The Anchoress gives us Stephen Colbert Defender of Gospels, taking on Bart Ehrman. I don’t know what Pope Benedict would say for the style of his exegesis? It does feel good seeing someone getting a few good punches in there for the Lord. I think, though, of Jesus turning the other cheek. However, my feistier side recalls, Jesus calling out his assailant in John 18: 22-23 when He was struck by the temple guard, saying,”If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” But, I digress. I do like Colbert’s agility as an apologist. However, for the sake of reverence, feel on safer ground with Scott Hahn.
Archive for the Scripture Category
Cheeky Exegesis
Posted in Scripture, Spiritual, Video with tags colbert, Gospel, humor, Scripture, Silly Somethings, Spiritual, Video on April 14, 2009 by JoannEaster Monday – Celebrate!
Posted in Catholic, Christian, Church, Scripture, Spiritual with tags Catholic, Christian, Church, divine, office, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual on April 13, 2009 by JoannAlleluia! Still celebrating Easter. It’s too great for just one day. 
When a greeted a friend of mine from Poland this morning with “Happy Easter” she said, “You know in Poland they are still celebrating.” I mentioned the Easter octave and that here we are still celebrating, also. What my friend then explained is that in Poland it is still a holiday, no work, no school. She said she felt bad sending her children off to school today and that she thought Poland’s way is better. Didn’t argue with that.
From the Office of Readings:
1 Peter 1: 1-21
Peter, apostle of Jesus Christ, sends greetings to all those living among foreigners in the Dispersion of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen, by the provident purpose of God the Father, to be made holy by the Spirit, obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood. Grace and peace be with you more and more.
Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy has given us a new birth as his sons, by raising Jesus Christ from the dead, so that we have a sure hope and the promise of an inheritance that can never be spoilt or soiled and never fade away, because it is being kept for you in the heavens. Through your faith, God’s power will guard you until the salvation which has been prepared is revealed at the end of time. This is a cause of great joy for you, even though you may for a short time have to bear being plagued by all sorts of trials; so that, when Jesus Christ is revealed, your faith will have been tested and proved like gold – only it is more precious than gold, which is corruptible even though it bears testing by fire – and then you will have praise and glory and honour. You did not see him, yet you love him; and still without seeing him, you are already filled with a joy so glorious that it cannot be described, because you believe; and you are sure of the end to which your faith looks forward, that is, the salvation of your souls.
It was this salvation that the prophets were looking and searching so hard for; their prophecies were about the grace which was to come to you. The Spirit of Christ which was in them foretold the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would come after them, and they tried to find out at what time and in what circumstances all this was to be expected. It was revealed to them that the news they brought of all the things which have now been announced to you, by those who preached to you the Good News through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, was for you and not for themselves. Even the angels long to catch a glimpse of these things.
Free your minds, then, of encumbrances; control them, and put your trust in nothing but the grace that will be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. Do not behave in the way that you liked to before you learnt the truth; make a habit of obedience: be holy in all you do, since it is the Holy One who has called you, and scripture says: Be holy, for I am holy.
If you are acknowledging as your Father one who has no favourites and judges everyone according to what he has done, you must be scrupulously careful as long as you are living away from your home. Remember, the ransom that was paid to free you from the useless way of life your ancestors handed down was not paid in anything corruptible, neither in silver nor gold, but in the precious blood of a lamb without spot or stain, namely Christ; who, though known since before the world was made, has been revealed only in our time, the end of the ages, for your sake. Through him you now have faith in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory for that very reason – so that you would have faith and hope in God.(source: Universalis)
Holy Thursday – Pope Benedict XVI
Posted in Catholic, Catholicism, Christian, Church, Culture, Faith, Just Thinking Out Loud, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual with tags Archeology, Cantalamessa, Catholic, Catholicism, Christian, Church, CNS, Culture, exegesis, Faith, Holy Thursday, Judas, Just Thinking Out Loud, national geographic, Pope Benedict, Reflections, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual, St.Paul, truth, You Would Think on April 9, 2009 by JoannIn this day of “turning the Bible on its head“ by such influential entities as National Geographic Society and Newsweek, it is good to remember what actual scholars who care about Truth have taught us. Pope Benedict XVI reacting to a misleading 3rd century coptic text on display by the National Geographic Society in 2006, as covered by Cindy Wooden of Catholic New Service, corrected:
Judas was a greedy liar who put his desire for money ahead of his relationship with Jesus and his love for God, Pope Benedict XVI said…
But during his April 13 (2006) homily at the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Pope Benedict said Judas is the clearest example Christians have of someone who refuses God’s saving love.
