Fishers of Men

"'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men." -Matthew 4:19

I often wonder what I would say if a stranger said something like that to me. If I was like anyone else in their right mind, I would turn him down then call the police. Yet, Peter, Andrew, James and John did the opposite.


They chose to drop everything and follow Him.  James and John even turned from their father to follow Jesus! That is some serious faith right there. Faith that I think is often misinterpreted by the world today.

After Jesus died and was risen and the Holy Spirit descended upon the people of earth something happened. Something so influential it changed the lives of millions of people today. It was the early Church preaching the gospel.

In America, I have noticed apprehension and even hatred towards the Catholic Church. Priests are somehow involved in a sex scandal and suddenly the Church is just a hypocrite like the rest of us. All I have to say is I agree. Let me make it more clear. Religion is not God. The Church that makes the religion is not God.  The men that make up the Church are not God.

Peter and his disciples didn't say "follow the Catholic Church. We are the way." No, they cast a very different net; the word of Jesus. It was very simple what they had to say. "Christ has died for you and is risen! Repent and follow the Lord!" It was more believable for Jews, but just imagine how confused the Romans felt.

The people in America are very much like the Romans. They are ignorant of Jesus and protect their identity under the guise that the Church is what makes God, when in reality,God is what that makes the Church!

 I blame it mostly on our own failure to preach the gospel properly. Who is more responsible, the person receiving the message or the person who gives it?  Our way of thinking is very Church centered. "Protestants are wrong." "The Catholic Church is the true religion."

We need to go back to the apostolic days and preach the word of Christ how it was meant to be preached. That it is Christ and not the Church we need to follow.

I am not saying the Catholic Church is the wrong way, I think it is the true church that is recognized by Jesus. I like to think of it as more of a guide. They lead me to Christ, but they are not Christ.

Pope Benedict XVI arrived at a similar conclusion as me. In his message for World Mission Day 2012, he urged every Catholic to become a missionary. Meaning we should dedicate ourselves to preaching the good news. Similar to early Church history.

He wants Christ to be known. He wants us to become fishers of men.

Community in Christ

This post came to me in light of recent events with the Treyvon Martin case.

What's with the hostility? How did this become a case involving the race of a person? I understand there has been bad blood between the white and black community. America is a nation based on different cultures. I just don't understand how that justifies hatred towards a group of people. What does "racist" even mean anymore?

How can we expect to become a nation that defines people "not by the color of their skin, but by the quality and content of their character" if we are so apprehensive to each other. This is a problem not only with race, but with religion as well.

A Catholic priest is caught with child porn so suddenly the Catholic Church is bad?  Let me take you back to the life of Jesus. The scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman who committed adultery. She had broken the law that Moses commanded to them and they were to stone her. Jesus knelt down in front of her and began writing in the dirt. They continued to pester Him so he stood up and said this: "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

Yes, we are a nation of different cultures. But more importantly, we are a community of sinners. Everyone is a hypocrite. Our truths mean nothing.

"When Jesus had raised himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, 'Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?' She said, 'No one, Lord.' And Jesus said said to her, 'Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.'"-John 8:10

No one can judge unless they judge themselves. Don't tell a person to remove a splinter in their eye unless you first remove the plank in yours.

We need to look at ourselves not from a cultural or religious background. We need to realize that no man is beneath another in the eyes of Christ. We need to develop a community in Christ.

Speaking from a secular standpoint, we need to recognize we are different and love one another despite so.

Abortion

I have to admit, before I wanted to become Catholic, I was stuck between individual rights and the right to life. Everyone should have the right to be alive right? And everyone should have rights over their own bodies right? But I realized something new.

Rethink Immoral 


It pains me to see women saying it is "immoral" not to give them rights.  I just can't figure out what is a right and what is a law anymore.  Everyone has the right not to be killed, but they don't have the right to be saved?  Isn't the very act of not saving someone doing NOTHING for fear of your own life?  So as long as a baby is dependent on the mother the mother can choose to ACT.  They aren't doing NOTHING by going to a clinic.  They are in fact, going to ACT on ending a "potential" life. Explain that logic.

And women say it is immoral? If anything the very concept of abortion is demoralizing towards women.

Imagine this scenario. A woman decides to have sex. She gets pregnant by accident. "What about my career? What about the father? It's okay, this is fixable."

A world in which a woman can just "fix" being pregnant. The pressure on sex is no longer a problem. In fact, it is your right to have sex. Don't you see what is happening? Men are losing the pleasure of pursuit. They don't enjoy the modesty of a woman any longer. And women are losing what makes them so unique; that they have power over men and power to give birth. Being a girl or a man is no longer important because men don't see you; they see sex.

And just think of the mother who aborted. Will she even feel guilty? It seemed to make sense then. But if she could take it all back what would her life be like?


I see it as a hand I can never hold,a little less "I love you's" I will get to hear, a smile I can never see, baby food I will never get the chance to try and pride I will never feel when I see my son or daughter become someone great.



Women, I urge you to rethink your concept of "immoral."  I am not a man trying to take your rights away. I just want to see you; not your boobs nor your butt. I want you to see how beautiful and empowering you can be over me.  I want you to be blessed with a beautiful child that will show you the love you have been missing your entire life.

Dealing with Life

There a parts in our lives that seem too hard to bare. Tired physically and emotionally, what should we turn to but spirituality?

This post is a special request from a friend dealing with stress in her life. Don't worry friend. I'm a super hero. I'm trained in saving the day. The first thing I have to tell you is for you to realize that you are not the cog-master to the clock of life.

"The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. May the name of the Lord be praised." -Job 1:21

The book of Job is a prime example. In it, we see God allowing Satan to test a faithful man of his love for the Lord. Job is a wealthy man. His children are crushed. His servants murdered. And his livestock die too. He also becomes afflicted with boils. He ends up shaving his head and tearing off his clothes and praying in deep sorrow to God.

