CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING

FREE WILL, FREE TO DO ANYTHING WE WANT?

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JESUS IS TEMPTED IN WILDERNESS

AS HE EXERCISES HIS FREE WILL

Jesus answered, “It is written in the Scriptures:

‘You must worship the Lord your God. Serve only him!

MATTHEW 4:18

God created us and endowed us with free will in his image.  God never forces his will on us.  The Angels had free will. Some Angels chose to reject God. We have free will.  Some humans choose to reject God. Mary had free will and could have said No to the Angel’s request that she be the Mother of our Savior.

God while transcendent, that is way beyond our understanding, is also immanent, that is with us, and interacts in the world He created. God does try to get our attention, sometimes dramatically as in the case of Saul of Tarsus.  But even Saul in his free will could have rejected Jesus.

Free Will, for psychologists out there, may have mitigating circumstance like in cases of mental illness and addictions but this does not mean we were not born with Free Will to the extant it is available to us. The addict or alcoholic may have repressed his ability to choose but has not eliminated the gift of free will.

While human freedom is a good, human freedom is not in itself an absolute.  Remember we are made in the image and likeness of God, that is an intellect and will in conformity with the image and likeness of God.

We are not free to do “evil. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us, “The more one does what is good, the freer one becomes. There is no true freedom except in the service of what is good and just. The choice to disobey and do evil is an abuse of freedom and leads to “the slavery of sin.” (CCC 1733)

This world is unkind and threatening not because God made it so but because of our first parents choosing to disobey God and choosing their will over His. God wills our happiness and salvation.  Adam and Eve’s fall from grace left all their descendants with a darkened intellect, a weakened will, and disordered affections and appetites.

We live in the world man has made for himself.  This is not the world God created. But God respects our free will and allows through His permissive will evil actions to take place.  But there are consequences, just ask Israelites of the Old Testament as they wandered in the desert and led into exile to Assyrian and Babylon

What are some obvious consequences of sin today: drug addiction, sex trafficking, clergy abuse, broken homes, wars, racism, violence in our streets, pornography readily available to our children, greed, exploitation of others, sexual diseases, same sex marriage against natural law, legalized abortion, killing of the innocent, sacrificed on the altar of convenience, calling evil good, and placing God Almighty out of sight and out of mind, to name a few!

ADAM AND EVE DRIVE OUT OF PARADISE.

OH, THAT IT WASN’T SO!

In the beginning, God created Adam and Eve. In His image and likeness, He gave them the grace of “original holiness.”  Man and the world began in grace, not sin. The inner harmony of the human person, between man and woman, and the harmony between man and all of creation comprised the state of “original justice.”

“Original justice,” God’s original plan for man, will be lost by the sin of our first parents. The union of man and woman became subject to tensions, lust, and domination.  The rest of creation became hostile and alien to man.  We, the descendants, now struggle with disordered desires and passions (concupiscence.)

Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden, out of Paradise, away from the Tree of Life.  But before they were sent forth, God promises he will save them. The Second Eve [Mary] will be obedient, undoing Eve’s disobedience; Genesis 3:15.  Her seed, Jesus Christ, .will crush the head of the serpent. Man will receive a greater Tree of Life with greater gifts flowing from it.

Descendants of Adam and Eve, us included, inherited Concupiscence. Because of concupiscence we are inclined towards anything our imagination paints as pleasurable without regards for what is good for us by God’s design.

Saint Paul states very well the conditions of Concupiscence,” I do not understand. For I do not do what I want, but I do what I hate….now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me….The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not….For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want….Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me…. ROMANS 7:15-20

DEVELOPMENT OF CONSCIENCE

The exercise of freedom does not imply a right to say or do everything.” CCC 2740 By deviating from the moral law (God’s Law) man violates his own freedom, becomes imprisoned within himself, disrupts neighborly fellowship, and rebels against divine truth.

What, then, is to guide the children of God in the use of their freedom?  Jesus promised through prophet Ezekiel 36:26, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

Deep within his conscience (heart) man discovers a law which he has not laid upon himself but which he must obey. Conscience, then, is the judgment of reason whereby the human person, guided by God’s grace, recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act. In all we say and do, we are obliged to follow faithfully what we know to be just and right.

Catholics believe that “the education of conscience is a lifelong task.” (CCC, No. 1784) Where do we go for this education of our consciences? In the formation of conscience the Word of God is the light for our path; we must assimilate it in faith and prayer and put it into practice. Also the Magisterium of Jesus Church guided by the Holy Spirit assists us in forming our consciences..

GOD IS GOD AND WE ARE NOT

AMAZING GRACE

Grace is a supernatural gift of God to intellectual creatures (men, angels) for their eternal salvation. The vocation to eternal life is supernatural. It depends entirely on God’s gratuitous initiative, for he alone can reveal and give himself. It surpasses the power of human intellect and will.

Grace plays the indispensable part, divinely ordained, to effect redemption through Christ and lead to eternal destiny in heaven. Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God, adoptive sons and daughters, partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life

Everyone receives the grace he needs.  “Every man has his proper gift of God; one after this manner, and another after that.”1 Corinthians 7:

SANCTIFYING GRACE

The supernatural state of being infused by God, which permanently inheres in the soul. It is a vital principle of the supernatural life. It is called sanctifying grace because it makes holy those who possess the gift by giving them a participation in the divine life.

ACTUAL GRACE

Temporary supernatural intervention by God to enlighten the mind or strengthen the will to perform supernatural actions that lead to heaven. Actual grace is therefore a transient divine assistance to enable man to obtain, retain, or grow in supernatural grace and the life of God.

CONCLUSION

To help us exercise our free will properly, we have a conscience, Scriptures, Church teaching and God’s grace.  Pray for that grace to exercise our wills in accordance with the will of our Creator and maker, the source of our being and the end of our being.  Let’s all meet up together in heaven!

Salvation flows from the New Tree of Life, the Cross! From the new Tree of Life will come the Eucharist, the Eternal Bread from Heaven. Jesus promises, ‘If you eat this Bread and drink my Blood you have Eternal life.’ This is the new spiritual food flowing from Christ’s pierced side, blood and water, great symbols of the Eucharist and Baptism.  Eternal life is once again available from the pierced side of Christ.

GRACE POURS FORTH FROM JESUS’ PIERCED SIDE

 

 

 

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING SOCIAL JUSTICE

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PROLOGUE

 The Catholic Church from the time of Jesus has a long history of promoting social justice. The early Christians took care of one another in community, looked after the common good, loved and prayed together.

 “All who believed were together and had all things in common they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes… praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.” Book of Acts 2:42-45

CATHOLIC TEACHING ON SOCIAL JUSTICE

 CATHECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

 CCC #1934 Created in the image of the one God and equally endowed with rational souls, all men have the same nature and the same origin. Redeemed by the sacrifice of Christ, all are called to participate in the same divine beatitude: all therefore enjoy an equal dignity.

