Catholic Church Teaching - Still Roman Catholic After All These Years

IS THE DEVIL REAL OR A FIGMENT OF OUR IMAGINATION

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

PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE, NOT SO FAST!

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING, CATHOLIC COMMENTARY

JESUS THE DIVINE PHYSICIAN

INTRODUCTION

Euthanasia, the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma. Is definition found in dictionary but as found at work in today’s culture it has become the deliberate killing of another person that one deems not worthy to live anymore.

Euthanasia is back in the headlines big time. Many euphemisms are used for euthanasia such as mercy killing but the new favorite is “death with dignity.” They have now added the slogan, my life, my choice. Sounds very familiar to the cry of pro-abortion lobby.

I find this very troubling since I had absolutely nothing to do with my existence, a pure gift from God the Creator. Life was not my choice from the very beginning. I was made to know, love and serve God in this world and be happy with Him in the next. Do I throw that gift back in His face and say no thanks, I am finished, Count me out.

I am not sure how you feel but I have always thought of death with dignity is dying as I have lived, trusting in Jesus loving God and my neighbor and placing myself in the arms of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph at the time of my passing.

JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH PRAY FOR ME AT THE HOUR OF MY DEATH!

HEADLINES

The Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act was signed into law by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. As of Aug. 1, 2019, terminally ill patients with a prognosis of six months or fewer will now be able to self-administer lethal concoctions of drugs in order to take their own lives.

The bill allows adults with a prognosis of six months or less to live to get a prescription for life-ending medication. The prescription is a series of self-administered pills that can be taken at home.” Allowing terminally ill and dying residents the dignity to make end-of-life decisions according to their own consciences is the right thing to do,” said Murphy.

Currently, California, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Hawaii, Montana and the District of Columbia allow physician-assisted suicide. In Canada, a hospital for sick children has unveiled a plan for how to terminate the lives of terminally ill kids, with or without parental consent. As the demand for end-of-life care continues to increase, physician-assisted suicide emerges as a cheap alternative to appropriate palliative or hospice care.

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

2277 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.

2283 To assist another’s suicide is to take part in “an injustice which can never be excused, even if it is requested…

“A government that legalizes assisted suicide sends the terrible message that there is such a thing as disposable people.”

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)

COMMENTARY

In my activist days when I founded an organization to oppose Capital Punishment, I properly called it, STATE SANCTIONED MURDER. Now we have on the books of some states STATE SANCTIONED SUICIDE!

Already, before birth, if you don’t want the child you can get rid of it by an abortion procedure. Now it is established legally that some human life is disposable at the end of life. People too frail, too mentally disabled to work and contribute to society are at risk. They are now a drain on insurance companies, family incomes, and an inconvenience, depending on who is setting the definition of which human life matters.

Just because a terminally ill patient chooses to end his own life does not excuse society from moral obligations to intercede. God gave us life until He calls us home. An alternative to physician assisted suicide is palliative care, already well researched and well practiced .

PALLIATIVE CARE

The World Health Organization acknowledges that dying is a normal process and defines palliative care as “an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness. It includes treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual.”

The intention of palliative care is neither to hasten nor delay death. Effective palliative care allows patients to devote their attention to the unfinished business of their lives, to arrive at a sense of peace with God, with loved ones, and with themselves. Learning how to face this last stage of our earthly lives is one of the most important and meaningful things each of us will do.

CONCLUSION

Suffering need not be meaningless but can bring us closer to the mystery of Christ’s sacrifice for the salvation of the world. Suffering is part of human existence from birth until death, and every human person suffers in a variety of ways: physically, psychologically, socially, and spiritually. The suffering of Christ leads to his glory; so, too, does the suffering of Christians

Some call this “Redemptive suffering.” Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption once and for all by suffering torture and crucifixion for our sins, Jesus our Redeemer suffered in place of man and for man. Every man has his own share in the Redemption. Each man is also called to share in that suffering through which the Redemption was accomplished.