In the end, God gives him everything back and more! Friend you need to accept it is not your will but His. He is the true cog-master! Everything in your life is not a result of what you have done; it is what God has done through you. Hmm...through you...sound familiar?

Holy Spirit


I was never able to conceptualize what the Holy Spirit was until recently. I thought it was God saying things in my head! The problem was, I was in my head too!

Once I got a grasp of the will of God, I understood it much better. Your body is a temple. That temple is a house for the Holy Spirit. God dwells in you!

Okay, God is in you, now what? What does that mean for me?

"And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth" -Revelation 5:8



This is an image of what went down when Jesus was brought up to heaven. The Lamb is Jesus. He has seven horns, which is a symbol of the seven churches on earth. He also had seven eyes, which is a symbol of wisdom and are also the seven spirits. Those seven spirits are: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. They are the Holy Spirit!

Christ is given control of the Church and of the Holy Spirit through his Father. Through  Him you find salvation. In His words, you find comfort.

With accepting just how little in control you actually are you are welcoming the Holy Spirit to dwell in you. By allowing Him to dwell in you, you are receiving the strength you are looking for. (Keep in mind how sin hinders us from these).

My Very Mean Sponsor

With a very good message. If I was a journalist, she would be like my editor. She bullies me in the right direction and makes me feel guilty. As you can tell I have mixed emotions.

Lately, I have been enjoying the attention from the blog posts. I now realize that I am moving in the wrong direction. In an attempt to humble myself and remember the true intentions of this blog, I am eliminating my existence!

What I mean is, my real-life existence with the blog. I developed my super hero persona so I wouldn't be identified and could give proper glory to God. I have found myself down playing that persona a lot lately.

So this blog is a reminder to all of us of whom true success comes from; the will of God! And bullies that tell you so.



Catechu-Man awayyy!!! (Yes I can fly)

Lent

I know I am pretty late on this one, but I figured it could still do some good.

Lent

Why do we have lent? Here is a question that I think we should ask ourselves every year. I can't really judge, being this is the first time I have honored it, but I feel like the deeper meaning is so often missed.

"I do it because it is honorable to God." I think our viewing scale needs to be adjusted if that is all there was to it. I like to see it as a wonderful opportunity to see Jesus in a new light. It is one of the few times we have the opportunity to see Jesus not as the son of God, but see him as Jesus the man.


Jesus is Two-Faced?

No, I am not saying Jesus is an evil-doer that likes to fight Batman. Nor am I comparing him to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Batman version of Jesus

 I am just saying Jesus is very much God. However, he is also very much a man. During lent, we are called to remember the sacrifice he made for us upon the cross.

 I can tell you right now, Lent doesn't work unless you feel tempted. And isn't the temptation to cling onto life what Jesus had to go through?

The night Judas betrayed Him with a kiss we see a different kind of Jesus. Not a righteous man that could walk on water and heal the lame; but a weak and broken man.

"And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and he knelt down and prayed, Saying 'Father, if it is Your will take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.' Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground." -Luke 22:41

Despite agony, despite temptation, despite Satan's whisper, he still chose us. He chose us over his life.

 Jesus is More Like Us Than We Thought


Lent is very much a recollection of or our sins. It is also very much the opportunity to relate to Jesus at a time he was at his most human. This is the point where we can say "hey, I've done that." Jesus didn't just die as God. He died as a man. He overcame temptation as a man.

And just as Jesus chose us over his life, lent gives us the opportunity to choose Him over temptation. We don't just honor Him, we get to live Him and understand Him! Lent is more than just honoring God. Lent is a relationship grower between you and Christ!

Premarital Sex

Don't do it.

I wish that was all I had to say. Unfortunately, it is not that easy. Especially living in America. Isn't it ironic that freedom of religion comes at the price of being exposed to everything else?

Abortion, contraceptives, sex, separation of church and state and the list goes on and on.  It's like we are so caught up in what everyone else is doing we fail to see the plan set out before us.

Peer Pressure


Peer pressure is a scary thing. Human beings are naturally social people. We want to fit in and adjust according to others. Have you ever stood up at the wrong time in Mass and tried to pretend that you didn't?  The same thing happens with the idea of sex before marriage.

"Sex sells" "it feels good" "well I love him" "my friends don't judge me for it"

For guys you got your "bros" and girls you got your "girlfriends". Then there is the media and advertisements posted across billboards and on TV screens.

 Think back to the parable of the mustard seed. A seed grown on good ground bears good fruit. A seed grown among thorns is strangled. Do you not understand? They are the waves all around you, beating you down. You are struggling to stand up but you are sinking deeper. Then you look up; and there is Jesus holding out His hand.  "Is your faith so little?" And here he is holding out his hand for you. It doesn't matter what your friends say. Take his hand. We are the crown of thorns upon His head.  We are the cross he bore upon his back to the very end. Yet he is still helping us stand up.

Remember, the wisdom of the wisest men is nothing compared to God's foolishness. Why are you so inclined to please your friends but fail to answer God?

Marriage


"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" -Jeremiah 29:11

God has a plan for everyone. And just as He created Eve from the same flesh as Adam, He also has created a person for you to share one flesh with.

Marriage is one of my favorite things to talk about because it is the closest we will get to heaven in this life.

 I am not talking about the business contract "marriage" the United States recognizes; I am talking about the holy matrimony of two people recognized by the church. Marriage is more than just a contract. It is more than the love between two people; it is the love Jesus had for His church. It is His love made tangible.

This love is so valued it is a sacrament! It goes way beyond sex. It is more than two bodies rubbing against each other to make a baby. When I say two people becoming one flesh I am not talking in a literal sense. In essence, it is two spirits joining together! It is like the union we will have with God in heaven. An unbreakable union that God had created with not only His intentions, but yours too.


Temptation


No one is perfect. For guys, there is the issue of pornography. With girls well, I have no idea what you think about. What I am trying to say here is that there will be times where you think about sex or even have sex.

