"To help appreciate and better promote the vocation of religious brothers, the Vatican releases a 50-page reflection of the importance of their life and mission of evangelization, fraternity and sacrifice." [1] This blogger has not read the 50-page release nor has he seen the more or less 10,000-word Vatican announcement calling for Christians to not attempt to convert Jews [2], nonetheless he is prepared to suggest the following paragraphs to be inserted as addenda to the 50-page document under the section on evangelization:
"The simplest way to say what evangelization means is to follow Pope Paul VI, whose message Evangelii Nuntiandi (On Evangelization in the Modern World) has inspired so much recent thought and activity in the Church. We [the United States Conference of Bishops] can rephrase his words to say that evangelizing means bringing the Good News of Jesus into every human situation and seeking to convert individuals and society by the divine power of the Gospel itself." [3]
But Brothers, you must disregard what Pope Paul VI had said, because your current boss, pope Frank, has forbidden you to convert Jews to Christianity. [4] You ask: why? Do not, because you are forbidden to question your boss. You ask: how? First, you must learn how to single out all the Jews, then you must shut up about "the divine power of the Gospel" regardless of how passionate you are about the Truth of the words of the Son of God when you meet anyone who is Jewish.
You ask: would singling out Jews be considered as "politically incorrect profiling" and racism? Yes. You ask: is our boss the Son of God Who was sent by His Father or the pope? If you are a Catholic brother and you operate within the purview of the Vatican, your boss is the pope because he can defrock you. You ask: what if I make an innocent mistake? Go to your room and study the methods by which Germans were able to identify Jews under Hitler's regime, then prepare a written confession to send to the pope indicating that you have become a Nazi in order to carry out his edict.
Therefore, to protect your jobs, Brothers, evangelize all you want but stop short when you are face to face with a Jew.
[1] http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2015/vatican-releases-instruction-on-identity-mission-of-religious-brothers.cfm
[2] http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2015/12/12/Vatican-says-Catholics-shouldnt-seek-to-convert-Jews/3671449948130/
[3] http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/evangelization/, accessed December 14, 2015.
[4] http://www.jpost.com/Christian-News/Catholics-should-not-try-to-convert-Jews-Vatican-says-in-landmark-document-436915
Monday, December 14, 2015
Pope Silences The Words Of Christ
'"A Reflection on Theological Questions Pertaining to Catholic-Jewish Relations,' was issued by the Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews, and approved by Pope Francis. It says Christianity and Judaism are intertwined, and that God never annulled his covenant with the Jewish people." [1]
How the Vatican knows for certain what God has or has not done is miraculous.
While this blogger agrees with the Vatican that the Jews are free to believe what they want, he objects to the statement that Christianity and Judaism are intertwined. If they are intertwined, then the whole concept of the Holy Eucharist, the underpinning of Catholicism [2], ought to be eviscerated to complete the intertwining of Judaism and Catholicism, so that believers in both religions are able to attend religious services and be active participants in all the religious rituals in either a church or a synagogue. Moreover, the administration of the two religions ought to be combined at the highest levels, merging the Vatican with all the rabbinical councils on the planet.
To perfect the intertwining of Catholicism and Judaism is not likely at any time in the foreseeable future, even if this pope wishes to share his power, as unlikely as that is, because not every Catholic and every Jew is in agreement with the Vatican. "The Jews for Jesus organization has denounced the Vatican for saying that the Catholic Church must try not to covert Jews to Christianity. David Brickner, executive director of Jews for Jesus, said in a statement ... that his organization finds the position '...egregious, especially coming from an institution which seeks to represent a significant number of Christians in the world.'" [3]
David Brickner made an excellent point. In order to be a good Catholic, Catholic Christians must follow the edict of the pope and no longer speak about Christ and His teachings in front of a Jew. Now it is back to an eye for an eye [4] and Catholics can forget about turning the other cheek [5]. If Satan is not working fast enough in welcoming all Catholics to Hell, this Pope is working hard being the catalyst.