CCC #1936 On coming into this world man is not equipped with everything he needs for developing his bodily and spiritual life.  He needs others.  Talents and gifts are not distributed equally, “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit”. Corinthians chapter 12:4-7

CCC #1937 These differences belong to God’s divine plan who wills that each receives what he needs from others and those endowed with particular talents share them with those who need them.  These differences encourage and sometimes oblige persons to practice generosity, kindness, and sharing of goods.

No one person receives the same talents and gifts but all talents and gifts are present in the body of Christ so that no one is left behind materially or spiritually. In other words, Catholic Social Justice teaching calls on us the “people of God” to minister to our neighbor’s needs, to speak out against injustice, and to work for peace.

SCRIPTURE

“Anyone who says I love God and hates his neighbor is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” I John 4:20

 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?…If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? Faith without works is dead.” James 2:14-17

“I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.  This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  John 13:34-35

 INTRODUCTION

 In these turbulent times I am going to focus on the subject of Racism.  Along with the Pandemic, Racism dominates the news and social media.  Black lives matter is a fact from Jesus and the Church he founded.

Now this fact does not mean I agree or should you with every body’s use of this term.  The mantra Black Lives Matter was a natural after many acts of police brutality towards black victims.

Some enterprising revolutionaries took that expression and incorporated themselves into BLACK LIVES MATTER ORGANIZATION INCORPORATED. This organization is not to be supported as it’s aims and platform is directly opposed to much of Catholic Church teaching.

Black lives matter does not mean violence, arson, vandalism, looting is an appropriate response.  There will always be those who take advantage of chaotic situations to benefit themselves.  They were selfish before incidents, during incidents, and will remain destructive and divisive after incidents waiting their next opportunity to plunder.

I have been a social justice advocate all my adult life.  Matthew 25:40, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me” compels me to witness the faith in deeds not just words.  I marched with Martin Luther King, Selma to Montgomery 1965, protested Vietnam War, an activist in prison reform and abolition of the Death Penalty.  I was blessed as a boy growing up Catholic to be in an archdiocese led by Cardinal Joseph Ritter.

 Joseph Elmer Ritter was born on July 20, 1892—the dawn of the industrial age—in New Albany, Indiana, a small city on the Ohio River across from Louisville, Kentucky. The son of working-class parents, His life was marked by his deep concern for the poor and working-class people. In 1938 as bishop of Indianapolis, he took a brave, bold, and controversial act, ordering the desegregation of all of the Catholic schools in the Indianapolis diocese. This groundbreaking act of Ritter’s stemmed from Ritter’s deep belief that all people are created equal in the eyes of God.

In 1946 Cardinal Ritter was named Archbishop of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. One year later he ordered the St. Louis Catholic schools to integrate. Some Catholics became upset at his order, which was in opposition to existing Missouri state laws.  Ritter, a man who understood well the obligations of leadership, used the office of archbishop to remind Catholics of the equality of all people under God.   It would be seven more years before the U.S. Supreme Court would order public schools to integrate with its landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education. In 1960 Pope John XXIII elevated Archbishop Ritter to Cardinal

 RACISM

 COMMENTARY

Racism is not merely one sin among many.  It is the Original Sin of our Country.  Our country was built on slave labor and the genocide of Native Americans. That is a fact whether we like it or not.

Racism is a radical evil that divides the human family blots out the image of God among specific members of that family, and violates the fundamental human dignity of those called to be children of the same Father.

We are entering an era characterized by limited resources, restricted job markets and dwindling revenues. In this atmosphere, the poor and racial minorities are being asked to bear the heaviest burden of the new economic pressures. As economic pressures tighten, those people who are often black, Hispanic, Native American and Asian, the marginalized poor, slip further into the unending cycle of poverty, deprivation, and disease, .

CONCLUSION

In Christ Jesus “there does not exist among you Jew or Greek, slave or freedom, male or female. All are one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28 It is in Christ, then, that the Church finds the central cause for its commitment to justice, and to the struggle for the human rights and dignity of all persons.

No one wants to think of themselves as a racist and most people are not.  But an examination of conscience might be in order to see the extent that racial bias affects our personal attitudes and judgments.  To the extent that we allow another’s race to influence our relationship and limit our openness to those who might not look like us we may be infected.

I know over the years if I had an unpleasant experience with a person of color, I might be inclined to let that “color” my opinions leading to prejudging and perhaps avoiding such a person in the future.  Racism is insidious as it might sneak up on us before we are aware and take steps to mitigate any generalization about a race.

As evangelizers and disciples of Jesus we do our best to influence the attitudes of others by expressly rejecting racial stereotypes, racial slurs and racial jokes. We should influence members of our families, especially our children, to be sensitive to authentic human values and cultural contributions of each racial grouping in our country.

If we want peace, we must work for justice – here at home and around the world. Lasting peace is the effect of charity. There is no real peace without forgiveness… If we want peace, we must let go of our desire for revenge, we must be willing to let old wounds heal through the saving grace of God’s love. Our secular world views peace as the product of human effort. Our faith teaches us that peace is a gift from God.

 BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS FOR THEY SHALL BE CALLED CHILDREN OF GOD

MATTHEW 5:9

Prayer to Overcome Racism

Mary, through your Son, Jesus, God has found a way to unite himself to every human being, We are called to be one people, sisters and brothers to each other.

Mother Mary we ask for your help in obtaining the grace we need to overcome the evil of racism and to build a just society.

We seek the forgiveness of your Son for times when we have failed to love and respect one another.

We pray  prejudice will no longer infect our minds or hearts but be replaced with a love that respects the dignity of each person.

Mary Mother of us all, pray for us. Amen

 

WHY I AM STILL ROMAN CATHOLIC AFTER ALL THESE YEARS

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PETER’S BASILICA ROME ITALY

As Jesus’ vicar/prime minister, St. Peter established the Mother Church in Rome in 42 A.D. All other Christian denominations over the centuries have their roots in the Church Jesus founded. Just as Bishops today are successors to the Apostles, the Pope is successor to Peter.

 INTRODUCTION

A friend of mine who lives out of town that I have known for 50+ years called on Mother’s Day to wish my wife Happy Mother’s Day.  During the course of our conversation he wanted me to know he believes in God just not the Church.  Gene and I have discussed religion forever.  He is a good man who reaches out in service to others especially the elderly

I reminded Gene that while the Church was divinely instituted, it is humanly constituted made up of saints and sinners.  There is no greater target of Satan then the Church of Christ.  Since their Intellect is darkened and their Will is weakened as a consequence of Original Sin the clergy of the Church are just as susceptible to the “dark” side as the laity.