For Judas, the pope said, “only power and success are real; love does not count.”
“And he is greedy: Money is more important than communion with Jesus, more important than God and his love. He also becomes a liar, a double-crosser who breaks with the truth,” Pope Benedict said.
Purposefully ignoring the truth, he said, Judas “hardens, becoming incapable of conversion … and throws away his destroyed life.”
The next day, the pope’s preacher also weighed in against the recent wave of “pseudohistorical literature” gaining popularity as well as the soon-to-be-released film, “The Da Vinci Code.”
In his April 14 [2006] homily during the Good Friday liturgy of the Lord’s Passion, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa said that millions of people today were being “crassly manipulated by the media,” which is more interested in touting the newest fad or insight rather than the truth and, as a consequence, turning a pretty penny for it.
“There is much talk about Judas’ betrayal without realizing that it is being repeated” today, he said during his homily given before the pope and hundreds of people in St. Peter’s Basilica.
“Christ is being sold again,” he said, but this time “to publishers and booksellers” for billions of dollars.
People seem to be always itching for something new, and there are those who take advantage of that by carrying out or promoting “the clever rewriting of ancient legends,” he said.
The fantasies and speculation will only “flare up with the imminent release of a certain film,” the Capuchin friar said, in reference to the movie “The Da Vinci Code,” based on the novel by Dan Brown.
The preacher of the papal household said he felt it was his duty to address the current swirl of controversy surrounding the many interpretations of the life and death of Jesus because “we cannot allow the silence of believers to be mistaken for embarrassment” nor allow the media to manipulate the truth about Christ’s life, his death on the cross and his resurrection.”
Zenit.org reports Fr. Cantalamessa’s closing remark:
The “fantasies” mentioned have an explanation, concluded the Pontifical Household preacher: “We are in the age of the media and the media are more interested in novelty than in truth.”
Words of St. Paul:
“The time is sure to come when people will not accept sound teaching, but their ears will be itching for anything new and they will collect themselves a whole series of teachers according to their own tastes; and then they will shut their ears to the truth and will turn to myths.”
Wired for Sound & Listening
Posted in Catholic, Christ, Christian, Culture, Faith, In a nutshell, Just Thinking Out Loud, Lent, Lenten Reading, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual, Spiritual Things with tags Catholic, Christ, Christian, Church, Culture, Faith, In a nutshell, Just Thinking Out Loud, Lent, Lenten Reading, meditation, Peace Place, Prayer, Reflections, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual, Spiritual Things, Thoughts from the Quiet, Timeless Treasures, truth on April 8, 2009 by JoannThere is no doing justice to one of Fr. Jeff’s homilies, but not to try is to leave you without the tickling touch of heaven. He usually is very personal with bits and pieces from his life, this time as a national guard chaplain. Last week brought the realities of the motor pool to bear on his celebration of the Mass. He went head to head with the jet sounds of an air pump. He eventually had to scrap a “really wonderful sermon” (laughing at his humility) in the loosing battle for volume dominance.
The experience was not without its reward. Fr. Jeff came away thinking of the noisy society that clamors with sound bites and distraction for our conscious attention, while actually driving us to distraction and semi-consciousness.
Morning after morning
he opens my ear that I may hear;
And I have not rebelled, have not turned back. (Isaiah 50:4-5)
With the words from the scripture still echoing in our ears, Fr. Jeff reminded us of the still small voice that morning after morning speaks to us and the Lord who “opens my ear that I may hear.”
All this week, we will be hearing the salvation story retold once again. Will it be received as so much noise, something we’ve heard before with no special clarity of nuance or message. Will we “hear the subtleties of the orchestra for the life of our soul and hearts.”
Here again, Fr. Jeff got personal. This time it was the $40 ear buds he was coaxed to buy with promises of sounds he’d never heard before. “Sure”, he thought somewhat cynically, but took the bait, none-the-less. He sprang for the pricey thingies.
