Therefore had the Lord Jesus compassion upon us in order to call us to Himself, not frighten us away. He came in meekness, He came in humility, and so He said: “Come unto Me, all you that labour and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you.” So, then, the Lord Jesus refreshes, and does not shut out nor cast off, and fitly chose such disciples as should be interpreters of the Lord’s will, as should gather together and not drive away the people of God. Whence it is clear that they are not to be counted amongst the disciples of Christ, who think that harsh and proud opinions should be followed rather than such as are gentle and meek; persons who, while they themselves seek God’s mercy, deny it to others — Book I, Chapter 1, para. 3
Received the following through my Christian Newswire newsfeed: Pope Chooses ‘Political Correctness’ Over Christ
“In a very disturbing acquiescence to “political correctness,” the Pope Benedict XVI has chosen the approval of non- Christians and unbelievers over the truth of Christ,” said Dr. Gary L. Cass, Chairman and CEO of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission. “Because Christians are commanded by Christ to demonstrate love, they must pray for conversion non-Christians which Christians believe are lost. Christians single out the Jews for prayer out of a genuine concern for their souls.”
The Catholic Church has announced that the Pope Benedict XVI will rewrite the Good Friday prayer to remove what some have claimed are negative references to Jews. The prayer reads, “Almighty and everlasting God, you do not refuse your mercy even to the Jews; hear the prayers which we offer for the blindness of that people so that they may acknowledge the light of your truth, which is Christ, and be delivered from their darkness.”
The references to the “blindness” and “darkness” of the Jews are to be stricken from the prayer because of the efforts of people like Abraham Foxman and organizations like the Jewish Anti-Defamation League.
“Christians have always believed that Jesus is the only Savior of mankind and the true Light of the world,” said Cass. “To not believe in Christ is to not see Him as the Savior and therefore to be spiritually blind. If you do not live in the light of Christ, you therefore live in spiritual darkness. This is biblical Christian truth, even if it is “politically incorrect.” ”
“The temerity of some Jews to demand that a prayer for the conversion of the Jews be stricken from the prayers of the church is astonishing,” said Cass. “For two thousand years Israeli Jews have renounced Christ and Christians. Jewish teachers have belittled Christ and Christians in the most strident terms in their sacred writings, the Talmud. I do not see these same Jews demanding anti-Christian texts be removed from their Talmud…”
A few thoughts on this. I think that this statement is lacking in mercy – and Christian charity. While I fully acknowledge that no other faith group can direct Christian prayer, I am perfectly willing to allow the Bishop of Rome to speak on the matter – to understand where he is coming from. Charity demands that we listen to our brother and think before rushing to condemnation.
It is also interesting that this group, which has made nary a statement about Catholicism or the Roman Catholic Church (per a search of their site using their search box – criteria included: ‘Catholic, Catholicism, Rome, bishop, and diocese), would choose this particular issue on which to opine. Further, I do not think that the roots of the organization lend themselves to ventures in Catholic liturgical criticism.
On the issue of the prayer itself – the Roman Church will pray what it prays, and it has that right. The Bishop of Rome, in the Roman Church’s understanding, has full, immediate, and universal jurisdiction, so he can rewrite things and he can use his office to make them stick (as long as they are not heretical). Does this surprise anyone anymore.
On this issue of language, it does evolve – especially in the sense of its common usage and understanding. Meanings change over the years. The same can be said of the term blindness. Do we want to take the time to help people understand the metaphorical and varied intellectual meanings of the word blindness – or do we want to be clear?
You could even make a technical argument by stating that blindness is an inability to see, something that is not true for the human heart. Do we as Christians believe that God created hearts that are unable to find Him? Not at all! So are the Jewish people spiritually blind? I think not. I do not think anyone is. If we fully acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the way, truth, and life – we must rely on God’s grace in moving hearts.
I received everyone’s mailing address and everyone who requested a subscription to God’s Field and/or a PNCC monthly calendar will receive both. The order has been placed. I would give it about four weeks just to be safe. If you do not receive anything by then, please let me know.
