Throughout the Old Testament, God showed the nation of Israel that they were nothing without His divine help. When the Israelites showed stubbornness and unfaithfulness, they failed in their endeavors. It was only when they obeyed the precepts of the Lord that they conquered the other nations occupying the land. A great example of this is the overthrow of Jericho, driven by the exact following of God's instructions. Indeed, if the Israelites had taken this correlation between obedience and success to heart, they could have prevented a great deal of future disappointment and pain.
God wants to give every person on earth the eternal bliss of heaven, where they will be united with Him. He wishes to have all souls within His loving embrace forever. As of this moment, we have been given manna from heaven (that is, the flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ), which tastes like honey. However, when we come to the eternal unity of heaven, we will be in the "land flowing with milk and honey." Still, it is not meant to be an easy journey, just as it was not simple for the Israelites to reach the Promised Land.
The main reason that it took Israel so long to reach the Promised Land was because of their lack of obedience to God and their lack of faith in His ultimate plan for them. This was reversed when a faithful man, Joshua, came to be leader of the nation. He was careful to follow all of the laws of God to the letter and, as a result, the nation was prosperous under his rule. Still, after his death, Israel decided to stray from the Lord. Once again, as in the past, this brought ruin to the people and they cried out for help, after which God sent other righteous people to lead them. These people were called judges and a series of events led the nation through much of the same business as happened in the times of Moses and Joshua, alternately.
The main lesson that God was trying to teach them, and is trying to teach us, is that we need to trust in His plan for us. After all, He is the omnipotent being, and Almighty Creator of heaven and earth. One would think that it would be simple to trust such a powerful Lord with our lives. Obviously, this is not the case. Our selfishness and general stubbornness prevents us from realizing true and lasting happiness. When we try to take charge of our lives and push forward without regard for God, we end up hurt and in a bad way. It is only when we pray and lay our lives at the foot of the cross that we can truly be free and conquer sin. So what are we waiting for? Let us make ourselves helpless for Christ.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Tending the Flock: The Royal Priesthood
The priesthood is so much more profound in the New Covenant than in the Old because of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The Old Covenant required continuous sacrifice and prayer, of which neither did any true, lasting salvific good. The new priesthood involves, in it's most central role, the remembrance of Christ's total gift of himself in the Eucharist, which all of the previous sacrifices only prefigured. While the Levite priests offered sacrifices to the Lord for the expiation of sin, the new priesthood offers the sacrifice of Jesus in thanksgiving for His victory over all sin, His infinite mercy, and His forgiveness.
The purpose of the Catholic priesthood in a nutshell is to shepherd the flock, to proclaim the Word, and ultimately to bring God's children before Him in heaven. There are a great many things that contribute to this final, end result, however. For example, the Sacraments are the channels of grace by which priests are most effectively able to administer God's agape love to his people.
In Baptism, as in all of the Sacraments, the priest is used as the tool by which God brings us into His holy family and wipes away our sins. Reconciliation is a profound means by which God uses the priest to accomplish His divine will through the expiation of sin and the ministry of healing and compassion. The priest's foremost role in the liturgy of the Eucharist (that is, Consecration), is paramount to the spiritual life of the Holy Roman Catholic Church.
Outside of the Sacraments, the priest's role is that of spiritual director, friend, mentor, and leader. Seemingly limited in comparison, these roles are vital to the everyday life of the Church and it's members.
The best way for any of us to take advantage of the priests in our midst, especially in pursuit of salvation, is through the Sacraments. If we attend Mass daily and receive the Eucharist, go to Reconciliation when necessary (probably more often than we like to admit), and encourage other Sacraments like Baptism and Confirmation for those to which it is available, then we can help our brothers in Christ, our shepherds, or priests to fulfill their God-given mission of love.
The purpose of the Catholic priesthood in a nutshell is to shepherd the flock, to proclaim the Word, and ultimately to bring God's children before Him in heaven. There are a great many things that contribute to this final, end result, however. For example, the Sacraments are the channels of grace by which priests are most effectively able to administer God's agape love to his people.