Once wired for sound, Fr. Jeff listened to his music and heard sonorous sounds he’d never heard before, nuances and subtleties, tone and clarity. He’d paid the price, and it was worth every penny ! For us in church this morning, it was a clarion call to listen again, to incline an an open ear. I think of the young apostle John with his ear to our Lord’s heart at the Last Supper.
Jesus’ story is the same year after year but there are subtleties and an ever newness for us this brand new day. Be conscious, by a prayer and an act of the will! “Morning after morning, he opens my ear that I may hear; And I have not rebelled, have not turned back”
Praying With The Church – Update
Posted in Catholic, Christian, Church, Culture, Just Thinking Out Loud, Lent, Liturgy of the Hours, Media, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual, Spiritual Things, Tradition with tags Catholic, Christian, Church, Culture, divine, hours, Just Praying Out Loud, Just Thinking Out Loud, Lent, liturgy, Liturgy of the Hours, Media, office, online, Peace Place, podcast, Prayer, Religion, Scripture, speech, Spiritual, Spiritual Things, Timeless Treasures, Tradition on April 7, 2009 by JoannIf you have not checked out DivineOffice.org yet, Holy Week is the perfect time to begin praying with the Church with the help of this wonderful ministry. Divine Office is produced by Dane Falkner and some very dedicated and talented people. It’s purpose is to promote “the tradition of praying always through these ancient treasures of the Church, not only to Catholics but to all Christians universally.”
Here are the wonder workers, Dane, Chriss, Denise and Greg:
DivineOffice.org provides daily free podcast of the Divine Office, definitely 5 star! plus iPhone App made available through iTunes (extremely affordable.)
Having a virtual community is great when you know they are real people reaching out to no less than the world. The music, professional presentation of the daily inspirational scriptures, readings and prayers, has enriched my experience of listening to and praying the Divine Office. As I said, Check them out!
Speaking of Dreams
Posted in Catholic, Christ, Christian, Holy Spirit, Scripture, Spiritual with tags bride, Catholic, Christ, Christian, dream, Esther, From My Solitude, God, God in the Ordinary, Holy Spirit, husband, lion, lioness, nurse, Peace Place, Reflections, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual, Stimulus Bill, story on April 2, 2009 by JoannI’ll get to the dream, but here’s how I got to it. I’m on a religious bent this morning. Always happens after mass. Something got me thinking of what “Lioness” means to me,during the sermon. You know how sermons go, you hear the sermon and the Holy Spirit at the same time. Sometimes the Spirit goes beyond the sermon and so today I ended up recalling a dream. When I got home and read the Anchoress’ dream appeal from Nice Deb, I thought more about that dream I had years ago. Nothing, by the way, like Nice Deb’s flash-tastic graphic.
By profession, I’m a registered nurse. Working the wards as a student at night was always a cause for anxiety. Later on, working sprawling hospital wards as charge nurse also made me feel a bit insecure, too many patients, too many rooms. IV’s could be running out or someone in trouble. We didn’t have all the fancy monitors they do nowadays. At night my anxieties would speak up in dreams.
The dream I remembered today went like this: I was on a hospital ward, and the ward was immense (though in my dream the ward looked more like a castle) and the halls seemed endless. Suddenly, I was aware of a great lion roaming the passage ways. Now, in my dream, the ward/castle became even bigger, extending to several floors above and below.The lion prowled like a monitor. His appearance seemed threatening, but instead of fear, I was flooded with a profound sense of security. End of dream!
In those days my life was in a bit of flux, with husband in school, me , with two children to care for, living with my in-laws, and working nights in a newborn intensive care unit. Waking from the dream I wanted to know who the lion was. I prayed and them opened the bible to a page with the phrase, “Put in my mouth persuasive words in the presence of my husband the lion” Esther C: 24. I was ecstatic! That day, I took it to mean my husband Jim would take care of us with God’s help. In other words, “Not to worry.”
Since the Lord speaks on many levels, and with multiple meanings, in this day I think the Lord is saying, “I am your Husband the Lion who guards and protects the passages of your life. You are my bride, my castle.”
