to know absolutely, 100% for sure that our sins that we commit here on Earth are forgiven. Sure, we could confess our sins in the privacy of our own homes in our hearts to God, but there are a couple complications to that process. First, how often would we truly use this practice? One could go years without actually confessing sins to God in their own heart. Confessing one's sins with a priest helps us to make the sacrament real. Second, when and if we do confess our sins in our heart instead of within the confines of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, is one really sure that he or she is cleansed of that sin? When one enters the confessional, however, and goes through the Sacrament of Reconciliation with the priest, he or she is absolutely certain that their sins are forgiven.
The Gospel of John has Jesus' words that institute the sacrament of Confession. Jesus commissions his disciples in Chapter 20, verses 22 and 23, to go out and forgive sins in this power of His name. Jesus says, "Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." This verse is pretty much self-explanatory because it gives Jesus' apostles the power to forgive sins. It is the basis for the Sacrament of Confession. Jesus passed the authority on to his Apostles, and this power has been conferred on to priests, bishops, and popes all throughout the ages.
In Jesus' words we find that He gave his Apostles the authority to forgive sins, and through that, established the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This sacrament, which gives us assurance that our sins are erased completely, has blessed the Catholic Church for many ages, and will continue to be a source of powerful healing for ages to come!
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Personal Relationship
FOR MY WIFE.
IN UNITY OF TWO LIVES FOR ONE SACRED BLESSING OF DEVOTION
I recently told my wife that Faith in Jesus is like that of a husband-wife. It is not enough just to 'know you have a husband,'' but to believe your husband will behave and live as a husband.
This is for my wife of which whom I have a personal relationship and a certain calling.
That’s to say, we don’t criticize the experience, the sincerity, the heartfelt religious zeal or the undoubted energy and love for Christ that most Evangelicals present. The problem we have is not that this experience is highly subjective and emotional, but that sometimes this is all it is. Because it is highly subjective the “Jesus” the Evangelical has a personal relationship with may simply be a projection of his own desires, his own culture or the values, goals and dreams of his own context.
Furthermore, because the religious experience is pleasant he may only seek the “Jesus” experience that makes him feel good. This sometimes leads Evangelicals on an endless quest for the church or the religious experience that promises to give them the same wonderful “relationship with Jesus” that they had before.
Catholicism (and mature Protestantism) says there is more to this than your emotions. Don’t trust your emotions only. The real Jesus is bigger and more dangerous than your pleasant emotional experiences. Remember you must take up your cross and follow him if you would be his disciple.
Catholicism also insists that there is an objective truth and reality that strengthens and validates the personal experience of Jesus. The Church, the Catechism, the lives of the saints, the Scriptures, the sacraments–all these are the solid, sure and secure objective aspects to the faith which ground and make real the “personal relationship with Jesus”.
This is why, in the end, Catholics should be happy for the faithful to have “a personal relationship with Jesus” but that relationship is made solid and real and substantial by day by day commitment to prayer, the sacraments and the works of mercy. So do Catholics “have a personal relationship with Jesus”? Of course. Every time we go to confession we go down on our knees, repent of our sins and accept the forgiveness of Jesus Christ and vow on to sin again. Do we receive Jesus by faith? Of course. Every time we go to Mass we begin by asking forgiveness, repenting of our sins, we read the Bible, affirm our faith and then come forward for the “altar call” when we receive Christ not only into our hearts, but into our mouths and stomach. In these ways and many more we re-affirm and re-experience our “personal relationship with Jesus” but this is done so through the normal routine of Catholic religious life. Sometimes there are wonderful experiences associated with these things. Many times there are not.
Finally, the best way to think about this is marriage. It’s great to fall in love. It’s wonderful to have those feelings and emotions of passion and affection. All of that leads to a wedding. But a marriage is the daily grind–the hard work of love. Marriage is “for better for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health until death do us part”.
Same with the “personal relationship with Jesus” and it’s no mistake therefore that Jesus calls the church his “bride” and that he is the “bridegroom” and there is so much nuptial imagery in the Bible. This is what our relationship with Christ is like. We’re married to him, and marriage is full of hard work and sacrifice, but it is also full of love, and life and ultimate glory.