It is also tricky because normally when you commit a sin it is an act. But Jesus says if we think about having sex with someone it is like committing adultery in the heart.

He doesn't expect us to never ever think about sex until marriage. It is not like a Catholic man doesn't want to be sexually pure. I think what he wants us to do is learn to stray away from it. I have had instances of leering at a girl in really tight jeans or watching a Victoria's Secret commercial. If you think of it as something to be avoided you will find your eyes moving away from it. Now, every time I see an attractive girl I attempt not to stare and ultimately, end up looking away.

If you find yourself thinking about sex than okay. Sex is not a bad thing. God created sex to be enjoyed, but enjoyed with a lifelong partner. Just try to realize His intentions with sex, not everyone else's. Know the difference between lust and love. One is longing for the body, and  the other for the spirit. Take His hand and let not your will be done, but His.

Virtues

"And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing." -I Corinthians 13:2

I have found that following Jesus is tricky. If I remember to do one thing, I forget to do another. Lately, I have been trying to find the "essence" of Catholicism. The answer I can have with me at all times when I forget what I am doing or where I am going with my faith.

What am I missing? I had it before I knew anything about being Catholic, but somehow I lost it again. The idea really hit me when a friend of mine gave me an idea for a blog post on what has affected him in his faith. He brought me the quote you see above (and now below).

"Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away." I Corinthians 13:8

Love. It has been a topic I have touched on recently in older posts. Before I had  the knowledge, all I had to go by with faith was love. I have been so caught up and catching up with everyone else in their wisdom  that I forgot the very thing that drove me to becoming Catholic.


Defining love is very hard. It could be called self-sacrifice. It could also be called a feeling of closeness to another person. I think it is so hard to define because love is very much God.  There is no way I can define that. Rather, I find it much easier to figure out what love is not. What is the opposite of love? Hate. What then, spouts hatred?

Seven Cardinal Sins
I don't really want to call them sins because they are not sins. They are faults in the human conscious that inclines us to sin. The worst of these faults is pride. Pride is taking pleasure in one's own glory. Pride is the (supposed) reason that Lucifer was cast out from heaven. Pride is the reason many people stray away from God.

Luckily, there are virtues to counter-act such faults.

Pride-Humility
Humility is the opposite of pride because it is a lack of one's own importance. It is considered the most important virtue out of them all. With this virtue, all the others will follow. Being humble is the form of self-sacrifice that is love. For me, it is realizing just how helpless I am without the glory of God shined down upon me. I have also found that when I do acts out of this virtue, I feel most at peace. However, there have been times where I did the exact same thing without love and I gained nothing from it.

Envy-Love
Envy is hating people for having something we don't such as wealth or good looks. It is an emotion for the insecure. The focus of someone in envy is about themselves. That is why love, which is an act of humility, is it's counter.

Sloth-Zeal
Sloth is becoming lazy. Mainly becoming lazy in what God commands us to do. I think this isn't too much of an issue for myself, but it is definitely a big part in the role of "pseudo-Catholics". Zeal is the emotional response we get for God. It is passion. Jesus shows zeal when he kicks everyone out of the temple because they used it as a place of social gathering instead of for God.

Gluttony-Temperance
Taking more than you need. Over-eating/drinking or taking glory that someone else deserves. It is a "me-first" then you kind of feeling. Temperance is agreeing with yourself that you don't need more than what you have already.

Lust-Self Control
This is an area that I am lacking in. This reminds just how incredibly weak I am.That is why self-control is the virtue I pray for most. Lust of course is a desire for the opposite sex based on physical attraction.

Wrath-Kindness
Wrath is very simply anger. It shows no patience for others and is different from zeal. Zeal is passion with love. Wrath is like a passion without love. The opposite of anger is kindness. Kindness is patient. It is humbling yourself to the needs of others.

Greed-Generosity
This deals more with wealth so it is different from gluttony. Jesus says it is much easier for a camel to go through the head of a needle than it is for a rich man to get to heaven. I secretly believe Jesus was a comedian part time. Anyhow, this one is pretty straight forward. In order to reach heaven we will have to leave our earthly possessions behind. That is why Jesus tells the child to give away all his things if he wants to live a life of grace.

Applying Virtues

Like sinning, having virtues is not something you get just be saying "I am going to love from now on". How then, will I be able to live a life the way Christ intended? How can I have faith with love? Where is it in my life where I need to practice humility?

Realizing that virtue is a practice, Christianity is more than churches and bibles; I need to learn how to love people the way Christ loves people. I need to love Christ the way he loves me.

Love is a Story

Love is a story.

There are the people of course. Then there is love. Then both of them happen to meet and a plot is formed. The beginning is nice, but a conflict soon arises. And for most, it is over. The story is no longer good.

The critics convinced you. This story isn't that great. Love is hard. Love doesn't last. Love is only in the beginning. Oh, if only you would finish it.

Fall in love with the plot. Enjoy the sacrifice. Look forward to the troubles. Read passed the supposed bad ending. Read the story how it was meant to be read; from beginning to end.

Critics will be critics, but it is all up to you. If that isn't convincing then just look at the cover. In the end, it all comes down to its author.

 "Love" by Jesus.

The Eucharist (Updated)

The Eucharist to me is like the bike in the window I can only view from the outside. When I look at what the church teaches, I can't help but be frustrated when I can't receive it.

As Catholics, the Eucharist is the true body and true blood of Christ. It is not only a receiving of Jesus; it is a sacrifice and tribute to Him. Jesus is the sacrificial lamb. He died on the cross at 3:00. The same time the priests were offering sacrifices in the temple. When we view his body and blood upon the altar it is only natural to recall what he did for us.

As a Protestant, the Eucharist is bread and wine with Christ present. To them there is no such thing as transubstantiation. The ritual is no longer about receiving Jesus physically. Faith alone is the purpose. I say to you, to what then will be your source of manna?