If any one affirms that the body of Christ is void of soul and understanding, and refuses to acknowledge that He is perfect man, one and the same in all things (with us), let him be anathema. — Topic 11
If any one says that Christ was manifested in the world only in semblance, and refuses to acknowledge that He came actually in the flesh, let him be anathema. — Topic 12
If any one affirms that Christ is perfect man and also God the Word in the way of separation, and refuses to acknowledge the one Lord Jesus Christ, even as it is written, let him be anathema. — Topic 8
If any one says that Christ suffers change or alteration, and refuses to acknowledge that He is unchangeable in the Spirit, though corruptible in the flesh, let him be anathema. — Topic 9
If any one affirms that Christ assumed the man only in part, and refuses to acknowledge that He was made in all things like us, apart from sin, let him be anathema. — Topic 10
But just as physicians when curing the same disorder receive from some person a hundred gold pieces, from others half, from others less and from some nothing at all: even so Christ received from the centurion a large and unspeakable degree of faith, but from this man less and from the other not even an ordinary amount, and yet He healed them all. For what reason then did He deem the man who made no deposit of faith worthy of the benefit? Because his failure to exhibit faith was not owing to indolence, or to insensibility of soul, but to ignorance of Christ and having never heard any miracle in which He was concerned either small or great. On this account therefore the man obtained indulgence: which in fact the evangelist obscurely intimates when he says, “for he wist not who it was,” but he only recognized Him by sight when he lighted upon Him the second time. — para. 4
But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.
Today’s readings and Gospel are about concerns.
As we approach the holy season of Lent it is right for the Church to remind us about concerns. Do I have too much? Do I work too hard? Do I have my priorities straight? Too much, too little, too strong, too weak.
Our first reading consists of two verses. Isaiah 46:14-15. Two simple verses to tell us that God will never let go of us.
In Jesus we find the fulfillment of that promise. God came to us, revealing Himself, saving us, renewing us, and rebuilding what was broken. Jesus came because God can never let us go, after all He is our Father and has promised His constant love.
Thus Jesus came to usher in the end times. In doing so He revealed the requirements for the road ahead.
During Lent we will recall what this meant.
Jesus’ coming meant more than a few kind words and an occasional healing from a nice guy. It meant the revelation of God’s total commitment, His unending love and care for us.
Our reflection on Jesus’ mission will culminate in the sacrifice of Good Friday. The day when all that was broken was taken up on the cross.
On Easter Sunday we will see death broken, evil destroyed, and the road ahead – the road that leads to heaven, fully open to us.
In Easter we will hear the Gospel account of the road to Emmaus. That road is symbolic in that those disciples walked it, listening to God’s word, and in the end reached the revelation of Jesus. Recall what they felt on the road. Their hearts burned. They were filled with joy.
The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!
Friends,
In today’s Gospel Jesus reminds us that in the days of the kingdom, the days that will be ushered in by His death and resurrection, concerns are no more. God is present. He is here. Life has changed.
Really, worrying about things is meaningless in respect to this new life – the new life in which we share. God’s grace and love are sufficient. His end game has been revealed and we know where we are headed. As such nothing, no worry, no concern, nothing physical, nothing known or unknown, not even the depths of hell nor the heights of heaven can contain the extent of God’s grace – His care for us.
Brothers and sisters,
St. Paul wraps this all up. He is not worried about the judgments of the Corinthians, of human tribunals, or even his own account of himself. Paul places his faith solely in the judgment of the Lord. Beyond that, Paul is on message – he is working at his task – the building of God’s Kingdom.
Paul knows that he is living in the midst of the eschatological promise of Christ. The earth is fading away, time is moving forward, the day of the Lord is neigh. Paul knows the Lord’s word and the words found in Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers, the flower fades;
but the word of our God will stand for ever.
It is more than living with concerns over what to eat or what to wear. It is more than living with concern over the world’s judgments or self judgment. Our call is to live through Lent and through each day as people focused on one thing – the Kingdom of God. God’s grace is enough – it is sufficient to get us there. We cannot contain that love – only live in it.
Let us go forward then, forward this day, forward everyday, forward through Lent in thankfulness, in joy, in expectation seeking first the kingdom and His righteousness. In doing so we acknowledge that God’s life — God’s way — is enough for us.