Redemptive suffering takes on our sins, the sins of others, acting as a kind of sponge absorbing the evil all around them. This form of suffering is so powerful–because love is so powerful–that its arms can span the entire world and has the potential to affect countless souls. “Suffering is medicine for Salvation.” St. Augustine

Our hope and prayer is that when we grow old or sick that we be surrounded by people who care and respect each and every human life. Catholics should be leaders in the effort to defend and uphold the principle that each of us has a right to live with dignity through every day of our lives, even our last ones.

Jesus, do not leave me alone in suffering. You know, Lord, how weak I am….I am nothingness itself… Do with me as you please, Lord, only give me the grace to be able to love You In every event and circumstance.

ADDENDUM

CATHOLIC DIRECTIVE Instructions for My Health Care

My Catholic faith teaches that all human life is a precious gift from God from the first moment of conception to the moment of natural death, and that euthanasia and assisted suicide are not morally permissible.

Therefore, I oppose any action or inaction that is intended to cause my death. I always wish to receive basic care, which will allow me to be most comfortable including food, water, and pain control. I have discussed my desires regarding pain control with my agent.

I wish to receive medical care and treatment appropriate to my condition as long as it is useful and offers a reasonable hope of benefit and is not excessively burdensome to me, i.e., does not impose serious risk, or some other extreme burden.

If I am unable to eat and drink on my own, nutrition and hydration administered by medical means should be provided to me unless death is inevitable and imminent so that the effort to sustain my life is futile, or unless I am unable to assimilate food or fluids.

I request and direct that medical treatment and care be provided to me to preserve my life without discrimination based on my age, physical or mental disability, or the “quality” of my life.

If my death from a terminal illness is imminent, I wish to refuse treatment that would only secure a precarious and burdensome prolongation of my life. I wish to be attended by a Catholic priest, receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick and Viaticum.

Signature______________________________Date_________Initials: Witness1_____ Witness 2

WHAT DOES JESUS TEACH ABOUT THE SIN OF SCANDAL

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING, SCRIPTURE

Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,

it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck

and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

Woe to the world because of things that cause sin!

Such things must come, but woe to the one through whom they come!

MATTHEW 18:6-7

INTRODUCTION

Scandal may be the deliberate leading another into sin like recruiting someone to pick pockets. But the sin of scandal is more prevalent, nuanced, and pervasive than that. A priest who abuses a child brings condemnation on a Church and even Christianity. Catholic politicians who brags publicly they are Catholic and supports abortion undermines Church teaching and leads other poorly informed and weak souls astray.

We can give scandal or be recipient of scandal that influences what we believe and what we promote. For example people read a poll that a majority of “Catholics” support abortion. The pressure is on in this world to go along to get along.

Many “feel” there is no outside moral authority. It is what I believe/judge to be right for me. This is called moral relativism. i.e. .What is right for me may not be right for you but so what; When I fill out a form and they ask for gender I mark other. It is up to me to decide what gender I want to be; I can have sex with anybody anytime and it is not anyone’s business.

Contrary to moral relativists, there is moral authority outside ourselves. God our Creator is the giver of the moral law. God made us to show forth His goodness and to share with us His everlasting happiness in heaven. Sin is our separation from God— a cause for unhappiness, dysfunction and ultimately, jeopardizing eternal life and happiness with God.

Sin always has consequences. No one sins without consequences for ourselves and others. i.e watching pornography coarsens and objectifies our opinion of women and if married our marital spousal relationship; a married spouse has an affair with another, breaks marriage vows, disrespects spouse, gives scandal to children, and could result in divorce and break up of family.

To live in a pagan culture is nothing new. Christians have had to persevere from the beginning under the imposition of false idols and immoral man made laws. But today, especially in time of social media, 24/7 news and talk shows, scandal dispersed by “Catholics” is intimidating and discouraging to faithful Catholics.

Discouragement is the tool of the Devil. God only encourages, never discourages. If you are discouraged by the society and culture that surrounds you, let a big red flag unfurl in front of you. Devil alert! Devil alert! Jesus I trust in you! Let me surrender to you not the culture of the times!