In Baptism, as in all of the Sacraments, the priest is used as the tool by which God brings us into His holy family and wipes away our sins. Reconciliation is a profound means by which God uses the priest to accomplish His divine will through the expiation of sin and the ministry of healing and compassion. The priest's foremost role in the liturgy of the Eucharist (that is, Consecration), is paramount to the spiritual life of the Holy Roman Catholic Church.
Outside of the Sacraments, the priest's role is that of spiritual director, friend, mentor, and leader. Seemingly limited in comparison, these roles are vital to the everyday life of the Church and it's members.
The best way for any of us to take advantage of the priests in our midst, especially in pursuit of salvation, is through the Sacraments. If we attend Mass daily and receive the Eucharist, go to Reconciliation when necessary (probably more often than we like to admit), and encourage other Sacraments like Baptism and Confirmation for those to which it is available, then we can help our brothers in Christ, our shepherds, or priests to fulfill their God-given mission of love.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Homosexuality: Frustrating God's Design
The disordered tendencies of homosexuality date back to the early times of the Bible, and this issue is addressed much more than many people realize. Oftentimes, during conversations, I have found that people do not know about the Bible's condemnations of homosexuality and are quite surprised to hear of and read them. These people need look no further than Gn 19: 1-29, Rom 1: 24-27, 1 Cor 6:10, and 1 Tm 1:10 to find the "proof" that they seek regarding this matter. Considering these clear-cut, concise statements realistically can lead one to no other conclusion than that which the Catholic Church holds.
In today's society, as in so many other societies throughout the course of history, people seem to have forgotten the purpose of human sexuality. At the most fundamental level, its two purposes are unitive and procreative, as discussed in the CCC 2366. Human sexuality was created to be used in the bonds of Holy Matrimony, and is most certainly a topic to treat with a great deal of respect.
Advocates of homosexuality contend that human sexuality is to be used for other reasons than those listed above. They focus on the "unitive" aspect of homosexual actions and ignore the other, equally important procreative aspect for which God created sexuality. When one aspect is present but separate from the other, it is then that sinful actions occur. Artificial insemination is considered wrong for this reason; the procreative aspect is represented, but the unity that comes when two people join together in marital love cannot happen at the same time. Sexual relations within marriage require simultaneous unity and procreativity, for it is only then that the perfect use of our sexuality is fulfilled.
The reason that homosexuality is greatly disordered is that it ignores the procreative aspect, concentrating more on physical pleasure than on God's will. Of course, there is no doubt that homosexual people have an equally great capacity to love (at least, regarding agape and philia). Unity can be achieved between any two people, but true unity comes without sin, and because of the sinful nature of the homosexual act discussed above, this true and beautiful Godly unity cannot happen between two people of the same gender.
It can be exceedingly difficult to portray these points to others, or to convince others to accept them, if one does not approach the issue correctly. Putting aside any possible emotional attachment to homosexual accquaintences or friends and looking at truth with a clear mind guided by the Holy Spirit, we can all see homosexuality for what it is; "the expression of unresolved conflictive tension in a tendency that is separate from sexual identity."
In today's society, as in so many other societies throughout the course of history, people seem to have forgotten the purpose of human sexuality. At the most fundamental level, its two purposes are unitive and procreative, as discussed in the CCC 2366. Human sexuality was created to be used in the bonds of Holy Matrimony, and is most certainly a topic to treat with a great deal of respect.
Advocates of homosexuality contend that human sexuality is to be used for other reasons than those listed above. They focus on the "unitive" aspect of homosexual actions and ignore the other, equally important procreative aspect for which God created sexuality. When one aspect is present but separate from the other, it is then that sinful actions occur. Artificial insemination is considered wrong for this reason; the procreative aspect is represented, but the unity that comes when two people join together in marital love cannot happen at the same time. Sexual relations within marriage require simultaneous unity and procreativity, for it is only then that the perfect use of our sexuality is fulfilled.