Of course, it is not just clergy abuse that caused so many to leave the “church.”  Most reply they just don’t believe what the Church teaches.  Well, this is not so surprising since for the last several decades our Catholic faithful, the young and old, have been so poorly served in the area of Catechesis.  It seems when the nuns left the building so did a lot of  strong true Catholic teaching. So we now have generations of the under Catechized who are not able to teach their children about God as well.

Some have asked me why I have the adjective, Roman, before Catholic in my website stillromancatholicafteralltheseyears.com. There are several rites in communion with Rome (Latin Rite) such as Maronites, that never separated and others that did, but have reunited with Rome such as Byzantine, Copts, and Chaldeans. I want readers to know my blog is orthodox and in full communion with the Church of St. Peter.

There are so many denominations out there that have catholic in their names that it is confusing.  There are even groups out there that call themselves Catholics for Choice. This is not a Catholic organization but a pro- abortion advocacy group. There are “cafeteria catholics” who pick and chooses what Catholic teaching they want to follow. Catholics are not free to choose which teachings on faith and morals to obey.

I love my Church warts and all and so grateful to Jesus giving us this guide.  It isn’t perfect.  But Jesus is!,  Jesus founded His Church on  the Apostle Peter.” And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:18-19

FEED MY SHEEP

“JESUS SAID TO SIMON PETER, SIMON, SON OF JOHN, DO YOU LOVE ME MORE THAN THESE?

Peter said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.

Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my Lambs

 “Jesus said to him a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’

Peter said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’  

He said to him, ‘Tend my sheep’

 .Jesus said to Peter the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’

Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, and he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’  Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep’”

John 21:17,

Not all are Good Shepherds all the time!  Remember Peter denied Jesus three times but Peter repented and wept bitterly for his sins but returned to Jesus.  Jesus returns the favor by entrusting His Church to Peter and his successors. As far as the Church of Christ goes our trust is not in the human constituency but in the Third person of the Blessed Trinity, the Holy Spirit.

The Father, indeed, revealed the fullness of Truth in His Son but the Church in its early days could not take it all in. It needed inspiration, guidance, the breath of the Spirit.  What was (and still is) required is the ongoing influence of the Spirit, the divine interpreter of the Word, who does his work gradually and powerfully as the Church journeys across space and time.

“When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me.” John 15:26 “The Holy Spirit teaches the Church “all things,” bringing to mind everything that Christ first taught His apostles” John 14:26.

The Holy Spirit came on Pentecost Sunday and a Church was born. After the descent of the Holy Spirit the disciples were filled with courage and faith. They went out into the streets and proclaimed the Good News of Jesus Christ fearlessly in Truth and the Holy Spirit

PENTECOST SUNDAY

With the Holy Spirit, Jesus sends His apostles and their successors as the Father sent Him “with “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Mt. 28:18).  The apostles, the first bishops, chosen by Christ, exercise the Church’s Magisterium or teaching office of His Church.

It is the Holy Spirit who comes into this world to convict Satan and Sin.  The battle is joined.  Do you know who wins:  Check out the Book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible..  My trust is in the Holy Spirit not man!

THE BIBLE

Sometimes Catholics are criticized by other denominations as not knowing the Bible or down playing Scriptures.  That is ridiculous.  If you were to attend Sunday Mass regularly in a three year cycle and daily Mass in 2 year cycle you would hear read at Mass from Old and New Testament well over 80% of Scriptures.

There was no Bible in the early Church.  It was the Church–her leadership, faithful people–guided by the authority of the Spirit of Truth which discovered the books inspired by God in their writing.

The canon of the Bible was established by the Roman Catholic Church definitively at the Council of Trent in 1556.  Canon means keeping something “straight” by rule of faith.

A canon distinguishes what is revealed and divine from what is not revealed and human. Some criteria used to determine canonicity were: special relation to God, i.e., inspiration; apostolic origin; used by the community of believers in Church services guided by the Holy Spirit.

If God has revealed Himself to man and He has, man must be able to know with assurance where that revelation lies.  In other words, man needs to know without error what the books of the Bible are. There must be an authority which will make that decision.  That authority is the Magisterium of the Church founded by Jesus Christ.

Is the Bible enough? Jesus told his apostles in His Last Supper discourse, “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.  But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming.”  John 16:12-13

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING ON MORALITY

The Church doesn’t make this stuff up. God the Father himself in the Old Testament gave the 10 Commandments to Moses. These commandments were written on stone to symbolize that they could not be changed. Human laws change from time to time, but God’s word never changes.

MOSES RECEIVES GOD’S LAW FOR US

 While I was growing up, I questioned the Commandments and other Church Teaching but that was because I had the notion these were restrictions and I resisted like any “red blooded American“.

As I matured in my faith development I realized the commandments were not prohibitions at all but the best self-help book on the market for living well and happy.  God was not asking me to give up anything that was good for me.

Let’s just take a few examples from the Commandments,, How about worshipping God our Creator on the Sabbath.  What’s nuts about that? All that I am; All that I have; I have received from God.  If I throw that out it isn’t long before I think I am in charge and I am not.

Here’s another one, Do not kill or do violence in actions or words.  Who am I to harm someone?  I don’t want anyone to harm me! And do not commit adultery nor covet your neighbor’s wife.  Well how is that working out for the sexually active outside of marriage crowd? Divorce, fractured families, abandoned children, single parent families, sexually transmitted diseases, abortion etc. Sin has consequences. To deny this is to deny reality!

“See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I am commanding you today; and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the LORD your God… Deuteronomy 11:26

 SACRAMENTS

God’s plan includes sacraments dispensed by His Church.  Sacraments are an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace. Sacraments are the means by which God “resurrects us” in this life. Jesus expresses Himself on earth today through His Sacraments.  Not every denomination has the seven sacraments that Jesus instituted, but the Roman Catholic Church does.

Baptism restores divine life to our souls. Confirmation strengthens our faith and assist us in being faithful witnesses. Eucharist nourishes that life. Sacrament of Reconciliation heals our soul when we have sinned against God and neighbor. Matrimony: the sacramental binding covenant between a baptized man and woman in which they agree to eternal fidelity and commit to being God’s partners in the creation of new life.

Holy Orders continues Jesus’ Apostolic Mission today. This sacrament confers on a man the power of consecrating the offering of the Body and Blood of Christ and of remitting and retaining sin. Pray for vocations to the Priesthood.  They administer the Sacraments in Jesus’ name. Anointing of the Sick stirs up the divine life within us to heal our bodies and prepare our souls for eternal life.