News and talk shows do not or should not form our moral compass. For example I am citing some recent news stories I have been following that attack religious liberty, promotes euthanasia, and denial of the gender you were born with and formed in the womb by God.

GENDER IDENTITY PARENTS BEWARE

Last month, the Supreme Court of British Columbia issued an order that a father may not refer to his 14-year-old daughter as a girl because she identifies herself as a boy. or by her original name, whether in public or in private. Doing so has been ruled to constitute “family violence because it would cause her “psychological abuse in the form of harassment or coercion”

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING GENDER IDENTITY

When the freedom to be creative becomes the freedom to create oneself, then necessarily the Maker (God) himself is denied. We believe and affirm that all human beings are created by God and thereby have an inherent dignity. What God has created is good. “God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Gen 1:27).

SEAL OF CONFESSION UNDER ATTACK

The proposal, California Senate Bill 360, would seek to require priests to violate the sacramental seal of confession in suspected cases of child abuse or neglect. The bill would force a priest who hears in the confessional about sins regarding sexual abuse to choose to “face possible imprisonment or to betray that confidentiality and violate his deepest conscience and the laws of God and the Roman Catholic Church.”

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING

The Church teaches that the “seal of confession” is inviolable and cannot be changed by human authority, because its origin is in divine revelation. A priest who intentionally violates the seal commits a mortal sin and incurs an automatic excommunication. A priest, therefore, cannot break the seal to save his own life, to protect his good name, to refute a false accusation, to save the life of another, to aid the course of justice (like reporting a crime), or to avert a public calamity.

PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE

In Canada, a hospital for sick children has unveiled a plan for how to terminate the lives of terminally ill kids, with or without parental consent.

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING

CCC 2277 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.

CCC 2281 Suicide contradicts the natural inclination of the human being to preserve and perpetuate his life. It is gravely contrary to the just love of self. It likewise offends love of neighbor because it unjustly breaks the ties of solidarity with family, nation, and other human societies to which we continue to have obligations. Suicide is contrary to love for the living God.

SCANDAL

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

CCC 2284 Scandal is an attitude or behavior which leads another to do evil. The person who gives scandal becomes his neighbor’s tempter. He damages virtue and integrity; he may even draw his brother into spiritual death. Scandal is a grave offense if by deed or omission another is deliberately led into a grave offense.

CCC 2285 Scandal takes on a particular gravity by reason of the authority of those who cause it or the weakness of those who are scandalized. It prompted our Lord to utter this curse: “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. ”

POSTSCRIPT

We must fight back daily the influence of scandal and of course not be guilty of scandal ourselves. Pray always that we will persevere and overcome temptation. All prayers are heard and answered by God. Read and pray Scripture. God speaks to us though their written words. Take advantage of the Sacramental life of the Church.

SHELTER THE HOMELESS WHATEVER YOU DO TO THE LEAST OF THESE YOU DO TO ME

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING, SOCIAL JUSTICE

JESUS MARY AND JOSEPH FLIGHT INTO EYGPT

COMMENTARY ON THE HOMELESS IN OUR CITIES AND TOWNS

During recent Mid-West Polar freeze, I particularly thought of this corporal work of mercy* and the many many deaths that were a result. Many unnecessary, because of the homeless, the ignored, the despised, the least of our brethren. “Whatever you do to the least of my brethren you do to me,” Jesus said in Last Judgment discourse.

My daughter who works in the city in health care often passes the homeless beggar but never without asking if she can help them get to shelter, gives them some money, or provide them with a warm meal. She advocates for them at hospitals and emergency shelters and has a friend who is an uber driver who will look into the homeless on the doorstep to see if there is anything the homeless need and offer a ride to nearest shelter. She added “I remember hearing to always greet our homeless brothers and sisters with the biggest warmest smile you have… they may have a heavy heart and they don’t need your sad face!”

She shared some pictures of the local homeless. I asked her what the homeless needed in the way of supplies and she replied, “new socks, gently used blankets, comforters, coats, hats, gloves will always be in high repeat demand— once these items become wet and soiled— our homeless have no way to dry them.. clean, dry supplies always needed.” She added, there is a severe shortage of shelters, some only open emergency beds in extreme temperatures but only during the day when temperatures may not have dropped below their arbitrary 20 degrees. I will include a few more quotes my daughter shared with me.