The reason that homosexuality is greatly disordered is that it ignores the procreative aspect, concentrating more on physical pleasure than on God's will. Of course, there is no doubt that homosexual people have an equally great capacity to love (at least, regarding agape and philia). Unity can be achieved between any two people, but true unity comes without sin, and because of the sinful nature of the homosexual act discussed above, this true and beautiful Godly unity cannot happen between two people of the same gender.
It can be exceedingly difficult to portray these points to others, or to convince others to accept them, if one does not approach the issue correctly. Putting aside any possible emotional attachment to homosexual accquaintences or friends and looking at truth with a clear mind guided by the Holy Spirit, we can all see homosexuality for what it is; "the expression of unresolved conflictive tension in a tendency that is separate from sexual identity."
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
The Re-Genesis of a Pro-Life Attitude
The Lord has intended mankind to respect and revere human life as sacred since the beginning of Creation. God made man, "in [His] image, after [His] likeness" and, as such, all humans are so immeasurably valuable in God's eyes, as we are supposed to be in each others' eyes. This has been the stance of the Roman Catholic Church throughout time, and indeed of the Lord's people before Christ. However, as illustrated by the Fall, humans are inclined to sin, even the sin of taking another's life. The first instance of this in the Bible occurs when Cain kills his brother Abel (both sons of Adam) because God preferred the selfless offering of Abel to the meager, meaningless offering of Cain. As a result of Cain's disregard for the sanctity of life, God curses and banishes him from the land.
In our modern world, murder (and violence in general) is very common and played off as "permissible" when, in reality, Sacred Scripture tells us otherwise. The Catholic Church is one of the few remaining groups taking a stand for every humans' right to life, whether they be a murderer, an unborn child, or anyone in between. Now, one may ask, "How does this fit into the context of Cain and Abel's story?" Indeed, these issues are all integrally connected to Genesis 4.
Cain's envy and subsequent murder of Abel was the basic reason for his banishment, but, as discussed above, it was his violation of the sanctity of life that brought the wrath of God upon him. For the sole reason that everyone is created in the image and likeness of God, everyone is infinitely valuable in God's eyes and when one person kills another, that person takes away the beautiful gift of God. It cannot be given back to that person, unless it be the divine and miraculous will of God.
Naturally, because of the issue regarding the sanctity of life, both abortion and euthanasia are gravely wrong. Any taking of human life before God's divinely appointed time is a violation of His law and, therefore, unacceptable. It is vital that all people, especially world leaders, recognize the value of every human life and cease to promote a culture of death. It is time for the Re-Genesis of a Pro-life Attitude.
-Daniel Williams
In our modern world, murder (and violence in general) is very common and played off as "permissible" when, in reality, Sacred Scripture tells us otherwise. The Catholic Church is one of the few remaining groups taking a stand for every humans' right to life, whether they be a murderer, an unborn child, or anyone in between. Now, one may ask, "How does this fit into the context of Cain and Abel's story?" Indeed, these issues are all integrally connected to Genesis 4.
Cain's envy and subsequent murder of Abel was the basic reason for his banishment, but, as discussed above, it was his violation of the sanctity of life that brought the wrath of God upon him. For the sole reason that everyone is created in the image and likeness of God, everyone is infinitely valuable in God's eyes and when one person kills another, that person takes away the beautiful gift of God. It cannot be given back to that person, unless it be the divine and miraculous will of God.
Naturally, because of the issue regarding the sanctity of life, both abortion and euthanasia are gravely wrong. Any taking of human life before God's divinely appointed time is a violation of His law and, therefore, unacceptable. It is vital that all people, especially world leaders, recognize the value of every human life and cease to promote a culture of death. It is time for the Re-Genesis of a Pro-life Attitude.
-Daniel Williams
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
The Catechism and Prayer: A Young Blogger's View
Prayer is essentially a conversation between us as humans and the Divine, involving a conscious effort on our part to turn totally towards the Lord. Of course, God is constantly speaking to us, through the people we know, Sacred Scripture, and all of the events that we experience throughout the day. It is our choice both to speak and listen to God, because we must cooperate and use our free will in order to grow in virtue and holiness.