 REAL PRESENCE IN EUCHARIST

Many other religious denominations claim the Sacrament of the Eucharist but do not believe as I do or other practicing Catholics in the Real Presence.  Some denominations say it is a symbol.  Some say it is something we do in memory of Jesus.  Some say it is a fellowship meal.

As Roman Catholic, I believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Sacrament.  I believe that when a priest at consecration says the words, “Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my Body, which will be given up for you. Take this, all of you, and drink from it for this is the chalice of my Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me”.

I believe Jesus, body and blood, soul and divinity is reserved in the tabernacles of Catholic Churches around the world. Outside of Masses, Jesus may be brought to the sick and home bound.

The body and blood that we eat is the same body that hung on the cross, lay in the tomb, and then rose from the dead. That body is also the same body that passed through walls, that could be in Emmaus one minute, and Jerusalem the next, and then ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father.

When we eat hamburger or pizza etc. we are physically nourished and it becomes part of our body. But when we consume the Body and Blood of Jesus in Holy Communion, the exact opposite happens. Instead of us assimilating Jesus into our bodies, he assimilates us into his body. He doesn’t become part of our body. We become part of his body, a share in the Divine life!

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live  forever” (John 6:51).

“The bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh” (John 6:51). 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. (John 6:53–56)  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. (John 6:53–56)

 CONCLUSION

I love my Church founded on Saint Peter.  God can save whoever He wills but there are tremendous, superlative aids within the Roman Catholic Church for happiness and excellence of living in this world and to complete our journey home to Jesus. There are no restrictions harmful to mankind in Roman Catholic Church teaching. I thank God for my faith and my Church that have been there for me throughout my life of joy and suffering, let me persevere, keep my eyes on the prize and finish the race.

 

 

 

 

 

WHY WORSHIP GOD

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING, CATHOLIC COMMENTARY

Hear, O Israel!

The LORD is our God, the LORD alone!

Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God,

with your whole heart, and with your whole being,

and with your whole strength!

Take to heart these words which I command you today.

Keep repeating them to your children.

Recite them when you are at home and when you are away,

when you lie down and when you get up.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

The God of the Old and New Testament is certainly in need of nothing, even our worship. God lacks nothing.  God is the cause of everything, and source of all beings.  God is not just another being, He is existence itself, all that exists, exists in Him and through him.

Are we not grateful when someone gives us a gift, no matter how small it is?   We can’t begin to tick off all the gifts we receive from God, our very existence, our world, the air we breathe, the sunlight and rain that produce food for our nourishment…

Each day is a day of gratitude and thanksgiving to the one who makes all things possible. Worship is not something that God needs, but it is very much something that we need…. To acknowledge that God is our end all and be all.

We can add nothing to God’s glory, but we can express God’s glory in our behavior to others.  . Our lives become right ordered. We are ready to travel safely home.  We may pray with the Psalmist…

 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear?

The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid?

One thing I ask of the LORD; this I seek:

To dwell in the LORD’s house all the days of my life,

For God will hide me in his shelter in time of trouble,

He will conceal me in the cover of his tent; and set me high upon a rock.

Wait for the LORD, take courage; be stouthearted, wait for the LORD! (PSALM 27)

Very disturbing are continued reports of diminishing attendance at Sunday Mass.  In a few decades it has dropped from 70% of Catholics to now 30%, Wow!  So many going it on their own.  How is that working out? It can be a real challenge to remain faithful.  So many worldly distractions.  So many Church scandals…

When people dismiss or ignore God’s presence in this world they also ignore His graces and support for times of stress, grief, despair… At Sunday Mass we celebrate the Eucharist, the same sacrifice as on Calvary but in an un-bloody manner.

As we join ourselves in offering ourselves with Jesus to the Father we encounter God’s presence in personal and profound ways and are the recipient of the graces Jesus merited over 2000 years ago.  We are there with Jesus offering ourselves in sacrifice and in reparation for sin.

Just as we need to nourish our physical bodies in order to have strength; to work; and to live well, so too we need to eat in the House of the Lord to have spiritual strength. Nourished by this heavenly food we carry on the work of Christ and His Church.

Recently, I was in a hospital recovering from a fall and severe fracture of my upper arm, then that led to rehab and both OT and PT, all very painful and now in out-patient rehab.  Why I bring this up is that when you are in pain it is not the easiest time to pray or even feel presence of God.  Don’t wait until you are in extreme conditions to pray.  Pray now, attend Mass now, participate in Sacramental life now!

Sometimes God seems so distant….not engaged at all….the faith of my Baptism tell me He is engaged in my suffering….sometimes all we can do is ask God to do something good with our suffering for others…sure we can pray for our healing…but that is in God’s time and place….something beyond our control..

In rehab, I looked around at so many others older and more disabled than myself and most likely not to ever go home again.  What is that all about, God?  No wonder euthanasia has so much support around the country based on a fictitious “quality of life.”  What does God and His Church say about doctor assisted suicide?

So called “Death with Dignity” is always immoral.  Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable. A government that legalizes assisted suicide sends the terrible message that there is such a thing as disposable people.

So God, what is the God answer to these long suffering souls in nursing homes and the like.  First, their very state of being can be a prayer, a surrender to will of God for themselves and others.  Second, those who are their caregivers have opportunity to love and care for their neighbor and show by example how we love one another.  I know the caregivers I had I will never forget and are in my prayer intentions.  I know they were God’s hands of mercy to me in this world.

God allows evil in this world but never wills it.  Sometimes, the evil he allows brings a greater good, like conversion, reconciliation and forgiveness.  What some perceived as a shameful death of Jesus became our lifeline to eternity.

Did God just retire to some far away place after Old Testament and New Testament times? I think not!  Why would He do that?  He has a lot invested in us, a very complex, salvation plan evolving over centuries, the sacrifice of His only begotten Son, and promises that have not yet been fully realized.

THIS IS MY BODY DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME

I am the living bread from heaven…whoever eats this bread will live forever….whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day…whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him John 6:48 (Bread of Life Discourse)

 

 

 

 

EUCHARIST THE BREAD OF LIFE: IS JESUS’ PRESENCE REAL OR A SYMBOL

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING

BREAD OF LIFE DISCOURSE

 Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written:

He gave them bread from heaven to eat

Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you,

it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven;

My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 

For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven

and gives life to the world.” “

Sir, give us this bread always”

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life;

whoever comes to me will never hunger,

and whoever believes in me will never thirst.

JOHN 6:31-34

BACKGROUND

 The Eucharist is one of seven Sacraments.  “The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us. the visible rites by which the sacraments are celebrated signify and make present the graces proper to each sacrament. They bear fruit in those who receive them with the required dispositions. CATECHISM OF CATHOLIC CHURCH (CCC) 1131

 The Eucharist is foretold in many ways in Scripture.  In the Old Testament it is the chosen people fed in the desert with manna from heaven.  In the New Testament we have two miracles of multiplication of loaves and fishes to physically feed the people and the announcement of Jesus to the Samaritan woman at the well that He is the living water that gives life.  In John’s Gospel chapter 6 we have the Bread of Life discourse.