“The homeless sleep atop the steam grate for some warmth. They either did not get into an emergency shelter, or had no way to get to one. Many homeless depend on private citizens who volunteer and provide street outreach ministries and pick up homeless men and women and take them to shelters. Shelters, themselves, do not provide transportation.”

“Many of the homeless choose not to go to shelters for fear of their safety and the loss of their few belongings. They are not allowed to bring any belongings into the shelters, risking that their only early possessions will be stolen if left on the streets, shelters are only open for the hours of sleep— they must leave in the AM and they risk losing their spot on the vent/ steam grate in the AM for the day ahead of them.”

For many of us, the line between our homes and being homeless is a thin one that can disappear with the death of a spouse, the loss of a job or an illness. This corporal work of mercy forces us to open our eyes to the misery of those who, for a variety of reasons, have no place they can call home.

Faith without works is dead! “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, if it does not have works is dead.” JAMES 2:14-16

What are some works we can do? What support, supplies or donations can we offer them? For the many children in homeless shelters, do I have toys I can donate? …a book or game could be a great gift. Could I call a shelter and offer to cook, read to children or share a hobby or skill with the guests? What are the gifts each of us have that we can share?

Other ideas…volunteering in a soup kitchen; Contributing to a shelter for unwed mothers: welcoming the immigrant in your neighborhood; speaking kindly to that homeless man or woman who you pass and offering a sandwich or buying them a meal. “Whatever you do to the least of these brethren , you do to me!”

As St. Francis prayed in his Peace Prayer, “It is in giving that we receive.” In giving we will always get back more than we give. God’s promise. We will learn more about the blessings we have through no fault of own but pure gifts from God. A powerful life changing experience can be had in loving and serving your neighbor.

LUKE 16:19-31

Homelessness is invasive and may be found at our doorstep. Let us not ignore it and walk over like the rich man, Dives, in the parable who ignored Lazarus the begger. We often show more empathy for stray dogs or cats than human beings. Pro-Life is more than anti-abortion! Let’s give the same fervor to those already born!

COMMENTARY ON IMMIGRATION

While I am at it I thought I would say a few things about immigration. The 4^th Corporal Work of Mercy is “Shelter the Homeless,” but some older listings, have it, “Harbor the Harbor-less.”

Down through history, there have always been a certain number of people who were homeless; for those who were sailing to escape poverty and oppression often did not have a port of entry; they were “harbor-less.” Yes, some are without shelter, but others are without a homeland.

*CCC 2447 The works of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities. Instructing, advising, consoling, comforting are spiritual works of mercy, as are forgiving and bearing wrongs patiently. The corporal works of mercy consist especially in feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned, and burying the dead. Among all these, giving alms to the poor is one of the chief witnesses to fraternal charity: it is also a work of justice pleasing to God:

Immigration is a hot button issue in our country today. Where are you on welcoming the refugee? Have you truly looked deeply into the facts or just moved by emotional rhetoric and bumper sticker of “America First”

Today, here in America, there are some people who seem to be against all immigration. But the truth is almost all of us are the descendants of immigrants! We, as people of faith, need to treat the immigrants with respect and according to their human dignity, as we would want to be treated ourselves. There are millions of children and families who are on the move, fleeing from war, illness, hunger and impossible living conditions, searching for peace and safety.

Our Savior, Jesus Christ, was born homeless (Mt.8:20)! He who created the world became a homeless person depending on the kindness of strangers. Jesus, Mary and Joseph were themselves refugees fleeing into Egypt to avoid the infanticide of Herod.

“The Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (Mt 8:20). Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God, was born in a borrowed manger; had no fixed address once he began his public ministry; and was buried in another man’s tomb. It is quite an irony: He, who made the universe, became a homeless person.

The Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy for undocumented immigrants calls for the separation of parents and children while their cases for political asylum are adjudicated, a process that can take months – or years.