Jesus is the Manna


"Then said the Lord unto Moses, 'Behold I will vain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate everyday, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law or no.'" -Exodus 16:4

"And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eat." -Exodus 16:14


This manna of the old covenant was both a gift and a test of faith from God. The people of Israel were claiming complete dependence on Him by choosing to eat only the bread they were presented each morning. The bread was described as small, white and tasting like honey.

Then God presented us with an even greater gift. That gift is Jesus the true bread from heaven.

"I am the bread of life, Your forefathers ate the manna, in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread I shall give is My flesh which I shall give for the life of the world. -John 6:48

"The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, 'How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?' Then Jesus said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.'" -John 6:52

I don't understand how Jesus wasn't clear.  He presents himself as the true bread. He then tells them that his flesh and blood needs to be consumed if they want life in them. First off, if you read some of the writings of Paul and John, the word "sarx" is seen being used for two reasons: To explain physical flesh or to describe the sinful nature of man. If you put it in this context Jesus is either literally telling them to eat his flesh or he is telling them to eat his sinful nature. That doesn't make sense. Keep in mind that Jesus did not actually speak Greek, but this was written within the lifetime of the apostles.

The argument could then be made that Jesus just chooses not to correct their mistake and he didn't mean his actual flesh. Just like how he didn't correct the ones that mistook his body for the actual temple.  Actually he does correct them; corrects them in that it was what he actually meant. "Most assuredly, I say to you". He is basically saying I didn't stutter.

Also, men naturally didn't understand the wisdom He had. His disciples questioned why he presented everyone with parables. Jesus explains to them the reason. He does not say things that are meant to confuse people.

Jesus Goes to Heaven. Now what?

"And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying 'This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me' Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant which is shed for you.'" -Luke 22:19

During the last supper, Jesus and his disciples were celebrating the Jewish feast of Passover. The meal consists of blessing the bread. Jesus says "This is my body". He blesses the bread as his body. "Do this in remembrance of me." He is telling them to bless the bread as his body in memory of him.

Combine what he says at the last supper with what he says about him being the bread of life. Jesus just established the source of spiritual life after he goes up to heaven. He just established transubstantiation. He just established communion.

Miracle in Naju, Korea 2005

"It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." -John 6:63

In this context, Jesus is not talking about his own flesh. He is talking about the things of this world. If you look at the last part you can see that it can be argued both ways. Is he talking about our faith in Him as the true source to salvation? Or is He explaining the words he presented us in reference to eating his flesh and blood?

Try to look at Jesus as a short-lived gift of grace.  He had the power to forgive sins while on Earth.


"Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was.  So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, 'Son, your sins are forgiven you.'" -Mark 2:3

Here we see that Jesus forgives the sins of the paralytic because of their faith. But, you have to realize the intent of the Eucharist.

The Eucharist is not a tool that forgives sins; God forgives sins. That is why there is confession. The body and blood of Christ is more like spiritual food. It is the source of sanctifying grace that He so graciously rewarded us with. In fact, Catholics aren't even supposed to receive it if they have not confessed their sins.

"The son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the son of Man is betrayed! It would of been good for that man if he had not been born." -Matthew 26: 24

If believing in Jesus was all that was needed to achieve salvation then what would be the point of the commandments? What would be the point of His words? I would be a hypocrite if I believed forgiveness was given the moment I said "I believe in you Jesus".  Jesus not only saved us from original sin. He gave us the ability for all our sins to be forgiven. Going to The Eucharist is like how my friend Josh points out. It is just like how we would want to meet Jesus in heaven.

I am not bashing faith. Faith is the key part to our relationship with God. I just think this needs to be revisited by Protestant leaders.  Our relationship with God consists of three key things: the sanctifying grace we gained from Jesus through baptism, our love for the Lord, and our hope for life in heaven.  Sanctifying grace is not something we have gained naturally or even deserved. Adam lost it the moment he betrayed God. The source of our spiritual connection to God needs to be constantly revisited. It is a spiritual food different from faith and hope because we don't feel its affects. Like when we eat food for our physical body, we don't see what it does within our body, but our hunger is satisfied if only a moment.

Epiphany

I know I told you guys I would only be making weekly posts, but I felt inclined to present to you a sudden realization.

 Since I first decided to become Catholic, I have had a longing to understand just what that would mean.  Everyone desires to find God.  My way was through understanding; understand the parables and teachings of Jesus and the doctrines the Church presented.  Today I was doing research for my next blog post about the Eucharist. I kept finding sites on why I shouldn't believe in transubstantiation.  The further I dug the more I became convinced in what the arguments were against it.

My sponsor is really passionate about the Eucharist and I talked with her about the doubts I am having.  She bullied me into submission with just how overwhelming God actually is. Who am I to try to understand the infinite wisdom of God? I wanted to build a foundation of faith based on my knowledge. What good is faith without knowledge? I now say this to you; what good is knowledge without faith?

Are not all Catholic doctrines based on faith in Jesus? Did Jesus not say that our faith will save us?  I do not want to approach the people of the Catholic community as a doubter. Complete and utter adoration for God is what I should be striving for.  It would be wrong for me to say that I should blindly follow without understanding. I hear but I do not see and I see but I do not understand.

It is important to gain knowledge in the Lord.  Leo Trese, author of The Faith Explained, explains it like this. A normal person and an art expert both go to the Sistine Chapel.  Both are completely entranced with this consuming painting.  But, doesn't the art expert have a deeper appreciation for it because he understands it?

Knowledge is key to faith; but gaining knowledge without faith as its judge serves no purpose.