 When Jesus finished the Bread of Life Discourse, many of his followers left. “As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, Do you also want to leave? Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”  John 6:66

You will notice Jesus does not soften His speech or describe it in a metaphorical way or chase after those leaving and say, Wait, I was only kidding.  I didn’t really mean you must eat my flesh and blood. Jesus maintains the potency of His rhetoric by asking His closest disciples if they will also leave.

A new Pew Research survey finds that most self-described Catholics don’t believe in the Real Presence in the Eucharist. In fact, nearly seven-in-ten Catholics (69%) say they personally believe that during Catholic Mass, the bread and wine used in Communion “are symbols of the body and blood of Jesus Christ.” Just one-third of U.S. Catholics (31%) say they believe that “during Catholic Mass, the bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Jesus.”

Other religious denominations with the few exceptions of some Eastern Churches do not believe the real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist (Transubstantiation) but rather some kind of sign of Jesus being with us or  a remembrance of Jesus and invitation to follow Jesus and thank Him for His act of atonement on our behalf.

CCC 1376 The Council of Trent …declares that by the consecration of the bread and wine there takes place a change of the whole substance of the bread (wheat) into the substance of the body of Christ our Lord and of the whole substance of the wine (grape) into the substance of his blood. This change the holy Catholic Church has fittingly and properly called transubstantiation.The Church professes the whole Christ, body and blood, soul and divinity, is truly, really and substantially contained in the Sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist.

The Priest, acting in the Person of Christ and speaking Christ’s words at the consecration, transmits Christ’s words to make His presence real in the Eucharist. Transubstantiation does no violence to the appearances of the bread and wine, but on the deepest level of their reality, they have been changed, becoming for the Church the Body and Blood of Christ.

JESUS INSTITUTES THE SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST AT THE LAST SUPPER

COMMENTARY

At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again…to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection…a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, and a bond of charity

 The Logos (Word of God) is manifested within all creation to differing degrees. The incarnate Logos, Christ, is the fullest revelation of God that we can possess on earth. The Eucharist is the sacramental extension of the Incarnation. “Abide in me, and I in you” John 15:4. . . . I am the vine, you are the branches.” John 15:5 “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him..”  John 6:54 Receiving Holy Communion unites the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church, with its head, Christ.

Inasmuch as we participate in the Eucharist, we participate in Christ’s sacrifice, and this communion with Christ in His sacrifice enables us to share communion with one another. This communion is the foundation and condition for the unity of the Church.

CONCLUSION

 The Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist is a core doctrine of the Catholic Church.  The meaning of Eucharist is thanksgiving.  We offer it at every Mass in thanksgiving to the Father for sending us such a Savior, Divine and Human, in atonement for our sins. Eucharist first of all means thanksgiving to God for all His benefits and graces that He has accomplished through creation, redemption and sanctification.

It is highly fitting that Christ should have wanted to remain present to his Church in this unique way. Though ascending into heaven after His resurrection, Jesus wanted us to have the memorial of the love with which he loved us “to the end,” even to the giving of his life. In his Eucharistic presence he remains mysteriously in our midst as the one who loved us and gave himself up for us

The Church and the world have a great need for Eucharistic worship. Jesus awaits us in this sacrament of love. Let us not refuse the time to go to meet him in adoration, in contemplation full of faith, and open to making amends for the serious offenses and crimes of the world. Let our adoration never cease.

 Just as we need to nourish our physical bodies in order to have strength; to work; and to live well, so too we need to eat in the House of the Lord to have spiritual strength; the ability to learn and understand the ways of the Lord. Nourished by this heavenly food we carry on the work of Christ and His Church.

PRAYER ST. THOMAS AQUINAS BEFORE RECEIVING THE EUCHARIST

Almighty and Eternal God, behold I come to the sacrament of your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. As one sick I come to the Physician of life; unclean, to the Fountain of mercy; blind, to the Light of eternal splendor; poor and needy to the Lord of heaven and earth. Therefore, I beg of You, through Your infinite mercy and generosity, heal my weakness, wash my uncleanness, give light to my blindness, and enrich my poverty.

Grant, I beg of You, that I may receive not only the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of our Lord, but also its full grace and power. Most loving Father, grant that I may behold for all eternity, face to face, Your beloved Son, whom now, on my pilgrimage, I am about to receive under the sacramental veil, who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

IS THE DEVIL REAL OR A FIGMENT OF OUR IMAGINATION

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING

BACKGROUND

 You may wonder why I chose the picture above to illustrate Satan.  In our society, especially Halloween, the devil is often portrayed as a buffon dressed in red with black goatee, gaunt cheek bones, horns, and piercing red eyes.  The devil is far from a buffoon and is a spirit that hardly wears Marvel comic attire.

The devil is a fallen angel.  I chose to show Satan alone and isolated.  Separtion from God means all we have is ourselves. That is a “hell” of a notion for all eternity.  Think about it!

Recently, the Superior General of the Jesuits said in an interview with the Spanish newspaper, El Mundo,  “Satan is a symbolic figure who doesn’t really exist, but just a way of talking about evil”  Really! I guess Jesus was delusional when He was tempted by Satan in the desert??? Matthew 4:1-10

This kind of mythologizing of Satan has larger ramifications.  It encourages those pastors already playing down sin and the existence of hell in their homilies. No devil, no hell, no sin (No God)

Jesus constantly warned his listeners about the reality of hell in his preaching and parables, it is better to lose part of your body than for your whole body to be “thrown into hell” (Matt. 5:29). He urged his followers to be afraid of being destroyed “both body and soul in hell” (Matt. 10:28). On many occasions Jesus spoke of a place where there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 22:1-14).

This talk of the devil being just a symbol reminds me of another prevalent false teaching by clergy and believed by lay catholics.  Some say that the Eucharist is just a symbol and not the Real Presence of Jesus Christ.

Catholic author, Flannary O’ Connor had it right when confronted by someone that claimed the Eucharist is just a symbol.  O’ Connor said, “if that is all it is then the hell with it”  Today, according to Pew Research only a third of Catholics, 1 in 3, believe in the Real Presence of Jesus who said THIS IS MY BODY!

Beware of false Shepherds!  When Catholic nuns began leaving our Catholic grade schools after Vatican II for social work, all the foundations of  faith that I had the pivilege to receive in my youth, slowly disappeared for generations to come. These Catholic children who had been abandoned in their faith formation became Catholic parents who were ill equipped to raise their children in the faith.  Some teachers in our Catholic grade schools are not even Catholic, others are in irregular marriages or in some cases co-habitting.