[1] http://www.jpost.com/Christian-News/Catholics-should-not-try-to-convert-Jews-Vatican-says-in-landmark-document-436915
[2] http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/order-of-mass/liturgy-of-the-eucharist/the-real-presence-of-jesus-christ-in-the-sacrament-of-the-eucharist-basic-questions-and-answers.cfm
[3] http://www.jpost.com/Christian-News/Jews-for-Jesus-denounces-Vatican-for-no-converting-Jews-policy-437176
[4] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+24%3A17-22&version=ESV
[5] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A38-48&version=NIV
How the Vatican knows for certain what God has or has not done is miraculous.
While this blogger agrees with the Vatican that the Jews are free to believe what they want, he objects to the statement that Christianity and Judaism are intertwined. If they are intertwined, then the whole concept of the Holy Eucharist, the underpinning of Catholicism [2], ought to be eviscerated to complete the intertwining of Judaism and Catholicism, so that believers in both religions are able to attend religious services and be active participants in all the religious rituals in either a church or a synagogue. Moreover, the administration of the two religions ought to be combined at the highest levels, merging the Vatican with all the rabbinical councils on the planet.
To perfect the intertwining of Catholicism and Judaism is not likely at any time in the foreseeable future, even if this pope wishes to share his power, as unlikely as that is, because not every Catholic and every Jew is in agreement with the Vatican. "The Jews for Jesus organization has denounced the Vatican for saying that the Catholic Church must try not to covert Jews to Christianity. David Brickner, executive director of Jews for Jesus, said in a statement ... that his organization finds the position '...egregious, especially coming from an institution which seeks to represent a significant number of Christians in the world.'" [3]
David Brickner made an excellent point. In order to be a good Catholic, Catholic Christians must follow the edict of the pope and no longer speak about Christ and His teachings in front of a Jew. Now it is back to an eye for an eye [4] and Catholics can forget about turning the other cheek [5]. If Satan is not working fast enough in welcoming all Catholics to Hell, this Pope is working hard being the catalyst.
[1] http://www.jpost.com/Christian-News/Catholics-should-not-try-to-convert-Jews-Vatican-says-in-landmark-document-436915
[2] http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/order-of-mass/liturgy-of-the-eucharist/the-real-presence-of-jesus-christ-in-the-sacrament-of-the-eucharist-basic-questions-and-answers.cfm
[3] http://www.jpost.com/Christian-News/Jews-for-Jesus-denounces-Vatican-for-no-converting-Jews-policy-437176
[4] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+24%3A17-22&version=ESV
[5] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A38-48&version=NIV
Thursday, December 10, 2015
News And Democracy
Having been in Asia for about two weeks and away from the constant bombardment by the news on American television that reports daily on the divisions in the country and in the cities all across the nation is a respite. Why is supposedly the greatest democratic nation in the world so divided within its borders? If democracy is the ideal form of government, then the United States proves that democratic government can be quite contentious. To say that its fifty states are united requires one to stretch beyond recognition the meaning of unity.
A perfect democracy where the majority is always one hundred percent without dissenters is not possible, not in this world of sinners, but in Heaven, it exists. Heaven can have a perfect democracy because every soul there is in perfect communion with God, the Creator. Where there is one mind under goodness in its purest form, democracy and dictatorship are no longer opposites but are identical and indistinguishable.
If in the world of sinners everyone can be of one mind on an otherwise divisive issue without a single dissenter, that would be news.
Sunday, December 6, 2015
The Conscience
God has given everyone a conscience. This entry defines conscience as a key to the goodness of God. One has the option to use it to open up the goodness within, or ignore it, keeping the goodness locked up, allowing the conscience to become dormant and die. Without a conscience, one becomes the agent of Satan, filled with pride, envy and hate, manifested in the decisions made and the work done or left undone.
The absence of selflessness is an indication of the lack of a conscience. To ask a person to be selfless at all times is to ask the impossible. Only the Son of God was able to do so. Being an imperfect sinner, one is expected to try one's best at all times, and that means failing often. The failure to apply one's conscience perfectly is not equivalent to setting it aside. To try and try again to be selfless means exercising one's conscience regularly.