Note to My Readers

I have felt lately that many of my posts are not up to superhero standards. I really do enjoy writing them, but I write them so quick.  I don't like to give incomplete answers nor do you guys enjoy bad writing.  To stop myself from becoming counter-productive, I have decided to make a post weekly, rather than every few days.  Only when I feel I have thought on the subject and researched it thoroughly will I even dare to give it to you guys. These first few blogs were experimental at best partly due to my inexperience as a blogger. Now that I feel I have gained enough of the know-how, I will work diligently to provide you with the best of my ability.

Catechu -Man away...!!!! (this is where I fly away)

Is Satan Real?

You better believe it. I really didn't want to write about this topic. I have a deep fear for the paranormal and occult. I had that "hair standing up on the back of my neck" feeling the entire time I researched this. It is scary to think about anything above ourselves that can invade us without our consent. I am writing to you because I want you to be mindful of the origin of sin. Sometimes the best defense is knowing what you are up against. To help you better understand the focus will be the origin of Satan in relation to angels.

What are Angels?
Angels are the spiritual beings God created before the universe; God's first creations. According to Catholic doctrine, they were given free will just like us.

It is not clear what happened, but many theologists believe that when the angels were presented with Christ as a man, some refused to bow to a lesser being. Under the command of Lucifer, they were cast out from heaven.

Unlike us, their rejection is permanent because they are an entity closer to God. When Adam sinned he too became absent of God. God was sorry he created man because he recognized that his every intention was wicked (hence the flood), but also recognized our weakness so he sent his son. It is a different story for the angels. They are a higher being that understand God's will with clarity. Therefore, their sin was more malicious. We do not know the will of God so we always live in a state between sin and salvation.

Angels on Earth
The influence of angels on Earth is evident in the scriptures. For example, Abraham walking among the angels, Micheal appearing before Mary and the two angels that appear in the tomb of Jesus. How literal is it supposed to be taken? Do angels have a physical body? The popularized angel with wings and white robes came about from early paintings but the St. Thomas's Summa Theologica paints a different picture.

David Wrestling with the Angel

"His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow." -Matthew 28:3

According to the Theologica, angels don't exist in a physical sense. They do exist, as it says in Psalm 148:2 "'Praise ye' the Lord, 'all his angels'...for he spoke, and they were made; he commanded and they were created." They are an "intellectual substance." No physical limitations are placed upon them like humans. A being like God, but not God.

If angels are without bodies then how are they seen in the gospel? The Theologica also explains that angels are not in a place because that is defined as quantity having position. Angels do not have a physical body so they aren't a quantity. Essentially, they can be everywhere and no where all at once. Therefore, they are in a place only by application of angelic power.

Satan on Earth
Now take that context and apply it to Satan. Satan is everywhere, but no where too. Time and space does not exist for either. What is Satan? Most believe Satan to be Lucifer. Satan is  Lucifer, but is also much more. Think about the concept of "the devil". The devil is a symbol for the embodiment of all evil; a symbol for the absence of God.

Just as heaven is a perfect unity with God, hell is a perfect unity with Satan.

How does Satan affect us? The influence of angels and demons today is not seen as clearly as in the scriptures. This could be due to Jesus saving us from original sin. He "Stomped on the head of the snake" and Satan's influence was lessened.  There have been many cases of possession in the gospel and Jesus significantly lessened the power Satan had on us.

Satan Taking Physical Form
"And it came to pass, when man began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of man that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with men, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be numbered one-hundred and twenty years. There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bore children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, man of renown." -Genesis 6:1-4
Note: this passage is subject to interpretation. the son of God may not be referring to angels at all. However,  references to the "sons of God" clearly depicted them as Angels in two other passages in the bible.

Then in the days of Noah, God destroyed the Earth and man with a great flood. The fallen angels that committed these sins on earth where doomed to hell-fire.

"God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to Hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgement." -II Peter 2:4
Thus, no longer being able to carry out a physical form on the earth. However, there are still fallen angels that were not chained and still try to bring influence to us.

Types of Influences

Obsession

1. A direct attack to our minds and the most common

2. Gives feelings of hopelessness and despair; isolation from others

3. Satan is sly and makes us believe it is our own thoughts
4. When you sin, it is not Satan that commits the sin; it is you. All Satan can do is tempt you.

Infestation

1. Invading a place, object or person
2.  Paranormal Activity scenerio
3. Objects go missing, change places, etc.
4. Strange banging noises or electrical appliances being turned on and off

Possession

1. Extremely rare case
2. The Church is very strict in handling cases of possession because it is similar to some physiological issues people may have.
3. Changes in physical appearance, speaking in strange languages, unnatural strength, etc.
4. Here is a link to signs of being possessed.

That image is really freaking me out. I think it is just as important to understand the absence of God if we ever want to understand Him. Remember, Satan is always fearful of the Lord. Did Jesus not cast out Legion into the swine that then drowned in the sea?

Jesus Always Answers

What is the reason you pray? Not so much your adoration for God, but for yourself. As a superhero, I pray for the super things in life: I pray for my Louis Lane, that my secret identity never be revealed, and that my faith can make a difference in others' lives. How horrible would it be if Jesus decided not to give me any of them!
Money Grows on Trees!
I've read up on theories about God and why he gives us a "not yet" or a "something else." The answers where all along the lines of us not knowing what God has planned. Despite that, we find ourselves a little more frustrated and a little less faithful. Here is the thing though. God is not Santa Clause. If praying was "ask and you shall receive" then I'd be the richest man on Earth (assuming no one else asks to be rich).

However, no matter how much an amputee may pray, he will never get his leg back. A loved one will not come back to life. Nor will money fall from trees.

Why is that? Jesus certainly wants good things for us. What isn't realized is prayer isn't meant to change everything around you; it is meant to change YOU.

John 4:13-14
Jesus answered "Every person that drinks this water will be thirsty again. But the person that drinks the water I give will never be thirsty again. That water I give will become like a spring of water flowing inside that person. That water will bring that person to life forever."

Jesus and the Samaritan Woman

Jesus has already provided the most important part to praying; the holy spirit dwelling within us. When praying, we are inviting the holy spirit to be the guide, our "daily bread."