We who still believe and witness the faith Jesus taught and His Church nourished must speak out against any watering down of our faith that attacks the uniqueness and attractiveness of the Faith proclaimed by Jesus Christ, Our Savior! Who is it anyway that think making the Catholic Church like everyone else will attaract people to Jesus! Crazy thinking, but a trend we the faithful have endured for decades..

We have been warned of false shepherds by Jesus! Jesus said to them in reply, “See that no one deceives you…. Many false prophets will arise and deceive many;and because of the increase of evildoing, the love of many will grow cold…. But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved… Behold, I have told it to you beforehand. Matthew 24:4-24

In the Old Testament we were warned of shepherds who might lead their flock astray.

The Lord said thus, Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel…thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the shepherds of Israel… You did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick nor bind up the injured. You did not bring back the stray or seek the lost So they were scattered for lack of a shepherd…  Ezekiel 34:1-24

 WHAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (MAGISTERIUM) REALLY TEACHES

Lateran Council IV of the Church (1215) stated, “The devil and the other demons were indeed created naturally good by God, but they became evil by their own doing.” These angels irrevocably chose through their free will to rebel against God and not to serve Him. For this rebellion, they were cast into hell.

 CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURC 391 teaches that Satan was at first a good angel made by God. In his original state he was very powerful, most beautiful, and wise. The devil and the other demons irrevocably rejected God and his reign thus becoming evil by their own doing.

 COMMENTARY

Many will question why God allows evil; why not just annihilate Satan.  True, we are too weak to defend ourselves; but God’s grace is sufficient.  God can bring great good from evil and He does.  “Where sin abounds, Grace abounds the more.” Romans 5:20

At the Easter Vigil Service, we pray, “O truly necessary sin of Adam, destroyed completely by the death of Christ! O happy fault that earned so great, so glorious a Redeemer!”

God knew Adam and Eve would fall to temptation.  He was ready with His plan B, cursed Satan and promised mankind, a Savior. Genesis 3:15 “I will put an enmity between her seed and your seed and her seed will crush your head.” God’s own Son, Jesus Christ will defeat the devil and death!

 Satan is the Prince of Darkness: He lurks about and is crafty. He fills us with the pessimistic thoughts, the bad thoughts, hateful thoughts. He shows us all the hurts, frustration and troubles of this world and of our own lives hoping to lead us to despair.

BOOK OF JOB OLD TESTAMENT

The Book of Job is an interesting tale of a righteous man, a devious tempter, and perseverance in faith. One day God and Satan met as the story goes, and God asked Satan if he had noticed His servant Job in his roaming about the earth. Job had wife, many children, much livestock, and fertile ground to plant.  He certainly was blessed but much more Job was righteous with his God.

God told Satan, “there is no one on earth like him, blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil.” Satan answered the LORD and said, “Is it for nothing that Job is God-fearing? Have you not surrounded him and his family and all that he has with your protection? You have blessed the work of his hands, But now put forth your hand and touch all that he has, and surely he will curse you to your face. The LORD said to the Satan, “Very well, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on him.”

So Satan does his dirty deeds, wiping out Job’s livestock, wife and children, inflicting Job’s skin with boils, all the time encouraging Job to reject God. But Job persists in his faithfulness.  Even Job’s friends came to mock him and make fun of him but being such a fool for God.

Satan can only afflict Job with God’s permission–and only within the limits God Himself has established. When the story ends, Job’s faith has been deepened, and he is worshipping God. Job’s final condition and blessings are far better than his first. Job has been blessed, and Satan’s purpose has been frustrated.

CONCLUSION

 Satan has considerable power, but his power is not infinite. He is a creature not God.  God permits Satan to do only that which is a part of His plan. Satan’s power comes from God’s divine providence which allows him to do what he does.

Satan is allowed to do only that which God has planned for His glory and our good. He does nothing apart from divine permission. He does nothing contrary to God’s plan. God’s purposes are fulfilled, and Satan’s purposes are frustrated.

The ultimate destiny of Satan is defeat and doom. Jesus spoke of his defeat in John 16:11, “The ruler of this world is condemned.” He is defeated through the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We ask the candidates in our Baptismal liturgy, “Do you reject Satan? And all his works? And all his empty promises?” We must make that rejection every day. Satan knows how weak and vulnerable we are.

 Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits,

who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.

Amen. .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DID JESUS SAY HE WAS GOD???

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING

To the question of the High Priest:

“Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”

He replies: “I am” you will see the Son of Man

 sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One

and coming on the clouds of heaven Mark 14:61

BACKGROUND

There has always been disputes between religious sects about the divinity of Jesus.  Some, even in our own Catholic Church, resulting in schisms, like Arianism that denied the divinity of Jesus. This schism was addressed at Council of Nicea (325) which proclaimed: Jesus is the Son of God and possesses the same nature as the Father.

While skeptics, even today, argue that Jesus never claimed to be God, they must not be reading St. John’s Gospel.  John’s Gospel was written much later after Jesus’ Passion and death.

John, the beloved disciple, had a lot more time to ponder his experiences with Jesus and His teachings.  John’s Gospel even begins, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Jesus is Logos, the fully revealed Word of God.

 In the Old Testament God gives His name to Moses.  “God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.” Exodus 3:14

GOD (I AM) IS NOT ANOTHER BEING, BUT EXISTENCE ITSELF. HE IS! EXISTENCE IS HIS ESSENCE. THE NAME OF GOD IS FATHER SON AND HOLY SPIRIT; ONE GOD THREE PERSONS. GOD IS LOVE IN RELATIONSHIP IN THE HOLY TRINITY AND WITH HIS PEOPLE!

When Jesus used the phrase “I AM,” He made specific revelations regarding His identity and nature. These revelations made it clear to all that He was the Messiah—God in human form. Jesus is much more than just another leader, rabbi, or prophet. Jesus is God!

JESUS ACKNOWLEDGES HE IS GOD IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”  Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, `Show us the Father’?  Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me…John 14:7-10

 The Jews said to him, you are not yet fifty years old and have seen Abraham? Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” JOHN 8:58 

 ‘I am the Son of God’? If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father JOHN 10:36  

 The Samaritan woman at the well said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming the one called the Anointed; when he comes, he will tell us everything.” Jesus said to her, “I am he,* the one who is speaking with you.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.” JOHN 4:26  

 At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. “If you are the Christ, tell us.  Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me…But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.  They all asked, Are you then the Son of God? He replied, “You are right in saying I am.” Luke 22:66-70 

 JESUS DEMONSTRATES WHAT IT MEANS TO BE GOD!

 Jesus, as the Bread of Life, offers each of us life everlasting

And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” John 6:35.