Desire of the Heart
Posted in Catholic, Christian, In a nutshell, Lent, Lenten Reading, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual, Spiritual Things with tags Catholic, Christian, God.unpardonable, homily, In a nutshell, Lent, Lenten Reading, meditation, Reflections, Religion, Scripture, sermon, sin, Spiritual, Spiritual Things, truth on March 31, 2009 by JoannGod honors a person’s search for Truth. He looks deep into the heart and knows the will. The unpardonable sin is final rejection of God. God honors our will. He is also merciful and hears the prayers of others on our behalf. (from a homily by Fr. S.M)
“If, today, you hear His voice, harden not your heart.” Hebrews 4:7
The Whole Truth – Make it Plain, Brother!
Posted in Catholic, Christ, Christian, Culture, In a nutshell, Just Thinking Out Loud, Lenten Reading, My Journal, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual, Spiritual Things, Tradition with tags Catholic, Christ, Christian, condemn, congregation, Culture, darkness, evil, God, Gospel, hell, In a nutshell, Jesus, John 3:16, Just Thinking Out Loud, Lenten Reading, light, Lutheran, minister, My Journal, preach, priest, Reflections, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual, Spiritual Things, Thoughts from the Quiet, Tradition on March 22, 2009 by JoannYou don’t usually get to hear a Lutheran congregation holler an, “Amen” or “Preach it, Brother. ” Today was no different, but the minister seemed to want one. I was visiting with the Lutherans and the minister confessed that the one time he could remember that someone called out, “Amen, Brother”, it caught him so by surprise that it totally threw him into confusion. Now, however, Jesus was talking plain in the Gospel and the minister felt he could use a reminder from the pews to, “Make it plain; make it plain!” He was preaching John 3:16, “the Bible in a nutshell.”
The evening before, I heard a priest of the Roman Catholic Church preach it. He truly kept it simple. He said,
“Life is short. Hell is for Eternity. Think about it!” He sat down. That was it! Talk about nutshells.
My Lutheran friend said a bit more, before remembering his injunction to himself, “Make it plain!” The plain fact was that “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” The minister said that the love He bore us was not the stuff of “warm fuzzies” but “agape”, that to die for love that willing died for all mankind; sparing not a drop of blood, or leaving a breathe unspent.
The sermon in my head reminded me, Jesus plainly and emphatically proclaimed that verse, now made famous by placards at football games and verse17: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” However, not many people finish the message. Jesus’ “make it plain” message, was also recorded by John in chapter 3:18-19.
No “warm fuzzies” here, either, only the uncomfortable part of the Truth, John 3:18-19.
“Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil.”
Jesus spoke the whole Truth and so should we because: “Life is short. Hell is for Eternity. Think about it!”
“Borne by Angels to the Bosom of God” – St. Therese of Lisieux
Posted in Christ, Christian, Gospel, In a nutshell, Lent, Lenten Reading, My Journal, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual, Spiritual Things, Tradition, Wisdom with tags Christ, Christian, Communion of Saints, Gospel, In a nutshell, Lent, lenten, Lenten Reading, meditation, My Journal, Prayer, Reflections, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual, Spiritual Things, St. Therese of Lisieux, Thoughts from the Quiet, Tradition, truth, Wisdom on March 20, 2009 by JoannFrom The Story of a Soul, The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux:
“Dear Mother, I have still to tell you what I understand by the “sweet odour of the Beloved.” As Our Lord is now in Heaven, I can only follow Him by the footprints He has left–footprints full of life, full of fragrance. I have only to open the Holy Gospels and at once I breathe the perfume of Jesus, and then I know which way to run; and it is not to the first place, but to the last, that I hasten. I leave the Pharisee to go up, and full of confidence I repeat the humble prayer of the Publican. Above all I follow Magdalen, for the amazing, rather I should say, the loving audacity, that delights the Heart of Jesus, has cast its spell upon mine. It is not because I have been preserved from mortal sin that I lift up my heart to God in trust and love. I feel that even had I on my conscience every crime one could commit, I should lose nothing of my confidence: my heart broken with sorrow, I would throw myself into the Arms of my Saviour. I know that He loves the Prodigal Son, I have heard His words to St. Mary Magdalen, to the woman taken in adultery, and to the woman of Samaria. No one could frighten me, for I know what to believe concerning His Mercy and His Love. And I know that all that multitude of sins would disappear in an instant, even as a drop of water cast into a flaming furnace.