IN UNITY OF TWO LIVES FOR ONE SACRED BLESSING OF DEVOTION
I recently told my wife that Faith in Jesus is like that of a husband-wife. It is not enough just to 'know you have a husband,'' but to believe your husband will behave and live as a husband.
This is for my wife of which whom I have a personal relationship and a certain calling.
A Personal Relationship with Jesus
For an Evangelical Christian the “personal relationship with Jesus” has very little to do with the Church, the sacraments or any external, objective verification of the religious experience. Consequently, while this sort of conversion experience and lifestyle is to be welcomed, Catholics also have some criticisms of it. We don’t criticize it for what it is. We criticize it for what it isn’t.That’s to say, we don’t criticize the experience, the sincerity, the heartfelt religious zeal or the undoubted energy and love for Christ that most Evangelicals present. The problem we have is not that this experience is highly subjective and emotional, but that sometimes this is all it is. Because it is highly subjective the “Jesus” the Evangelical has a personal relationship with may simply be a projection of his own desires, his own culture or the values, goals and dreams of his own context.
Furthermore, because the religious experience is pleasant he may only seek the “Jesus” experience that makes him feel good. This sometimes leads Evangelicals on an endless quest for the church or the religious experience that promises to give them the same wonderful “relationship with Jesus” that they had before.
Catholicism (and mature Protestantism) says there is more to this than your emotions. Don’t trust your emotions only. The real Jesus is bigger and more dangerous than your pleasant emotional experiences. Remember you must take up your cross and follow him if you would be his disciple.
Catholicism also insists that there is an objective truth and reality that strengthens and validates the personal experience of Jesus. The Church, the Catechism, the lives of the saints, the Scriptures, the sacraments–all these are the solid, sure and secure objective aspects to the faith which ground and make real the “personal relationship with Jesus”.
This is why, in the end, Catholics should be happy for the faithful to have “a personal relationship with Jesus” but that relationship is made solid and real and substantial by day by day commitment to prayer, the sacraments and the works of mercy. So do Catholics “have a personal relationship with Jesus”? Of course. Every time we go to confession we go down on our knees, repent of our sins and accept the forgiveness of Jesus Christ and vow on to sin again. Do we receive Jesus by faith? Of course. Every time we go to Mass we begin by asking forgiveness, repenting of our sins, we read the Bible, affirm our faith and then come forward for the “altar call” when we receive Christ not only into our hearts, but into our mouths and stomach. In these ways and many more we re-affirm and re-experience our “personal relationship with Jesus” but this is done so through the normal routine of Catholic religious life. Sometimes there are wonderful experiences associated with these things. Many times there are not.
Finally, the best way to think about this is marriage. It’s great to fall in love. It’s wonderful to have those feelings and emotions of passion and affection. All of that leads to a wedding. But a marriage is the daily grind–the hard work of love. Marriage is “for better for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health until death do us part”.
Same with the “personal relationship with Jesus” and it’s no mistake therefore that Jesus calls the church his “bride” and that he is the “bridegroom” and there is so much nuptial imagery in the Bible. This is what our relationship with Christ is like. We’re married to him, and marriage is full of hard work and sacrifice, but it is also full of love, and life and ultimate glory.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Hosts of Host
I do not seek, but I have seen
I do not pray, but I have recited
I do not long, but I have acquired
These are the lies of my soul
These are the lies which lie within
I am a creature of distaste
As much as one of habitual sin
It is not only in trust I beckon
It is not only in fault I repent
When I was unaware
You a friend
When I was weary in my own tent
You never departed
And you sent
The Holy Host
The host of hosts
The ghost of the most
The genius within
Lies not within my sight
Lies not within my words
Lies not within my gatherings
For you are Light
For you are the word
For you are communion
The communion of grace
The promise of peace
The host of our hungry souls
I do not pray, but I have recited
I do not long, but I have acquired
These are the lies of my soul
These are the lies which lie within
I am a creature of distaste
As much as one of habitual sin
It is not only in trust I beckon
It is not only in fault I repent
When I was unaware
You a friend
When I was weary in my own tent
You never departed
And you sent
The Holy Host
The host of hosts
The ghost of the most
The genius within
Lies not within my sight
Lies not within my words
Lies not within my gatherings
For you are Light
For you are the word
For you are communion
The communion of grace
The promise of peace
The host of our hungry souls
Jesus' Sacrifice Promised in All Ages
Much of the Bible makes one think...... We only need Faith and Jesus taught to be suspicious of the 'high priest'
That Faith alone, I reflect on in my blog ''Does God only Demand Faith?''