BORDER DETENTION CENTER

US CATHOLIC BISHOPS CONFERENCE

“Our government has the discretion in our laws to ensure that young children are not separated from their parents and exposed to irreparable harm and trauma….While protecting our borders is important, we can and must do better as a government, and as a society, to find other ways to ensure that safety. Separating babies from their mothers is not the answer and is immoral.”

This corporal work of mercy forces us to open our eyes to the misery of those who, for a variety of reasons, have no place they can call home. As with the other works of mercy, sheltering the homeless requires discernment and the stewardship of our resources.

Yet when in doubt, it is better to err on the side of charity. The patron of parish priests, St. John Vianney, was told that a beggar to whom he gave frequent assistance was in fact not poor at all; the Saint answered, “You never lose when you give to God.”

This work of mercy also invites to ask ourselves how hospitable we are in our own home. Do we make of our home a place where guests feel welcome and cherished?

Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews urges us, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (Heb 13:2). Jesus comes to us in disguises. Remember his last judgment discourse in Matthew 23, “Whatever you do to one of these least of my brethren, you do to me.”

I will close with a poem attributed to Mother Teresa that hangs in my daughter’s living room.

DO IT ANYWAY

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.

Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.

Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.

Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.

Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.

It was never between you and them anyway.

APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION EVANGELII GAUDIUM

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING

INTRODUCTION

The blog I posted with the most views ever was the blog I posted last April, Gaudete et Exhultate, the Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis so I thought I would go back and repost some of my reflections on his Apostolic Exhortation, Joy of the Gospel from 2017. Enjoy! TCB

APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION EVANGELII GAUDIUM JOY OF THE GOSPEL

NOTE: The number before paragraphs in Joy of Gospel references indicate the paragraph number in actual document.

POPE FRANCIS INVITES US INTO THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL

“The Joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. I invite all Christians everywhere at this very moment to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ. No one should think that this invitation is not meant for him or her since no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord.”

“And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold,

I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David

a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10

REFLECTION

Pope Francis makes clear that God always takes the initiative in seeking his lost sheep by any means necessary. No one is excluded or left behind. God knows our need for Him and His nourishment. So we too as disciples and missionaries must not dismiss anyone or judge anyone unworthy of our engagement.

JOY OF THE GOSPEL

180 Jesus’ mission is to inaugurate the kingdom of his Father; he commands his disciples to proclaim the good news that “the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew. 10:7

24 “The life of the Church should always reveal clearly that God takes the initiative, that he has loved us first. “We love because he first loved us.“ 1 John 4:19. The Joy of the Gospel is for all people no one can be excluded. People are starving and Jesus does not tire of saying to us, “Give them something to eat“. Mark 6:37″

92 “We must not avoid others or exclude anyone from our mission. We are all in same boat and headed to same port. Let us ask for the grace to rejoice in gifts of each, which belong to all.”

113 “No one is saved by himself or herself, individually or by his or her own efforts. Jesus did not tell the apostles to form an exclusive and elite group. He told them to go and make disciples of all nations.” Mt.28:19

REFLECTION

Pope Francis warns us there are many enemies and obstacles to living the Gospel and spreading the Good News to others. To be on our guard and prepare for the spiritual warfare we encounter daily with the world, the flesh, and the devil. We live in parallel universe this temporal world and a spirit filled eternity.

JOY OF THE GOSPEL

64 “We are living in an information driven society which bombards us indiscriminately with data all treated as being of equal importance and which leads to remarkable superficiality in the area of moral discernment.”

263 “Every period of history is marked by the presence of human weakness, self-absorption, complacency and selfishness, to say nothing of the concupiscence which preys upon us all.”

79 “Pastoral workers often fall prey to the times. Some fall into pastoral acedia or spiritual torpor (lethargy) by taking on unreasonable projects instead of what they reasonably can accomplish. Others just because they just can’t wait, patience is not a virtue in this society of instant gratification.”

REFLECTION

Pope Francis makes suggestions on how preachers and evangelists should prepare for their missions. You cannot give what you yourself don’t possess. Read the bible, pray over the Bible, ask yourselves what God is saying to me today and how do I respond today!