It is told in the Lives of the Fathers of the Desert how one of them converted a public sinner, whose evil deeds were the scandal of the whole country. This wicked woman, touched by grace, followed the Saint into the desert, there to perform rigorous penance. But on the first night of the journey, before even reaching the place of her retirement, the bonds that bound her to earth were broken by the vehemence of her loving sorrow. The holy man, at the same instant, saw her soul borne by Angels to the Bosom of God.”
Comfort, Give Comfort
Posted in Catholic, Christian, Culture, Defending Life, Just Thinking Out Loud, Nature, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual Things with tags Catholic, Christian, Culture, Defending Life, grace, heart, hope, Just Thinking Out Loud, Lighter Side, Lion heart love remembrance nature, meditation, Nature, Reflections, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual Things, Video on March 10, 2009 by JoannIsaiah speaks the words I need to hear this morning.
Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service is at an end, her guilt is expiated; Indeed, she has received from the hand of the Lord double for all her sins. Isaiah 40: 1
The day is new and as they say” hope springs eternal.” The world has definitely been heavy on my mind. I need to turn the page if only at the beginning of this day.
Hope springs eternal in the human breast:
Man never is, but always to be blest:
The soul, uneasy and confin’d from home,
Rests and expatiates in a life to come. (Alexander Pope – An Essay on Man)
This is a gift to myself today. It speaks to the heart of love and memory that even crosses the line between Man and Beast.
Have a wonderful day!
Reluctant Prophet
Posted in Catholic, Christ, Christian, Culture, Defending Life, Just Thinking Out Loud, Lent, My Journal, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual, Spiritual Things, The Cross with tags Catholic, Christ, Christian, Church, Culture, Defending Life, Faith, God, grace, hope, Jesus, Just Thinking Out Loud, Lent, lenten, meditation, My Journal, plan, Reflections, Religion, repent, repentance, Scripture, sinners, Spiritual, Spiritual Things, The Cross, Thoughts from the Quiet on March 5, 2009 by JoannI’m thinking about Jonah, the reluctant prophet. He usually pops up in the readings of the Liturgy of the Word during Lent. He made his appearance yesterday and has been wondering in the back of my mind giving his prophetic word, “Repent!”
Jonah needed to be hurled into the sea (a place of chaos) before he realized there was no escaping his responsibility before God. Jonah needed a second chance to get it right. Fortunately, for the people of Nineveh (the worldly city of sinners), having gotten Jonah’s attention, God called the prophet a second time. God was not going to fix things without his servant’s cooperation.
How like Jonah I am. I need to be carried kicking and screaming to the Lord’s will. How slow I am to remember that the only sign I’m going to get is the Now of my life. I do want Resurrection without the Crucifixion. So, here I sit in the belly of the whale, my only sign, the sign of the Cross. As Jonah spent three days in the belly of the great fish (a sign for Christ ) so Jesus spent three days in the tomb, and I must be there with Him waiting with faith. Maybe, my Now says I have to do something. Maybe it says I have to change. Three days with Jesus in the tomb will prepare me for both mission and mercy.
“Who knows, God may relent and forgive, and withhold his blazing wrath,
so that we shall not perish.”
When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way,
he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them;
he did not carry it out. Jonah 3: 10
Don’t Forget the Angels
Posted in Just Thinking Out Loud, Lent, Pope Benedict XVI, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual, Spiritual Things, Wisdom with tags angels, Catholic, Christian, Church, Defending Life, Just Thinking Out Loud, Lent, lenten, meditation, Pope Benedict XVI, Reflections, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual, Spiritual Things, Wisdom on March 3, 2009 by JoannDon’t forget about the angels. They are the guardians of nations as will as persons. When we pray, and we are humble, we become the “anawin” in Hebrew terms, they are “the little ones” of God, relying on God for all. We are told, “Their angels in heaven always look upon the Face of My heavenly Father.” Matthew 18: 10
Pope Benedict XVI had this to say here.
“We find these figures throughout the Old Testament who help and guide men in the name of God. Just consider the Book of Tobit, in which the figure of the angel Raphael appears to assist the protagonist through many vicissitudes. The reassuring presence of the angel of the Lord accompanies the people of Israel through every event, good and bad.”On the threshold of the New Testament, Gabriel is sent to announce to Zachariah and Mary the joyous happenings that are the beginnings of our salvation; and an angel, whose name is not mentioned, warns Joseph, directing him in that moment of uncertainty.