And the faith that is often promised to salvation, is not one of 'faith in existence' but 'faith in His message and His promise'
So to have True Faith, we need to understand His 'promises'
It is like a husband and a wife..... A wife does not need to have faith that her husband is her husband, she knows he is her husband, She has the paper to prove it..... BUT it is the faith she ahs that he ''will behave and live as a husband' ... That is the Faith that Jesus and the Bible speaks to when they say... that we will be saved in Faith..... Faith in the promise!!
THERE IS NO ACCIDENT THIS VERSE IS NEARLY ALWAYS READ AT A MARRIAGE!
1 Corinthians 13
If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Back to the mission of Jesus and the Church
Here is a striking statement by Jesus:
New International Version (©1984) Matthew 28: 20
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
He obeys and commands us to His teachings, and He promises to be with us at the end.
Was Jesus suspicious of the 'high priest?'' YES!
So what happened to the ''high priest'' of whom he was suspicious?
To simplify the Church, we know Jesus came to bring a new covenant with Him as the mediatrix of our Faith. Jesus said there was no longer use fo the Temple to make sacrifices because Jesus is the sacrifice. In Jesus' sacrifice, we STILL experience the sacrifice in the Eucharist. Jesus promised the Eucharist. So the role of the priest is different, not to accept sacrifices, but to do as Jesus said and give us Jesus in the Body and Blood of Jesus. The Eucharist is the HEART OF THE NEW COVENANT.
When one understands the promise of the Eucharist! and understands that he said ''I am with you always, to the very end of the age'' one can hopefully have faith in the priest.
If there was no Ressurection and there is no promise of Eucharist. There is no Church. Simple as that.But He did ressurrect! He did promise to be present with us to the end of ages in the Eucharist!
But we do not stop there, we need to do as He ''commanded'. Jesus was baptized we were baptized. Jesus defined marriage, we must live by those descriptions of marriage. And here are all Seven Sacraments which are in the Bible.
Baptism
Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."
Gospel of John 3:5
"Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father who sent me, even so I send you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them,"Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained. "
Gospel of John 20:21-23 Holy Matrimony
He answered, "Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, `For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder."
Gospel of Matthew 19:4-6
Holy Orders"for I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
1 Corinthians 11:23-25
Anointing of the Sick
"Is any among you sick? Let him call for the presbyters of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven."
James 5:14
So, four of the sacraments is shown in the Bible outside of the Gospel. But we must remember Matthew 28 : 20.
New International Version (©1984) Matthew 28: 20
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
So it is to be trusted in Faith, that the Apostles did just that. That they taught us was what Jesus commanded, and when then are to carry that teaching as True to Jesus' teachings.
That Faith alone, I reflect on in my blog ''Does God only Demand Faith?''
And the faith that is often promised to salvation, is not one of 'faith in existence' but 'faith in His message and His promise'
So to have True Faith, we need to understand His 'promises'
It is like a husband and a wife..... A wife does not need to have faith that her husband is her husband, she knows he is her husband, She has the paper to prove it..... BUT it is the faith she ahs that he ''will behave and live as a husband' ... That is the Faith that Jesus and the Bible speaks to when they say... that we will be saved in Faith..... Faith in the promise!!
THERE IS NO ACCIDENT THIS VERSE IS NEARLY ALWAYS READ AT A MARRIAGE!
1 Corinthians 13
If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Back to the mission of Jesus and the Church
Here is a striking statement by Jesus:
New International Version (©1984) Matthew 28: 20
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
He obeys and commands us to His teachings, and He promises to be with us at the end.
Was Jesus suspicious of the 'high priest?'' YES!
So what happened to the ''high priest'' of whom he was suspicious?
To simplify the Church, we know Jesus came to bring a new covenant with Him as the mediatrix of our Faith. Jesus said there was no longer use fo the Temple to make sacrifices because Jesus is the sacrifice. In Jesus' sacrifice, we STILL experience the sacrifice in the Eucharist. Jesus promised the Eucharist. So the role of the priest is different, not to accept sacrifices, but to do as Jesus said and give us Jesus in the Body and Blood of Jesus. The Eucharist is the HEART OF THE NEW COVENANT.