I think that this gift is really under appreciated. Our perception of God is boxed in to fit only our needs and the whole purpose of prayer becomes defeated. The box of his infinite power is covered by our hearts and he fades into our minds as a tool, only to be called upon when needed.

Would You Like Fries With That?
I see the same thing during Mass. Some people are so caught up in receiving the Eucharist that they forget to appreciate it. Church then becomes a place for take-out- soul food for those on the go- and they never sit down to enjoy the meal.

In that sense, prayer is very much like a meal for our souls. Open your mind and heart to Christ and uncover the box. The holy spirit isn't to be taken to-go.  It is a full-course meal with appetizers and dessert!

Don't expect prayers to be answered without first realizing how much has already been given to you. God leads you to water, but in the end you have to decide to drink it.

Social Media and Truth

I have failed you all.  I realized that while I was out fighting evil, I failed to properly equip you for your own battles. More specifically, understanding social media and how it allows us to gain knowledge in faith. I call this weapon of battling the Social Media Sword of Truth!!! Be very careful with how it is used, for it is a double-edged sword.  If it is not used correctly it can have the opposite affect. All you need to do is keep reading if you want to learn how to use this super-hero weapon and cut straight to the truth.

Social Media Sword of Truth Power-ups!

1. Identify fact vs. opinion
2. Learn the difference between a journalist and a ranter
3. Use social media for faith not fiction

When I am not out fighting crime, I study journalism in college. The first thing I learned is that everyone is a journalist. However, There is a difference between a good one and a bad one.

Journalism 101

To better understand lets look back to the 20th century when journalism was still known as the fourth estate of government. Journalists used to by the catalyst between the government and the people. Most notably, they reported on the Vietnam War scandal that got Nixon impeached. What ever a journalist said was the truth and the truth had power.

Then the internet came along and information became more available. In 2004, boom! Facebook crawled out of the dark depths of Zuckerburg's mind.  Twitter followed two years later. Suddenly, the internet suffered from information overload.

 Facebook and Twitter did more than connect people; it connected websites and ideas into one network. People post thoughts and videos and others can comment and blog freely about them. Do you have any idea what this means for Catholicism? Everyone is free to attack and make bold claims against it while we sit and take it. Even when we try to make a statement, they follow up with the "quit shoving religion down my throat" line. This literally makes me laugh because of how often I see it. The only thing I will be shoving down your throat is a roundhouse kick to the face!

Approved by Chuck Norris

Blast to the Past

I don't think you realize just how big of a deal wide distribution of information is. To help you, here is a look into history when information got the better of the Catholic Church. We are now in the 1500s, around the time when Martin Luther put his 95 theses on the church doors. 

Martin Luther

The printing press was also invented by Gutenberg around this time. The printing press allowed for hundreds of thousands of book to be copied, mainly the bible. Martin Luther emphasized that the bible was the only source of faith. Now, everyone can read the bible and interpret it how they wanted. What widespread information does it put religion in the hands of uneducated men.

Ranters Are a Journalists Worst Enemy

Here is an example of a rant:

"This whole KONY thing is a great cause & all, but maybe America should deal with some of the hate crimes taking place on it's own land before we try to save the day elsewhere."

For educational purposes I am going to change it into a factual claim:

"The Obama Administration has made plenty of efforts to stop hate crimes here in America. For example, the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" law that was passed in September. Or, the Respect for Marriage Act that Obama  supported. All this effort by the government and I still haven't seen much effort on our part. Maybe American citizens should focus on what effects them instead of what effects those in Africa."

See the difference? A rant is scary. It is an opinion in the disguise of useful information. Factual claims have an opinion and facts to support those claims. Anyone who says "not allowing abortion is immoral towards women" immediately loses the right to say it if they fail to provide evidence.

Truth VS. Rant

Truth vs. rant is like a battle between God and the Devil; Truth always wins. Steve Colbert dubbed it as "truthiness"- a quality characterizing a "truth" that a person claims to know intuitively "from the gut." 

There isn't anything wrong with having an opinion. It is impossible for a journalist to be unbiased. However, it is just as important to report both sides as it is to support what you say. I love to give people a good smack down by proving them wrong as well as proving I am right.

The use of social media can totally be used to your advantage. The next time you see a post about how wrong it is to not provide contraceptive services or how many boys a priest may have molested, unsheathe your sword. Learn what is true and what is not, report the facts, and destroy all fiction!

Why Catholic?

Get this.  One day I was hanging out doing super hero stuff on Facebook.  I was minding my own business when all of a sudden, a wild anti-catholic appeared.  She threw various attacks about how wrong it was to want to be Catholic.  The worst part was I didn't know how to defend myself.  She seemed very knowledgeable about the bible and it was an utter defeat.   Luckily faith is on my side and I have endless power! Thus, I decided to properly equip myself for revenge justice.

Translation Punch to the Face!


To begin, I want to talk about the transition of the bible from Latin to English.  By 500 B.C. all of the Hebrew manuscripts of the Old Testament were finished.  About 300 years later those manuscripts were translated into Greek.

The New Testament was finished by the end of the first century.   It was also written in Greek.  An entire bible in the Greek language and no one speaks the language today.

Now,  in 382 A.D.  Pope Damascus commissioned St. Jerome to revise the bible in the old Latin text.  He used the original Greek text to reproduce the gospels.  However, he also translated all 39 books of the Hebrew bible for the Old Testament.  Here is a man who used two different translations for two parts of the bible.  This is St. Jerome's preface to his version:

"You urge me to revise the old Latin version, and, as it were, to sit in judgement on the copies of the Scriptures which are now scattered throughout the whole world; and, inasmuch as they differ from one another, you would have me decide which of them agree with the Greek original."

St. Jerome

Don't get me wrong, this was done to correct inaccurate translations.  Keep in mind there is a long history of the bible and it was made by man over the course of 3000 years.

