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.