When one understands the promise of the Eucharist! and understands that he said ''I am with you always, to the very end of the age'' one can hopefully have faith in the priest.
If there was no Ressurection and there is no promise of Eucharist. There is no Church. Simple as that.But He did ressurrect! He did promise to be present with us to the end of ages in the Eucharist!
"I am
the living bread which came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this
bread, he will live forever;and the bread which I shall give for the
life of the world is my flesh. The
Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us
his flesh to eat?" So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you;
he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will
raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood
is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.
As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he
who eats me will live because of me. This is the bread which came down
from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this
bread will live forever."
Gospel of John 6:51-58 But we do not stop there, we need to do as He ''commanded'. Jesus was baptized we were baptized. Jesus defined marriage, we must live by those descriptions of marriage. And here are all Seven Sacraments which are in the Bible.
Baptism
Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."
Gospel of John 3:5
"Now
when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word
of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for
them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; for it had not yet fallen
on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord
Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy
Spirit."
Acts of the Apostles 8:14-17
"I am
the living bread which came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this
bread, he will live forever;and the bread which I shall give for the
life of the world is my flesh. The
Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us
his flesh to eat?" So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you;
he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will
raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood
is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.
As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he
who eats me will live because of me. This is the bread which came down
from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this
bread will live forever."
"for
I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord
Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had
given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." 1 Corinthians 11:23-25
Gospel of John 6:51-58
Confession"Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father who sent me, even so I send you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them,"Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained. "
Gospel of John 20:21-23 Holy Matrimony
He answered, "Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, `For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder."
Gospel of Matthew 19:4-6
Holy Orders"for I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
1 Corinthians 11:23-25
Anointing of the Sick
"Is any among you sick? Let him call for the presbyters of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven."
James 5:14
So, four of the sacraments is shown in the Bible outside of the Gospel. But we must remember Matthew 28 : 20.
New International Version (©1984) Matthew 28: 20
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
So it is to be trusted in Faith, that the Apostles did just that. That they taught us was what Jesus commanded, and when then are to carry that teaching as True to Jesus' teachings.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Real Story -Augustine and the Eucharist
In the video below, a 'catholic' named Garry Wills claims St. Augustine didn't believe in the substantiation of the Eucharist: follow the link.
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/423715/february-11-2013/garry-wills
It has been said that Augustine DID question the presence when he first converted, but as this quotes show he grew in his understanding and belief.
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/423715/february-11-2013/garry-wills
It has been said that Augustine DID question the presence when he first converted, but as this quotes show he grew in his understanding and belief.
- St. Augustine, Sermons, [227] A.D. 391-430:
... I promised you, who have now been baptized, a sermon in which I would explain the Sacrament of the Lord's Table, which you now look upon and of which you last night were made participants. You ought to know what you have received, what you are going to receive, and what you ought to receive daily. That Bread which you see on the altar, having been sanctified by the word of God, is the Body of Christ. That chalice, or rather, what is in that chalice, having been sanctified by the word of God, is the Blood of Christ. Through that bread and wine the Lord Christ willed to commend His Body and Blood, which He poured out for us unto the forgiveness of sins. If you receive worthily, you are what you have received.
- St. Augustine, Sermons, [272] A.D. 391-430:
What you see is the bread and the chalice; that is what your own eyes report to you. But what your faith obliges you to accept is that the bread is the Body of Christ and the chalice the Blood of Christ. ... How is the bread His Body? And the chalice, or what is in the chalice, how is it His Blood? Those elements, brethren, are called Sacraments, because in them one thing is seen, but another is understood. What is seen is the corporeal species, but what is understood is the spiritual fruit. ... `You, however, are the Body of Christ and His members.' If, therefore, you are the Body of Christ and His members, your mystery is presented at the table of the Lord, you receive your mystery. To that which you are, you answer: `Amen'; and by answering, you subscribe to it. For you hear: `The Body of Christ!' and you answer: `Amen!' Be a member of Christ's Body, so that your `Amen' may be the truth.