 Jesus offers a choice between the darkness of sin and the light of His presence.

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” –John 8:12

 Jesus, as the Good Shepherd, died to save each of us.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” –John 10:11

 Jesus promises resurrection and life ever after

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” –John 11:25, 26

Jesus is the path to salvation, cling to Him

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6

 CONCLUSION

I don’t know how much clearer Scriptures can speak to us.  Jesus is the Son of God, Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity, Human and Divine.  Jesus is the light of the world, the bread of life, the Good Shepherd, the resurrection and life of the world.

Jesus is the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE! AMEN!

 

 

 

CONSEQUENCES OF SIN

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING, CATHOLIC COMMENTARY

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (CCC)

What is sin?  The Catechism of the Catholic Church gives us a concise definition. “Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity.  (CCC #1849).

 COMMENTARY

 In today’s culture, hardly anything is called a sin except maybe during a Church Service.  God has been set aside and replaced by one’s own authority to decide right and wrong. (Moral Relativism)  Sin is just not something people like to talk about because they too may be guilty and in need of repentance and change of behavior.  But sin actually exists today as well as in days of old.

In the Old Testament God gave us the guidelines for our wellbeing on Mount Sinai when He gave Moses the Ten Commandments and the promises that all will be well if Moses and the Israelites followed these guidelines.  Of course they didn’t, any more than Adam and Eve obeyed God in the Garden of Eden.

ORGINAL SIN.

In the beginning, God created Adam and Eve in His image and likeness, He endowed them with intelligence, love, free will, and conscience.  He gave them the grace of “original holiness.”  God also gave them preternatural gifts. Man and the world began in grace, not sin. The inner harmony between man and woman, and all of creation comprised the state of “original justice.”

 The preternatural gifts received by Adam and Eve include infused knowledge, absence of concupiscence, and immortality of the body. Adam and Eve received these free gifts not just for themselves but to be passed on to the whole and entire human race.  After Adam and Eve committed “original sin,” they lost “original justice” and the preternatural gifts for the entire human race.  Now they could only pass on a fallen human nature.  Their descendants are now subject to ignorance, concupiscence (disordered desires), suffering and death.

 God “tested” our first parents by forbidding them to eat of the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”  The tree is a symbol of the limits that humans have as creatures. Our freedom to choose means we are free to choose good. We are not free to choose evil.  To step outside God’s moral laws is to assume a freedom never granted to man.  To choose evil has bad consequences for mankind.

We did not commit “original sin.”  But we are born with its effects, a wounded human nature in body and soul and estrangement from God’s divine life.   Man’s passions are no longer ruled by right reason. The union of man and woman became subject to tensions, lust, and domination.  The rest of creation became hostile and alien to man.  Death entered into human history.  Because of man’s act of disobedience, all of creation is now subject to death and decay.

CONSEQUENCES OF SIN TODAY

We are told by Jesus not to judge lest we be judged in like fashion and rightfully so. Matthew 7:1  Only God can judge a human heart.  This does not mean we can’t judge objectively sinful behavior and its consequences.

As examples, I will use the seven deadly sins as described in Scriptures and Catholic Church teaching.  Why, deadly, because in grave matters they can lead to the death of the soul and eternal damnation.  These are sometimes described as cardinal or capital sins because all sin flows from these vices.

 Lust, (disordered desire) is just one of the seven deadly sins mentioned in Scripture.  The others are: Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, and Pride. Because of the sin of Lust, we have broken marriages, dysfunctional families, increase in venereal diseases, domestic violence, pornography, child abuse, and sex trafficking.

Gluttony really includes any overindulgence of food, drink, addictions.  Consequences may be drunkenness, drunk driving, abuse of drugs, overdoses, suicide. Health problems that are related to food products.

Greed results in stealing from others, fraud, cheating, lying about financial affairs, taking from someone else which is rightly theirs, opposing what is in the interest of the common good but may cut into your profits ie..solar energy which is safer and cheaper for households but threatens profits of fossil fuel industry.

Most people barely examine themselves on the deadly sin of Sloth.  They just think it means being lazy but also sins of omission should be considered.. Consequences of the deadly sin of sloth may not be witnessing to your faith when it is attacked; not voting to make a difference in the world; ignoring those in need the least of our brethren; and not helping others when you could and should.

Consequences of WRATH are wars, broken relationships, hate, physical harm to others, discrimination, using God’s name in vain, abuse of spouse and/or children,

Those who nurture ENVY may covet their neighbor’s wife or property to the point of taking what is not rightfully theirs.  Envy also results in dissatisfaction  with one’s own blessings and gifts from God, takes away our inner Peace and undercuts our call to choose God’s will over our own.

Pride, I save for last because all sin can be traced back to the sin of Pride.  Our first parents passed on our fallen nature because they listened to the lies of the devil that they would be just like God if they ate of the tree of good and evil. While in fact all they discovered was evil and slavery to sin.  We, today, become slaves of sin every time we choose our will over God’s will.

 CONCLUSION

 Jesus instituted the Sacrament of Confession (Penance, Reconciliation).  The Church has always understood the Scriptural reference for theSacrament of Confession to be John 20: 22-23: “Receive the Holy Spirit.  For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.”

 We experience God’s mercy through this Sacrament of Reconciliation.  It is there that we acknowledge who we are: limited, weak and sinful creatures in need of redemption.  It is in this Sacrament that God forgives us of any and all of our sins.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him” (John 3: 16-17).

God knows we are sentient creatures and need visible signs of absolution.  The Sacrament of Confession is an The priest raises his hand, and then with a blessing pronounces those amazing words, “I absolve you from your sins.”  At that moment, we know that God has heard our cry for forgiveness, and we have been pardoned of our sins.

REPENT AND BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL!

ACT OF CONTRITION
Oh my God I am sorry for all my sins because they offend you who are all good.  Be merciful to me a sinner. I am deeply sorry for my sins, for having broken or weakened my communion with you and my neighbor. I pray that your loving mercy will heal what I have hurt, strengthen what I have weakened. Help me to amend my life and sin no more and in your mercy bring me to everlasting life. Amen
.

 

 

FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

1 Comment / CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING

 

COME HOLY SPIRIT!

“Now the works of the flesh (our fallen nature) are: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control….Now those who belong to Christ [Jesus] have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit”… Galatians 5:19-25,

 COMMENTARY

 On the way to His Ascension, Christ promised to send the Holy Spirit on His followers. “John baptized with water, but you, not many days from now, will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Christ assured them, “You will receive power, when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and then you will be my witnesses, not only in Jerusalem, but throughout Judea and Samaria and indeed to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:4-5, 8

 When I went to Confession this month and did the examination of conscience to take inventory on what I needed to work on, I remembered another inventory I might make to check how closely I am following Jesus. I examined how I was manifesting the fruits of the Spirit in my life.