Applying one's conscience in everything one does matures the conscience. A fully mature conscience is the judge of one's life after the end of life. The better one's conscience is, the better the outcome of the judgment, for how one uses his/her conscience in life will be how one's conscience be applied to his/her soul after his/her death.
To get to Heaven, therefore, is not so easy, for one's conscience often errs in favor of one's flesh but at the same time against the interest of one's soul. It will only be at the mercy of God that the Gates of Heaven will be open.
For anyone who does not use his/her conscience, the conscience becomes dormant and eventually dies, then Satan fills the void left by a non-existent conscience. A dead conscience is not a conscience. A person who does not have a conscience to be applied to his/her soul after his/her death should have reason to fear since it is no different than being treated by someone without a conscience in life. Being treated by someone without a conscience is like being treated as if one had no redeeming qualities. Souls without any redeeming quality end up in Hell. Therefore, when a soul is being judged by an absence of conscience, the soul being judged would be deemed to be worthless and straight to Hell it will go.
The absence of selflessness is an indication of the lack of a conscience. To ask a person to be selfless at all times is to ask the impossible. Only the Son of God was able to do so. Being an imperfect sinner, one is expected to try one's best at all times, and that means failing often. The failure to apply one's conscience perfectly is not equivalent to setting it aside. To try and try again to be selfless means exercising one's conscience regularly.
Applying one's conscience in everything one does matures the conscience. A fully mature conscience is the judge of one's life after the end of life. The better one's conscience is, the better the outcome of the judgment, for how one uses his/her conscience in life will be how one's conscience be applied to his/her soul after his/her death.
To get to Heaven, therefore, is not so easy, for one's conscience often errs in favor of one's flesh but at the same time against the interest of one's soul. It will only be at the mercy of God that the Gates of Heaven will be open.
For anyone who does not use his/her conscience, the conscience becomes dormant and eventually dies, then Satan fills the void left by a non-existent conscience. A dead conscience is not a conscience. A person who does not have a conscience to be applied to his/her soul after his/her death should have reason to fear since it is no different than being treated by someone without a conscience in life. Being treated by someone without a conscience is like being treated as if one had no redeeming qualities. Souls without any redeeming quality end up in Hell. Therefore, when a soul is being judged by an absence of conscience, the soul being judged would be deemed to be worthless and straight to Hell it will go.
Saturday, December 5, 2015
A Long Life
Here in Asia, a long life is a blessing. It is perhaps something that many people of the world would want as well, except for suicide killers. While a long life lived happily and healthfully is desired, one that is full of pain and strife may not be as pleasant [1] but many in the latter group do seek medical care to become better, hoping to return soon to their normal daily lives.
The question asked here is whether a long life is God's blessing or God's punishment. This blogger thinks that it can be either or both. When a life is long and the nonagenarians and the centenarians stay healthy, are well cared for by their relatives and caretakers and are content, then their long lives are blessed lives. On the other hand, those who live long lives but cannot die could very well be a punishment, not only for them but for their family members. The nonagenarians that are punished can suffer themselves, watch their loved ones suffer, or both. [2] Thus, wishing a person a long life can be either something that is desired or a curse.
What about someone living a long life who is cared for in certain ways but is also suffering as a result of illness? Is that a blessing or a punishment? In this blogger's opinion, that is a blessing rather than a mixed blessing, for he sees the long life as the beginning of purgatory while in the flesh. This blogger had read somewhere that the Blessed Virgin Mary had indicated that suffering in life, however difficult it may be, is far easier than the suffering in Purgatory after death. In either case, eternal joy is guaranteed, whether the purging of sins starts in life or in Purgatory.
[1] The topic of assisted-suicide is not relevant to this entry.
[2] A hypothetical example of a nonagenarian being punished is having him see his own glory being tarnished by his sons, and seeing one of his son's reputation being trashed for transforming the world into a dangerous place because of the abuse of his power while he had it and another one of his sons trying to acquire power being rejected by the people in his own party.
