tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.comments2022-03-29T23:10:57.371-05:00Immersed In ChristBrainiachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16681402620252665717noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-69473981810767110142016-08-30T17:48:09.574-05:002016-08-30T17:48:09.574-05:00WHAT A REFRESHING WORD.WHAT A REFRESHING WORD.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12070809392221333902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-8725580907389668892016-07-24T09:58:52.766-05:002016-07-24T09:58:52.766-05:00I particularly needed to hear about looking to the...I particularly needed to hear about looking to the huge good in others, or even the ten per cent in others or in myself, for the sake of the whole individual. Thank you! TerryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-71178858621109678332016-07-17T11:31:55.055-05:002016-07-17T11:31:55.055-05:00I hear so many “nice” homilies, but so few that ev...I hear so many “nice” homilies, but so few that ever really challenge or enlighten me. More often than not, when I listen to the homily at Mass, I wonder why the priest is pitching the message so low. It seems to me that we are usually being subtly encouraged to just be “nice people”. Hospitable. Kind. Generous. The homilies rarely challenge me to be more than a “follower” of Jesus. Often, they don’t even ask me to do that much. <br /><br />I think part of my problem is that the homilists often ask us to be “disciples” but they use the term in the generic, common sense. Followers of Jesus. I rarely hear the homilist discuss what discipleship actually is. I guess they assume that the folks in the pews have a more or less common understanding of what a disciple is. I wonder, how average church-goers would respond if asked what the term “disciple” means. Probably the answers would include, “follower of Jesus”, “someone who believes in God,” “someone who generally agrees with the Christian message,” or “someone who attends church regularly.”<br /><br />But Jesus did not ask us to merely “believe in”, “follow” (like one follows the news or follows a favorite author or musician), “agree with Him”, or “show up once a week.” He asked us to BE HIM. We are commissioned to BE the extension of Christ on Earth. To BE HIM. We are told that unless we give up everything for Him, we are not worthy of Him. We are to lovingly abandon ourselves and our lives to the One Who IS LOVE. This is so much more than mere belief, following, showing up, or agreeing with his message. <br /><br />The homilies I hear are sometimes uplifting or encouraging. Sometimes they enlighten me on some biblical or scholarly point. But rarely does a homilist ever seem to even try to inspire me to abandon myself to God, to trust Him completely with every facet of my life. <br /><br />The prayer of the faithful is usually even more bland and routine, as it fails to address the truly gut-wrenching realities of our local or world communities. We usually pray for such things as: the bishops and priests to continue to preach the Gospel; the many blessings of this day, the (generic poor), the military and their families, etc. This is pretty generic stuff when the average person in the pew is watching the daily news and sees that innocent people are being blown to pieces by terrorists; the children of our cities are starving for knowledge, food & love; families are falling apart; our friends and family members have lost the faith; some members of our community live in constant fear of injustice and even physical mistreatment, etc. <br /><br />Why are the “prayers of the faithful” pretty much the same day after day, for years on end, when there are so many specific situations and people in dire of our prayer, and when Jesus commands us to pray for our enemies and those who wish to harm us? (When is the last time we prayed at Mass for terrorists, murders, etc.? Why do we pray for our military members to be protected when we should be praying that Christians will stop participating in the acts of war?) <br /><br />Aside from one particular ordained priest I know who routinely pleads with those at Mass to BE CHRIST, I never here that from anyone else. So I sit at Mass day after day, week after week, year after year, listening to homilies that subtly communicate to me and my children that to be a Christian is to verbally assent to a general message of “Jesus is love”, to show up at Mass, and to follow the basic rules of the Church.<br /><br />When will the priests and laity challenge one another to make every aspect of our lives have to do with the person of Jesus Christ? We are supposed to be about giving our whole souls, whole minds, whole bodies, and with all of our strength to God. Somehow, sitting in the pew on any given Sunday, this is not what comes across to me.<br /><br />Somehow, we as Church, seem to be almost completely missing the point of Christianity.