The church prevented any other translation of the bible from about 600 A.D. up until the invention of the printing press.  The printing press internationalized the bible and it began to be translated into other languages.  John Wycliffe was known to produce the first hand-written English version (which helped start the Protestant reformation.)  He was part of a secret society that tried to keep the original Christian teachings that the Catholic Church corrupted during the middle ages.

The bible itself is up for debate here.  The argument of following only the teachings of the bible is invalid.  The most accurate version is the Hebrew Scripture of the Old Testament and the Greek version of the New Testament.  The Catholic Church is the only one who has these and the remnants are scattered and lost with the ages.  The bible, therefore, can't give accurate teachings; it can only serve as a guide.   Faith in the bible alone is faith in the integrity of the translations.

Super-Sacrament Attack!


Denying the sacraments is like denying the apostles.  Jesus gave his apostles the duty of spreading his word. The sacraments are based off of the life and teachings of Jesus and made in a way to deepen our faith.

Baptism- This is easy.  Jesus found John the Baptist in the wilderness and was baptized by him.  Baptism washes away original sin and gives back the graces Adam lost for us.

Eucharist- Protestants believe the body and blood of Jesus is not actually present during communion.   They say he was not meant to be taken literally at the last supper.  I don't know if you realized this, but the apostles were dumb.  They couldn't even understand Jesus's simple parables.  Jesus would not say "this is my body" or "this is my blood" if it wasn't meant to represent them.   Offering his body and blood is also a sacrifice to God.  It is also the only acceptable one because we offer up God to God.  The Eucharist is an altar in which we give the most sacred thing we have to God; that is Jesus.

Reconciliation- Confessing our sins in order to be forgiven.  God loves us so much he is willing to forgive us. I have heard that confession is wrong because "only God can forgive sins" or "you can only call God 'father'."   I am sorry Dad, I will just have to call you Randy from now on.  As for being forgiven for sins,  Jesus had that power.  We see him forgiving sins left and right.  He gave his apostles that power in his name. When we go to confession we are praying to God while a priest hears us.  We ask God to forgive us, not the priest.  the priest listens and forgives in God's name.  They are like the Shepard trying to bring his stray back to the flock.

Confirmation- I'm not exactly sure when exactly Jesus performed confirmation.  We do hear of him appointing priests and sending them into towns to preach.  It is said the first official confirmation was at Pentecost, where the apostles received the holy spirit.  Today, it is when a child reaches a maturity to understand God.  It is kind of like a vow to live life in his glory.

Marriage- This is a union between a man and woman as one flesh, as it was with Adam and Eve.  It is a symbol of Christ's love for his church in the form of holy matrimony.

Holy Orders- The bishops today are like yesterday's apostles.  These bishops are given the power to ordain priests.  The relationship is similar to marriage.  Instead, the priest gets married to the church.  You are fulfilling the same commitment as Jesus and the apostles if you go down this route.  That is why Protestants can't have priests nor any other sect not related to Catholicism.  Only bishops can appoint priests and only priests have the power of absolution, the ability to turn bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ and the power to anoint the sick.

Jesus and the Leper

Anointing of the Sick- This is performed on someone's death bed or during an exorcism.  The priests essentially perform rituals for healing and offer a chance for sins to be forgiven.  This is what Jesus is seen doing throughout all of the gospels.  He cured leprosy, made the dead live and expelled demons.

Holiday/Prayer Low Kick Combo!


Just because it isn't in the bible doesn't mean it isn't relevant.  God existed before the bible.  In essence, we can worship him without it.  Holidays are not a rule made in the commandments.  Congratulations.  You have thwarted all my faith.  Just kidding.

Holidays are an expression of love towards God.   Loving God is the first commandment last I checked.  When we give something up for lent, we aren't saying, "God look at us obeying you."  We are saying, "Jesus look at us try to understand you."  During Easter we don't say, "we deserve what Jesus did for us because we were faithful."  We say "God, I don't deserve the sacrifice you gave us."  We put Jesus before ourselves.

When we pray to our Blessed Mother we are not worshiping her.  We are asking her to pray for us.  I had a conversation about this with my sponsor and she said something utterly brilliant.   What is a prayer?  I said it is trying to communicate with God.  Who better to communicate with God than his mother?  The higher purpose isn't to worship how great they were; it is to help our prayers reach Jesus.


Anti-Catholic Girl Defeated?

Certainly not.   I only used a few of my attacks in the arsenal!  She will be back!  She is the Joker to my Batman!  Without her I would have no reason to blog!  There are many other arguments that can be made against Catholics. I say bring it.  Anywhere there is injustice in the world I will be there.  Any time there is someone struggling with faith I will hold strong. I am Catechu-Man!

The Pseudo-Catholic

An all-too-true Metaphor


A pseudo-catholic is like confession.  Every church has one. but nobody talks about it.

You know them as Mr. Smith who got in trouble with the bank or a friend who says they are Catholic, but hasn't been to church since Easter.  I call them "pseudo" because they are Catholic only by name.

Before I start, let it be known to those less faithful readers that I am not going to rant.  I think it is incredibely natural for you to turn your attention.  That's right. I said it.  I expect everyone to do it.  I've done it for about 18 years.  But, I am not talking about those who haven't heard the gospel.  I am talking about those whom grow up in a Catholic home and learned Catholicism from a young age, but still choose to keep God off of his/her "to-do" list.  I say "to-do" because it is just that; something you have to do.

Children Learn Young


I hear reasons all the time from my friends.  "I was forced by my parents" or "I am too busy with school and friends."  Okay.  If that is what you believe then you can stop reading.  You have that free will.

First off, lets talk about parenting.  Parents are the most important part of a child's learning.  Parents who skip out on church will have kids who skip out on church.  Parents that don't include faith with learning have failed at their single most important act; the act of love.  When I talk about love, I talk about the divine love God has for us, the divine love Christ has for his church and the holy matrimony between husband and wife. Let's face it guys, girls are not like wine.  Physical attraction can only get a marriage so far.