I will keep the results of my examination to myself but will say the inventory was quite revealing.  When we are working in harmony with God’s will, he will pour out his Holy Spirit, giving us these qualities in abundance.

 FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

 1) Charity.  Love and prefer God over everyone and everything.

2) Joy.  Happiness is realized when we live for God, we are with Him now and will be forever in heaven.

3) Peace.  The Holy Spirit gives us order in our souls and a clean conscience.

4) Patience.  Trust in God that all will be well

5) Kindness.  This is the virtue of kindness to others.

6) Goodness.  We renounce evil, seek what is good, and repent of our sins

7) Gentleness, helps us overcome our natural tendency to be harsh or angry

8) Faithfulness, the ability to stay faithful, persevere to the end

9) Self-Control, ability to resist temptations of the flesh

“Make no mistake: God is not mocked, for a person will reap only what he sows, because the one who sows for his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows for the spirit will reap eternal life from the spirit.” Galatians 6:7-8

 CONCLUSION

 You have probably heard the old saying, “The apple does not fall far from the tree,” sometimes a compliment and sometimes not so much.

“By their fruits you will know them…Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them.” Matthew 7:16-20

”When Jesus was going back to the city in the morning, he was hungry.  Seeing a fig tree by the road, Jesus went over to it, but found nothing on it except leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again.” And immediately the fig tree withered.” Matthew 21:18-22

 Let us pursue the path of blessings not curses.  Work at it.  Pray about it.  Let our pray for each other that we live in the Spirit and model it for others.  Our human nature, while created good by God, is weakened by Original Sin. St. Paul may have put it best in Romans,

“What I do, I do not understand… I do not do what I want, but I do what I hate….So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want…it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me….I see  my members at war with the law of my mind, taking me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.  Miserable one that I am! Who will deliver me from this mortal body?” Romans 7:18-22

 

JESUS THE BRIDEGROOM AWAITS HIS BRIDE

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING, SCRIPTURE

INTRODUCTION

My granddaughter is getting married later in the week so marriage reflections have been on my mind a lot lately. Marriage was one of the first gifts to mankind when God presented Adam with his wife, Eve.  God is the first witness of a sacramental marriage.  It is also the first of six covenants God has made with His people.

God made six covenants with his people, Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus.  When covenants were kept by the people, blessings flowed.  When the people did not keep the covenant disaster followed.

 “Have you not read that in the beginning God ‘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. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Matthew 19:3-12

Jesus went on to teach His disciples, “Not all can accept this, but only those to whom that it is granted.” Not everyone is called to a sacramental marriage but if this is your calling to enter into a covenantal marriage then you must be prepared to keep the promises of the covenant and you will receive the blessings.

In a contract, you exchange something you have – a skill, a piece of property, money. The difference between a contract and a covenant is like hiring a prostitute, contract, and entering into sacramental marriage, covenant.  In a covenant, you give your very self to another person.  When people enter into a covenant, they say: “I am yours and you are mine.”

The grace of this Sacramental Marriage perfects the love of husband and wife, binds them together in fidelity, and helps them welcome and care for children. Christ is the source of this grace and he dwells with the spouses to strengthen their covenant promises, to bear each other’s burdens with forgiveness and kindness

I began looking into nuptial references in all of Scripture. Scripture, both Old and New, are filled with references how God has compared Himself to a bridegroom and the people of Israel as bride. God our Creator desires an intimate relationship with all of us!

Jesus performed his first miracle at Cana in role of bridegroom.  The bridegroom was responsible for providing sufficient wine to his guests. “When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom…John 2:9

When Jesus was asked by religious leaders why his disciples didn’t fast, he replied, “You cannot make the attendants of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you “But the days will come; and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.” Luke 5:33-35

I will now include one example from the Old Testament of God demonstrating His nuptial relationship with His people.  God desires intimacy with us.  He certainly a transcendent God, way separate from us in most respects but He is also an immanent God with us, Emmanuel.  He calls all of us to the Wedding Feast, better prepare your wedding garments!

 HOSEA THE PROPHET

 When the LORD began to speak with Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea: Go, get for yourself a woman of prostitution and children of prostitution, for the land prostitutes itself, a turning away from the LORD. So he went and took Gomer, daughter of Diblaim; and she conceived and bore him a son.” HOSEA 1:2-3

The Lord gives Hosea one of the most shocking commands in the Bible: Marry a prostitute! (1:2) Hosea obeys and marries Gomer and they have three children.  Then she apparently returns to her immoral lifestyle, but Hosea seeks her out, redeems her and takes her back (3:2).  Their relationship is meant to be a metaphor for the Lord’s relationship with his people. 

Hosea’s love seems to have transformed Gomer at least for a little while. But soon after the birth of Jezreel she goes back to her old ways. She ends up totally in the gutter, to be sold as a slave. What the Lord tells Hosea then is very revealing: “Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress” (3:1).

Despite everything that she had done, Hosea still loves Gomer! Hosea brings her back once more and gives conditions.  She must stay many days with him and no more prostitution but work on restoration of a loving marriage.  Gomer’s unfaithful character mirrors Israel’s infidelity to the Lord. 

 The people of Israel are in a covenant relationship with the Lord, but they have all but forgotten their commitment to him.  Israel has committed spiritual adultery against the Lord by worshipping other gods.

The people of Israel worshipped the Canaanite deity, Baal, and participated in the sexually immoral rituals which were part of Canaanite religion.

Hosea rejects this idolatry and calls the people to repent (Hos 8:5-6, 10:5).  Hosea calls the people to return to the Lord and find restoration (Ch. 6, 14).  In his infinite mercy, the Lord promises a future time of healing, salvation and reconciliation for his people.  Though his people had been unfaithful and adulterous, he willingly extends his forgiveness and grace to them.

Hosea powerfully presents the image of the nation as the bride of the Lord.  Other biblical books, such as Song of Songs, Isaiah, Revelation and the Gospels, use this theme to explain the depth of God’s love for his people and the gravity of breaking our relationship with him through sin.

Hosea shows the mercy of God who welcomes back his bride after her time of unfaithfulness (3:5).  The Lord’s willingness to forgive his bride for her betrayal shows his willingness to forgive us for our sins.  Not only does the bridal imagery show the intensity of God’s desire for his people, it illustrates the extravagance of his mercy.

CONCLUSION

A voice coming from the throne said: “Praise our God, all you his servants, and you who revere him, small and great. …The Lord has established his reign, Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory. For the wedding day of the Lamb* has come, his bride has made herself ready….Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed* are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These words are true; they come from God.  REVELATIONS 19:5-9

JESUS THE BRIDEGROOM WELCOMES HIS BRIDE THE CHURCH