Thursday, December 3, 2015
The Hijab
This blogger does not even know how to pronounce the word but "hijab" is the name of the scarf that Muslim women use to wrap their heads with. [1] Seeing several women the other day in the very crowded subway stations and on the subway trains somewhere in Asia, this blogger was struck with a degree of fear, however unfounded and unjustified, that perhaps one of them would for some reason detonate a suicide belt, taking her own life and the lives of many commuters around her. These women stood out because of their hijabs. Had they not worn their hijabs identifying them as Muslim, this blogger would not have feared.
As much as this blogger dislikes prejudging, he prejudged the Muslim women wearing their hijabs. And as often as this blogger writes about hypocrisy, he was being a hypocrite by doing the very thing --prejudging--that he does not think is right to do. [2]
A sinner this blogger was born as and a sinner he will continue to be until his death, and on God's mercy he will depend in hopes that his soul will be saved.
A sinner this blogger was born as and a sinner he will continue to be until his death, and on God's mercy he will depend in hopes that his soul will be saved.
[1] http://islam.about.com/od/dress/tp/clothing-glossary.htm
[2] Prejudging and hypocrisy in this instance are only two of this blogger's many, many flaws.
[2] Prejudging and hypocrisy in this instance are only two of this blogger's many, many flaws.
Media And The Works Of Satan
Shooters and television stations that cover shootings nonstop seem to have a symbiotic relationship. Certain television station reporters flock to cover shootings within the United States and around the world. Some have traveled to Paris, France, twice to cover the shootings there and to Canada to cover the one in Ottawa, Ontario. They seem to be drawn to disasters like flies to manure. And potential shooters love the media attention, the 24-hour coverage. The media and the shooters seem to partner up well, each existing for the other, one for ratings, the other for notoriety.
On the other end of the spectrum, those who perform acts of kindness do not get much media coverage. Fr. John Lee Tae-Seok was an example. [1], [2]
Perhaps Satan in its wily ways is always more interesting than the ways of God lived out by the Son of God. People in today's world is being drawn closer and closer to Satan by the news media, the social media, the fashion media, the consumption media (food, alcohol, gambling, drugs, medication, pornography and sports, for example) and every other kind of secular media as a participant or as an observer or both.
The antidote to this vortex of energy that draws souls into Hell is prayer. Every prayer is a redemption of sin. Even though it is unlikely that enough prayers would be said in one's lifetime to redeem every sin committed, it is better to have said the prayers than not to have said any at all. It is essential to note that every prayer that is prayed with concentration, sincerity, humility and abiding love is exponentially more effective than the mere recitation of prayers of the rosary.
[1] http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2011/02/25/the-21st-century-%E2%80%98saint%E2%80%99-you%E2%80%99ve-never-heard-of/
[2] http://lemomentdepaix.blogspot.hk/2015/08/gods-shepherd-fr-john-lee-tae-seok-aka.html
On the other end of the spectrum, those who perform acts of kindness do not get much media coverage. Fr. John Lee Tae-Seok was an example. [1], [2]
Perhaps Satan in its wily ways is always more interesting than the ways of God lived out by the Son of God. People in today's world is being drawn closer and closer to Satan by the news media, the social media, the fashion media, the consumption media (food, alcohol, gambling, drugs, medication, pornography and sports, for example) and every other kind of secular media as a participant or as an observer or both.
The antidote to this vortex of energy that draws souls into Hell is prayer. Every prayer is a redemption of sin. Even though it is unlikely that enough prayers would be said in one's lifetime to redeem every sin committed, it is better to have said the prayers than not to have said any at all. It is essential to note that every prayer that is prayed with concentration, sincerity, humility and abiding love is exponentially more effective than the mere recitation of prayers of the rosary.
[1] http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2011/02/25/the-21st-century-%E2%80%98saint%E2%80%99-you%E2%80%99ve-never-heard-of/
[2] http://lemomentdepaix.blogspot.hk/2015/08/gods-shepherd-fr-john-lee-tae-seok-aka.html
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