That is what I love about a catholic marriage.  It transcends physical stimulus in a form of self-sacrifice and endless love.  Christ's love for his church is a direct reflection of love for a significant other.  Growing in love with Jesus, makes you grow in love with your partner.  This love is so revered that the church took the time to make it a sacrament.  I think the biggest problem for child-rearing is the parents are just absent love.  I am not talking about natural love between a mother and child.  I am talking about limitlessness with God reflected in the parents' faith, marriage and actions.


Teenagers Don't Know Best


Another phenomenon I see is how vulnerable teens are to sinful nature.  They are young, naive and full of hormones.  School gets the better of them and parents get them at their worst.  For lack of a better word, they are insecure.  I was very insecure as a teen.  I had bad cases of acne, I totally failed at love and I was failing school.  I was faced with two options:  Find things that keep me happy or grow passed it.

If I had to choose between a girl and God at the time, I'd of chosen the girl.  Teenage boys can't help it.  Girls are pretty and I am not sure how good God looks in a mini-skirt.  That is why I think it is so important for people to have a good foundation with faith at a young age.  I did not have this blessing and am forced to find answers on my own.  Young adults whom have a good foundation can look passed insecurities and be comforted in the arms of Christ.

It is up to the parents how the child will look at life, but it is up to the children with whom they befriend.  Those in bad company are like a seed grown among thorns.  This is why the Church generally only accepts marriages if they can ensure that the children will be given a catholic-rearing.  That is why most catholic marriages are between two Catholics.  That is why the idea of "dating" is sometimes frowned upon in catholic homes.  The bottom line is, who you surround yourself with is a reflection of who you are and who you will become.

Who Will Be Responsible

Pseudo-Catholics are everywhere and no where at the same time. Whether we like it or not, they are part of our faith community.  Don't just ignore it. It isn't entirely their fault that they got lost along the various paths in life.  Aren't the faithful responsible for not taking care of their own kin? Christ calls us all to meet him.  Lead them.

Finding Faith

"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on a rock." - Matthew 7:24


"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.  You will know them by their fruits.  Are grapes gathered from thorns or figs from thistles?  So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit." - Matthew 7:15




If faith was easy to keep Jesus would not have needed to save us from sin.   If faith was easy to have we would not need the church or the bible.  We would be like Adam, living in a state of sanctifying grace in the Garden of Eden.  Giving Adam free will, God was betrayed by man and we lost God's grace.  Jesus came and knew the hearts of men and fashioned parables.  

Saying I believe in God and actually believing in him gets the better of me all the time.  I hate to admit it, but I loved the attention.  Attention I was getting while not following the commandments nor cracking open a bible.  The minute I wasn't around my friends from church, I would fall into the same habits.  I was a hypocrite; just like the scribes who loved to pray in public and sit at the best seats and eat the best food.

Call it an epitome, but I was inclined to visit a website my friend had linked through Facebook.  The site had people who shared how God had saved them.  I felt the holy spirit for the first time in a while and immediately contacted a church about RCIA.  I also had an urge to understand God.  I think the biggest problem with faith is we just don't know what/who God is and what he wants for us.

I read a book called "The Faith Explained" (keep in mind I will be quoting from this book many times) and it explained our creation in a very easy way.  God created us in his image; to glorify himself.  Imagine yourself as an artist.  You have a picture in your head and you decide to paint it.  You pour your heart and feelings into the painting and ta-da! It is finished!  Don't you feel proud and full of joy in your work?  God loves his creations and he wants good things for them.

My non-catholic friends always think of God as this restricting parent.  I admit, I am guilty of this too.  The thing I realized and love to think about is how much God loves us and wants us to see him in heaven.  Your parents won't stop you from sticking your hand in a blender if they didn't think it was dangerous.  He loves us and wants to guide our lives.

Another problem is all of the outside influences.  For all the friends I have that love and believe, I have 10 more that do not.  This is the biggest factor for turning from Christ if there is no foundation in faith.  That foundation is a complete and utter acceptance of our weakness and God's love for us.  Give yourself up and understand what the ultimate goal is; get to heaven.  No matter how much fun it is to laugh about someone or  how enjoyable it is to do what we want, know that God is still waiting and smiling.  He isn't scorning nor is he punishing.  That understanding has been my rock even though I have not finished building my house.

Lately I have been feeling guilty about how open I was with my faith.  Am I falling into the same habit?  I realize now that it isn't true.  It is okay to surround yourself with Christ. There is nothing wrong with saying "I love you Jesus" to the entire world.  Jesus says we are known by our fruits.  Try to find your relationship with him and surround yourself in his love.  Keeping God in my mind, heart, and lips has been my foundation up until now.  

changelookslikethis.com
Matthew 7:15
Matthew 7:24

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

I am Catachu-Man!!!!  I am just a normal person who one day fell into a pool of radioactive holy water.  The holy spirit entered my body and now I spread faith and justice though out the world!

This is a blog detailing my battles while entering into the Catholic faith as a catechumen.  For those of you who don't know, a catechumen is a person who is learning about Catholicism before becoming baptized or being confirmed. I've been reading  other Catholic b logs lately and I see many bloggers with a deep understanding of the Lord.

Instead of offering words of inspiration, I wanted to share with you the struggles of trying to find faith, understand God and learn what it means to be Catholic.  Just be warned, those of you looking to a blog for inspiration, this isn't it.  This blog is about struggle; a struggle to find myself in Christ and how life just doesn't want us to be faithful.  I have read and understood the ins and outs of Catholicism, but faith isn't that black in white.

Please join me on my never-ending battle to find faith, love and hope through the power of the holy spirit and my trusted sidekick, the Bible!

For more information on RCIA click this link.