JOY OF THE GOSPEL

145 “Preparation for preaching needs a prolonged time for preparation, a time for study, prayer, and reflection. Whoever wants to preach must first let the Word of God move him deeply and become incarnate in his daily life. One will then be communicating to others what one has contemplated and prayed about.

150 To evangelize is to make the kingdom of God present in our world. “Seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew. 6:33 Preparation requires the Love of God and like every true disciple say, “Speak Lord for your servant is listening.” I Sam. 3:9

164 First and foremost on lips of catechists is the proclamation, “Jesus Christ loves you, he gave his life to save you and now he is living at your side every day to enlighten, strengthen and free you.”

REFLECTION

Pope Francis reiterates Jesus’ love for the poor and most vulnerable and how in imitation of Jesus as disciples we are to make the vulnerable our priority in our ministry. Jesus loved the poor and performed many miracles of physical and spiritual healing. No one was too far gone in Jesus’ eyes to walk away. He engaged everyone, bolstered their faith and encouraged them to repent and sin no more.

JOY OF THE GOSPEL

197 God’s heart has a special place for the poor so much so that he himself became poor, born in a manger in the midst of animals. When he began to preach the kingdom, crowds of the dispossessed followed him.

198 Inspired by this life of Christ, the Church has always understood a special form of primacy of the poor in exercise of Christian Charity. The poor have much to share with us. They know the sufferings of Christ. We need to let ourselves be evangelized by them. We are called to find Christ in them and to lend our voices to their causes.

213 Jesus identifies especially with the little ones, the vulnerable. As Christians we are called to care for the vulnerable of the earth. Among the vulnerable to whom the Church wishes to care with particular love and concern are unborn children, the most defenseless and innocent among us.

213 Defense of unborn life is closely linked to the defense of each and every other human right. It involves the conviction that a human being is always sacred and inviolable in any situation and in every stage of development. Every violation of the personal dignity is an offense against the creator of that individual.

REFLECTION

Pope Francis encourages us not to shy away from our mission because of difficulties. He preaches that hope will bring about the desired changes even if we ourselves do not see the results.

JOY OF THE GOSPEL

275 Some people do not commit themselves to mission because they think that nothing will change and that it is useless to make the effort. If we think things are never going to change we need to recall that Jesus Christ has triumphed over sin and death. A true missionary knows that Jesus walks with him, speaks to him, breathes wih him, and works with him. A person, who is not convinced, enthusiastic, certain, and in love will convince nobody.

278 Let us believe the Gospel when it tells us that the kingdom of God is already present in this world and is growing here and there and in different ways like “the small seed which grows into the great tree.” (Mt. 13:31) and like the “good seed that grows amid the weeds.” (Mt. 13:24) and can always pleasantly surprise us. Jesus did not rise in vain.

279 Let us be assured that none of our acts of love will be lost nor any of our acts of sincere concern for others. Sometimes it seems our acts are fruitless but don’t believe it. None will be lost; no effort is meaningless; no painful endurance is wasted. All of these encircle our world like a vital force giving life according to God’s holy will. The Holy Spirit works His will where He wills, even across the globe.

GOOD NEWS, BELIEVE!

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WHAT CATHOLICS BELIEVE!

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING

There are many core beliefs of the Catholic Church, founded by Jesus Christ, too many to include in this blog, but I will include a few of the more important ones. For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Catechism of the Catholic Church

JESUS IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE

GOD THE FATHER, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth and the earth was without form or shape, with darkness over the abyss and a mighty wind sweeping over the waters—Then God said: Let there be light, and there was light…God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night…..”

Evening came, and morning followed— Let the earth bring forth every kind of living creature: tame animals, crawling things, and every kind of wild animal. And so it happened…. Then God said: Let us make^* human beings in our image, after our likeness….God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female^* he created them. God blessed them and God said to them: Be fertile and multiply,, (Genesis 1)

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

279 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Holy Scripture begins with these solemn words. The profession of faith takes them up when it confesses that God the Father almighty is “Creator of heaven and earth” (Apostles’ Creed), “of all that is, seen and unseen” (Nicene Creed).