There are countless examples of how to pray in Sacred Scripture, from the Psalms of David to the sorrowful cries of Jesus hanging on the cross. Indeed, in order to learn how to pray, it is imperative that we turn to the Bible and draw from it’s rich tales of heartfelt love and devotion to our Lord. The Saints often quoted Scripture in their spiritual writings and shared the insights that God revealed to them in the course of their biblical studies.
In my spiritual life, Sacred Scripture has proved an invaluable asset, and I have learned so many lessons about how to pray and live my life from the precious text of the Holy Bible. My favorite passage is 1 Corinthians 13: 1-13, which describes love by stating what it is and is not. In the last year, my prayer life has shifted focus and is now centered on striving to find how to love perfectly as my heavenly Father loves. It is through meditation on the words of Sacred Scripture that I am able to better understand God’s will and how to communicate with Him.
I have tried to begin praying constantly throughout the day, every time that I recognize the grace of God in my life. However, as stated in the Catechism, I must additionally set aside a specific time to devote to prayer. One practice that I have been blessed enough to take up has been attendance of daily Mass, which is the greatest prayer of all. This specific time of prayer has already drastically improved my spiritual life, invigorating and renewing my love for God and His people.
One sad fact that I have come to terms with recently is that many people, including myself, do not turn their entire being to God during prayer, resulting in mediocre spiritual exercise and little gain in holiness. Upon reading the section in the Catechism titled, “Chapter Three: The Life of Prayer” beginning on page 711, I was reminded of the need for total conversion of heart and consecration to our Lord each and every time we turn to Him in prayer.
Finally, it is necessary to pray in hope and expectation with bold faith, as Saint Paul did during his time here on earth. Not only must we petition our Lord; we must expect that we will receive the blessings that we have requested! The Bible urges us to pray in bold expectation, saying in Luke 11: 9, “ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Jesus tells us that we will receive what we ask for from the Lord (if it is His Will) if we have even the smallest degree of faith, as small even as a mustard seed.
There are countless examples of how to pray in Sacred Scripture, from the Psalms of David to the sorrowful cries of Jesus hanging on the cross. Indeed, in order to learn how to pray, it is imperative that we turn to the Bible and draw from it’s rich tales of heartfelt love and devotion to our Lord. The Saints often quoted Scripture in their spiritual writings and shared the insights that God revealed to them in the course of their biblical studies.
In my spiritual life, Sacred Scripture has proved an invaluable asset, and I have learned so many lessons about how to pray and live my life from the precious text of the Holy Bible. My favorite passage is 1 Corinthians 13: 1-13, which describes love by stating what it is and is not. In the last year, my prayer life has shifted focus and is now centered on striving to find how to love perfectly as my heavenly Father loves. It is through meditation on the words of Sacred Scripture that I am able to better understand God’s will and how to communicate with Him.
I have tried to begin praying constantly throughout the day, every time that I recognize the grace of God in my life. However, as stated in the Catechism, I must additionally set aside a specific time to devote to prayer. One practice that I have been blessed enough to take up has been attendance of daily Mass, which is the greatest prayer of all. This specific time of prayer has already drastically improved my spiritual life, invigorating and renewing my love for God and His people.
One sad fact that I have come to terms with recently is that many people, including myself, do not turn their entire being to God during prayer, resulting in mediocre spiritual exercise and little gain in holiness. Upon reading the section in the Catechism titled, “Chapter Three: The Life of Prayer” beginning on page 711, I was reminded of the need for total conversion of heart and consecration to our Lord each and every time we turn to Him in prayer.
Finally, it is necessary to pray in hope and expectation with bold faith, as Saint Paul did during his time here on earth. Not only must we petition our Lord; we must expect that we will receive the blessings that we have requested! The Bible urges us to pray in bold expectation, saying in Luke 11: 9, “ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Jesus tells us that we will receive what we ask for from the Lord (if it is His Will) if we have even the smallest degree of faith, as small even as a mustard seed.
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