“A chorus of angels reports the glad tidings of Jesus’ birth to the shepherds, as the glad tidings of his resurrection will also be announced by angels to the women. At the end of time the angels will accompany Jesus in his glorious return.”
“We would take away a significant part of the Gospel if we left aside these beings sent by God to announce his presence among us and be a sign of that presence.” “Let us,” he said, “call upon them often, that they sustain us in the task of following Jesus to the point of identifying ourselves with him.”
Lenten Reading Plan – Day 18 – Mar 17
Posted in Catholic, Christian, Church Fathers, Fathers of the Church, Lent, Lenten Reading, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual, Spiritual Things, Tradition with tags Art, Catholic, Christian, Church Fathers, crucifixion, Fathers of the Church, Lent, lenten, Lenten Reading, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual, Spiritual Things, Tradition on February 27, 2009 by Joann
Day18 Church Fathers Lenten Reading Plan 3/17/09
St. Cyprian on the Unity of the Church (Treatise I): Secs. 1-9
Day 18 Lite Version
St. Cyprian: On the Unity of the Church (Treatise I): 1-9
Compilation of Lenten readings
Printer-Friendly Version of Outline: Church Fathers Lenten Reading Plan PDF
Tell the Story!
Posted in Catholic, Christ, Christian, Culture, Defending Life, Gospel, Holy Spirit, Just Thinking Out Loud, Lent, Opinions, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual Things, The Cross, Tradition with tags Catholic, Christ, Christian, crucifixion, Culture, Defending Life, evangelize, Gospel, Holy Spirit, Just Thinking Out Loud, Lent, lenten, materialism, Opinions, propoganda, Reflections, relativism, Religion, resurrection, Scripture, Spiritual Things, story, The Cross, Tradition on February 24, 2009 by JoannI’m beginning today with a question: How did the first Christians do it?
In a world of propaganda and hype, of relativism and materialism, I ask myself what do I have that can change darkness into Light? In truth, I have what Christians have had from the beginning. I have the Savior of the world. Jesus words after His Resurrection from the dead were:
“Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” Mark16: 15
In effect, go tell My story!
It is more than a story. It is power. It is the single most important act in all of human history with eternal consequences. The world has run after other gods. I have run after other gods. That’s not the end of the story though.
Tomorrow begins Lent. For myself, I’m resolved to tell the story everyday of Lent. Lent will change me and then the world. Like the first Christians, we must begin by telling the story of Jesus’ death on the Cross and His Resurrection from the dead. Proclaim it!
- “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” John3:16–18
Paul told us we don’t need to be polished and eloquent. To the Corinthian Greeks, Paul writes, “I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:2
That is my story. I’m resolved to tell it today.
Who’s the Leper Now?
Posted in Catholic, Christian, Culture, Defending Life, Gospel, Just Thinking Out Loud, Religion, Scripture with tags boredom, camp, Catholic, Christian, Church, Culture, Defending Life, Gospel, Just Thinking Out Loud, leper, lifestyle, Mass, Religion, Scripture, worship on February 15, 2009 by JoannThe Leper, who comes to Jesus in today’s Gospel (Mark 1:40-45,) is often seen as an embodiment of those who are the “untouchables” of our society (the poor, the weak, the unwed mother, the addict.) The Leper, in another view, is one who is “outside the camp”. The leper is the one cut off from worship and cut off from community.
In the United States today, the Leper is 75% of those who call themselves Catholic, yet no longer celebrate Mass or practice their Faith. No matter the reason that they left the Church (disbelief, anger, lifestyle, boredom), they are now “outside the camp.”
The tragedy is that our worship, while directed to God, has an effect on us. Worship orders the one who worships. Worship grounds the worshiper once again in the Truth of Who it is he worships. It prepares a man for battle, so to speak. “Happy the people that know the joyful shout!” (Psalm 89:16) Without worship, the World becomes the voice that lies to him, tempts him and in the end may even conquer him.
The poor and the weak are in the Lord’s camp. The true outsider is one Jesus calls home. “I do will it. Be made clean.” (Mark 1:41)