- St. Augustine, Explanations on the Psalms, [33, 1, 10] A.D. 392-418:
`And he was carried in his own hands [3 Kgs 20:13 LXX? corrupted].' But, brethren, how is it possible for a man to do this? Who can understand it? Who is it that is carried in his own hands? A man can be carried in the hands of another; but no one can be carried in his own hands. How this should be understood literally of David, we cannot discover; but we can discover how it was meant of Christ. For Christ was carried in His own hands, when, referring to His own Body, He said: `This is My Body.' For He carried that Body in His hands.
- St. Augustine, Explanations on the Psalms, [98, 9] A.D. 392-418:
And adore the footstool of His feet, because it is holy [Psalm 98:9, LXX 99:9]. . .In another place in the Scripture it says: `The heavens are my throne, but the earth is the footstool of My feet' [Isa 66:1] Is it the earth, then, that He commands us to adore, since in this other place the earth is called the footstool of God's feet? . . . I am put in jeopardy by such a dilemma (Anceps factus sum): I am afraid to adore the earth lest He that made heaven and earth condemn me; again, I am afraid not to adore the footstool of My Lord's feet, but because the Psalm does say to me: `Adore the footstool of My feet.' I ask what the footstool of His feet is; and Scripture tells me: `The earth is the footstool of my feet.' Perplexed, I turn to Christ, because it is He whom I seek here; and I discover how the earth is adored without impiety, how without impiety the footstool of His feet is adored. For He received earth from earth; because flesh is from earth, and He took flesh from the flesh of Mary. He walked here in the same flesh, and gave us the same flesh to be eaten unto salvation. But no one eats that flesh unless he adores it ; and thus it is discovered how such a footstool of the Lord's feet is adored; and not only do we not sin by adoring, we do sin by not adoring.
- St. Augustine, Explanations on the Psalms, A.D. 392-418, [98, 9]:
`Unless he shall have eaten My flesh he shall not have eternal life. [John 6:54-55]' [Some] understood this foolishly, and thought of it carnally, and supposed that the Lord was going to cut off some parts of His Body to give them ... But He instructed them, and said to them: `It is the spirit that gives life; but the flesh profits nothing: the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life' [John 6:64]. Understand spiritually what I said. You are not to eat this Body which you see, nor to drink that Blood which which will be poured out by those who will crucify Me. I have commended to you a certain Sacrament; spiritually understood, it will give you life. And even if it is necessary that this be celebrated visibly, it must still be understood invisibly.
- St. Augustine, The Trinity, [3, 4, 10] A.D. 400-416:
Paul was able to preach the Lord Jesus Christ by means of signs, in one way by his letters, in another way by the Sacrament of Christ's Body and Blood; for when we speak of the Body of Christ and of His Blood, certainly we do not mean Paul's speaking, nor his parchments nor his ink, nor the meaning of the sounds issuing from his tongue, nor the signs of letters written on skins. By the Body and Blood of Christ we refer only to that which has been received from the fruits of the earth and has been consecrated by the mystical prayer, and has been ritually taken for our spiritual health in memory of what the Lord suffered for us.
- St. Augustine, 172,2, circa 400 A.D.:
For the whole Church observes this practice which was handed down by the Fathers: that it prayers for those who have died in the communion of the Body and Blood of Christ, when they are commemorated in their own place in the sacrifice itself; and the sacrifice is offered also in memory of them on their behalf.
- St. Augustine, "Homilies on the Gospel of John", 26, 13, 417 A.D.:
O Sacrament of piety! O sign of unity! O Bread of love! He who desires life finds here a place to live in and the means to live by. Let him approach, let him believe, let him be incorporated so that he may receive life. Let him not refuse union with the members, let him not be a corrupt member, deserving to be cut off, nor a disfigured member to be ashamed of. Let him be a grateful, fitting and healthy member. Let him cleave to the body, let him live by God and for God. Let him now labor here on earth, that he may afterwards reign in heaven.
- St. Augustine, The City of God, 10, 5; 10,20, c. 426:
The fact that our fathers of old offered sacrifices with beasts for victims, which the present-day people of God read about but do not do, is to be understood in no way but this: that those things signified the things that we do in order to draw near to God and to recommend to our neighbor the same purpose. A visible sacrifice, therefore, is the sacrament, that is to say, the sacred sign, of an invisible sacrifice. . . . Christ is both the Priest, offering Himself, and Himself the Victim. He willed that the sacramental sign of this should be the daily sacrifice of the Church, who, since the Church is His body and He the Head, learns to offer herself through Him.
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