JESUS IS THE PROMISED MESIAH IN THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; They will strike at your head, while you strike at their heel.” Genesis 3:15

Catholics believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah who was promised to the Jewish people in the Old Testament. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Jesus opened the gates of Heaven by his Crucifixion and Resurrection. He came to earth not only for the forgiveness of sins but to reveal the love and mercy of the Father.

CRUCIFIED, DIED AND WAS BURIED AND ON THIRD DAY ROSE FROM THE DEAD.

Jesus died on the Cross on Good Friday. On Easter Sunday, Mary Magdalene found an empty tomb. He had risen. He overcame death and showed us a new life. On Pentecost Sunday, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to sanctify the Church he founded.

THE HOLY TRINITY

A core belief of the Catholic religion is one God in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit but one God, not three gods. When we speak of the Father as Creator, we do not mean to say the Son and the Spirit had nothing to do with creation. The same can be said about the Father and the Spirit in regard redemption. The same can be said about the Father and the Son in regards sanctification. The source of all divine actions in the world is one Divine Nature. The Blessed Trinity acts in the world as one single and unique cause.

THE EUCHARIST

.“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins. Matthew 26:26-28

Holy Communion (Eucharist) is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic religion. During the Mass, the priest who is acting in the person of Jesus, offers bread and wine to the Father and by the power of the Holy Spirit the bread becomes the Body of Christ and the wine becomes His blood just like at the Last Supper. When we partake of Communion, we are just like the disciples at the Last Supper

ORIGINAL 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.” Man and the world began in grace, not sin. The inner harmony of the human person, the harmony between man and woman, and the harmony between man and all of creation comprised the state of “original justice.”

According to the Creation Story in Genesis, Adam and Eve betrayed God, by being beguiled by the Devil and ate the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil and discovered evil. God then banished Adam and Eve and their descendents (us) from the Garden of Eden and communion with Him. Because of this mistake, every one of us is born with original sin. We must be Baptized, another Holy sacrament of the Church, to be wiped clean of this original sin.

BAPTISM

Baptism not only removes Original Sin but is an initiation into God’s family and a call to discipleship. We are commissioned the same way Jesus commissioned his disciples over 2000 years ago. In the rite of Baptism, the priest or deacon says these words, “…God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has freed you from sin, given you a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and welcomed you into his holy people. He now anoints you with the chrism of salvation. As Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet, and King, so may you live always as members of his body… you have become a new creation, and have clothed yourself in Christ…. What does it mean to be priest, prophet and king. As priest, we offer sacrifice. As prophet, we bear witness to the Gospel and as King, we serve our neighbors.

THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS

On the evening of the first day of the week, “Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, Peace be with you. ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.’” John 20: 22-23 Jesus instituted the Sacrament of Confession for personal sins committed after Baptism. We experience God’s mercy through the Sacrament of Confession.

It is there that we acknowledge who we are: limited, weak and sinful creatures in need of redemption. It is there 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.

The Sacrament of Confession is an enormous source of interior peace. 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.

RESURRECTION OF THE BODY AND LIFE EVERLASTING

The words “Life Everlasting” or “Eternal Life” are not to signify merely continuance of existence because even demons and the wicked continue to exist. Everlasting Life refers to the perpetuity of happiness, blessedness, wholeness, and union with the Most Blessed Trinity in heaven. “Eye hath not seen; ears hath not heard, or the heart of man conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” I Cor. 2:9

In the Book of Revelations, 21:4, it states, “They shall no more hunger and thirst. Neither shall the sun fall on them nor any heat. God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and death shall be no more. Nor mourning, nor crying, nor sorrow shall be any more for the former things are passed away.”

CLOSING PRAYER

Heavenly Father, eyes have not seen, ears have not heard what you have prepared for those who love you. You sent your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, not to condemn us, but to save us. By His merits, through His Passion and Death, do not look upon our sinfulness and what we truly deserve, but in your mercy, forgive us. our sins and bring us home to Eternal Life, In Jesus’ name, we pray.

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