Amen.
From CNA: Communion in hand should be revised, Vatican official says
Archbishop Albert Malcolm Ranjith, Secretary of the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Cult and Discipline of the Sacraments has said that the policy of giving Communion in the hand should be revised.
Receiving Holy Communion in the hand “produces a growing weakening of a devout attitude toward the Most Holy Sacrament,” wrote Archbishop Ranjith in the preface of a book from the Auxiliary Bishop of Kazakhstan, Bishop Athanasius Schneider.
The book’s title, printed by the Vatican Editing house, is —Dominus Est: Meditations of a Bishop from Central Asia on the Sacred Eucharist.”
Archbishop Ranjith says in the preface that the Eucharist should be received “with reverence and an attitude of devout adoration,” and claims that the practice of receiving Communion in the hand “was introduced in some places in an abusive and hurried manner.”
The Archbishop also highlights that the Second Vatican Council never promoted or legitimated such practice.
—I believe it is time to evaluate and reconsider such a practice, and if necessary, abandon it all together,” Ranjith concludes.
That and the whole idea of “Extraordinary ‘Ministers'” should be done away with
I know of what I speak because in my R.C. days, back in Buffalo, I was one. Our parish had 3-4 priests at any one time and 20+ “Extraordinary ‘Ministers.'” The priests sat back and let the EM’s do the work – and there were no huge crowds at any one Mass. Beyond that, whenever I attend a R.C. Church (family funerals, other occasions) I sit back and am amazed at what I see during the distribution of the Holy Eucharist.
The most recent example was a woman with a walker. She could not possibly let go of the walker with both hands so as to follow protocol.
As I recall the protocol
As she could not do that, she let go of the walker with the right hand. The ‘minister’ placed the Eucharist there. Then she brought her hand up to her mouth and literally ‘hoovered’ the Eucharist into her mouth. I almost fell over.
In the U.S. the extraordinary is the ordinary. It is merely a subterfuge for, as Catholic Church Conservation would call, stealth priestesses and other abuses. The Young Fogey has mentioned that clown masses are a thing of the distant past – and perhaps so. What they’ve been replaced with makes those look absolutely Tridentine (check out the photos at CathCon and marvel at the inventiveness of it all).
If people have to “wait” and few extra seconds for the Eucharist – so what. Seek forgiveness, approach with joy and expectation, and most of all build up the desire within yourself. After all, you are approaching God.
Happy Candlemas Day – the traditional end of the Christmas season.
This weekend we will bless candles – the traditional Gromniczna or Thunder Candle. The candle is kept in the homes of faithful Catholics and is used to ward off danger from storms and other threats. It is also used when the Holy Eucharist is brought to the home for distribution to the ill and home bound.
O Lord, Jesus Christ, Who wast presented by Thy parents in the temple, and Whom the venerable Simeon, illuminated by the light of Thy Spirit, recognized as his Savior, took into his arms and blessed: vouchsafe graciously to grant, that following the holy example of Simeon, we may always recognize Thee as our light and life, that we may always love Thee and follow Thee toward our way to salvation and eternal happiness. Who with the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest God, world without end. Amen.
Upon all this that righteous man, waxing bold and yielding to the exhortation of the mother of God, who is the handmaid of God in regard to the things which pertain to men, received into his aged arms Him who in infancy was yet the Ancient of days, and blessed God, and said, “Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word: for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” I have received from You a joy unmixed with pain. Receive me rejoicing, O Lord, and singing of Your mercy and compassion. You have given unto me this joy of heart. I render unto You with gladness my tribute of thanksgiving. I have known the power of the love of God. Since, for my sake, God of You begotten, in a manner ineffable, and without corruption, has become man. I have known the inexplicable greatness of Your love and care for us, for You have sent forth Your own bowels to come to our deliverance. Now, at length, I understand what I had from Solomon learned: “Strong as death is love: for by it shall the sting of death be done away, by it shall the dead see life, by it shall even death learn what death is, being made to cease from that dominion which over us he exercised. By it, also, shall the serpent, the author of our evils, be taken captive and overwhelmed.” — VIII