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-54278042050180385632016-07-10T17:51:37.389-05:002016-07-10T17:51:37.389-05:00Good post.Good post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-91051083127738806712016-06-27T16:36:15.452-05:002016-06-27T16:36:15.452-05:00Two of the biggest assumptions that many Christian...Two of the biggest assumptions that many Christians make regarding the truth claims of Christianity is that, one, eyewitnesses wrote the four gospels. The problem is, however, that the majority of scholars today do not believe this is true. The second big assumption many Christians make is that it would have been impossible for whoever wrote these four books to have invented details in their books, especially in regards to the Empty Tomb and the Resurrection appearances, due to the fact that eyewitnesses to these events would have still been alive when the gospels were written and distributed.<br /><br /> But consider this, dear Reader: Most scholars date the writing of the first gospel, Mark, as circa 70 AD. Who of the eyewitnesses to the death of Jesus and the alleged events after his death were still alive in 70 AD? That is four decades after Jesus' death. During that time period, tens of thousands of people living in Palestine were killed in the Jewish-Roman wars of the mid and late 60's, culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem.<br /><br /> How do we know that any eyewitness to the death of Jesus in circa 30 AD was still alive when the first gospel was written and distributed in circa 70 AD? How do we know that any eyewitness to the death of Jesus ever had the opportunity to read the Gospel of Mark and proof read it for accuracy? <br /><br />I challenge Christians to list the name of even ONE eyewitness to the death of Jesus who was still alive in 70 AD along with the evidence to support your claim.<br /><br /> If you can't list any names, dear Christian, how can you be sure that details such as the Empty Tomb, the detailed resurrection appearances, and the Ascension ever really occurred? How can you be sure that these details were not simply theological hyperbole...or...the exaggerations and embellishments of superstitious, first century, mostly uneducated people, who had retold these stories thousands of times, between thousands of people, from one language to another, from one country to another, over a period of many decades? Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02519721717265344702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-25802117753385754142016-05-10T07:38:10.299-05:002016-05-10T07:38:10.299-05:00And, in living for Christ, without reserve, we fin...And, in living for Christ, without reserve, we find real joy, real peace, which the world cannot give. In fact, the world cannot even comprehend that joy and peace. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-73557242051177182852016-05-03T07:13:33.919-05:002016-05-03T07:13:33.919-05:00This is comforting. I am in pain and am discourage...This is comforting. I am in pain and am discouraged right now. But I am sticking by God and trusting Him. That is inexplicable except by Grace, so the reflection helps me realize that God is actually close to me ... even in my sadness and pain.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-14004864441543394232016-04-16T07:48:32.491-05:002016-04-16T07:48:32.491-05:00Right on! It would save a lot of grief -- and perh...Right on! It would save a lot of grief -- and perhaps spme people's faith -- if everyone knew that.Padrenochehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17936204619437771447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-10460145625212732492016-04-15T09:47:04.456-05:002016-04-15T09:47:04.456-05:00You speak of "Joy", which I think people...You speak of "Joy", which I think people often confuse with "pleasure." We need to understand that there is a big difference between the two concepts. Pleasure stops when the activity producing it stops. Real Joy does not work that way. For example, eating causes me to feel pleasure - while I am eating. Once I stop eating, the pleasure stops. Working out does not really produce pleasure (not for me anyway!) but I am never sorry after I have worked out. Instead, I feel a sense of Joy because I have taken care of my body. Christian Joy is like that. And, being in Communion with God produces the ultimate Joy. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-8779036656253193192016-04-15T08:31:17.369-05:002016-04-15T08:31:17.369-05:00Francis says about this in "Joy of the Gospel...Francis says about this in "Joy of the Gospel":<br />6. There are Christians whose lives seem like Lent without Easter. I realize of course that joy is not expressed the same way at all times in life, especially at moments of great difficulty. Joy adapts and changes, but it always endures, even as a flicker of light born of our personal certainty that, when everything is said and done, we are infinitely loved. I understand the grief of people who have to endure great suffering, yet slowly but surely we all have to let the joy of faith slowly revive as a quiet yet firm trust, even amid the greatest distress: “My soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is… But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness… It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord” (Lam 3:17, 21-23, 26).Padrenochehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17936204619437771447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-76656892549155724962016-04-12T07:14:31.604-05:002016-04-12T07:14:31.604-05:00Postscript: What prepares us for death--the "...Postscript: What prepares us for death--the "greatest free moment of life" (Karl Rahner) also prepares us to live life "to the full" every day.Padrenochehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17936204619437771447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-84390860508017918892016-04-11T18:34:06.113-05:002016-04-11T18:34:06.113-05:00We resist change so naturally. This post is a chal...We resist change so naturally. This post is a challenge!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-80936317113663544092016-04-04T17:38:04.651-05:002016-04-04T17:38:04.651-05:00Does God in our own day give us a Peter or a John ...Does God in our own day give us a Peter or a John (as in Acts 4) to miraculously cure us along with signs and wonders worked in the name of Jesus? In my “scientific” moments of reflection, I might say no. But then I am not sure. In thinking about my childhood, I feel that He must have spared my siblings, parents, and me from serious illnesses because we were very poor and medically uninsured---perhaps because my Catholic mom and Lutheran dad were people of prayer and great faith. Maybe if we had a faith such as theirs---or even more so, a faith that could move mountains (Mt 17:20), then we too would see the miraculous cures of Peter and John.<br /> <br />But then again, perhaps not. Would miraculous cures in our times bring humanity closer to God? I wonder. If the Pharisees and Sadducees could deny the many cures of Jesus, the awakening of Jairus’ daughter in Luke 40, and the raising of Lazarus in John 11, could it be that many of the intellectually elite of today would attribute such miracles to random acts of nature that await a scientific explanation in the future. Perhaps God in His infinite wisdom and practicality has devised a better way than to zap us with a miraculous cure—one that adds more of us to His entourage of Peters and Johns. <br /><br />Several weeks ago, I underwent surgery and was surrounded by many Christ-like healers--from the surgeon, to the nurses, to the cheerful young woman who brought me my 4 and 5-star hospital meals. Obviously, the surgeon did more than simply lay her hands on me and pray, yet the skill of those trained hands did cure me; now I am healed and feel wonderful! She, along with every person whom I encountered in the hospital, was my Peter and John. Nurses are truly angels. Yes, they are paid for what they do, but everyone one of them did more than was required: Anna, youthful and exuberant, who found time to chat with me and make me laugh and even offered to go down to the cafeteria during her break to get me ice cream; Sushma, compassionate and kind, who despite her busy schedule, found the time to massage my very itchy legs with Aveeno lotion in the wee hours because I could not; and Kiley, a consummate and skilled nurse in every way, who was always there when I needed her and who told me when I left her care that she loved all of her patients. And then there was my loving spouse who prayed with and for me and who snuck in goodies from Panera and Starbucks. Surely the hand of Jesus is working through all of these wonderful people, be they baptized Christians or not.<br /> <br />Finally, all thanks to the wonderful priest who drove to the hospital from the nether lands of Frayser to anoint me before surgery.<br /><br />Pax tecum,<br />N.P.O. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-68559329754974287942016-04-04T11:29:54.232-05:002016-04-04T11:29:54.232-05:00Tell us more about what inspired you!Tell us more about what inspired you!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11250000521281668188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-12654163705531610582016-04-03T19:16:22.109-05:002016-04-03T19:16:22.109-05:00WONDERUL!!! I fair levitated when I read it. Than...WONDERUL!!! I fair levitated when I read it. Thank you, Fr. Knight for your continuing ability to surpise and inspire as you put us in touch with personal realities that we were totally unaware of. C. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-10286565027599173022015-02-16T17:11:00.095-06:002015-02-16T17:11:00.095-06:00Stephen,
Thank you for sharing your convictions....Stephen, <br /><br />Thank you for sharing your convictions. Actually, I would not begin to share with a fundamentalist on this level. You don't need to believe in the Assumption of Mary, and could hardly understand why Catholics do without first understanding a number of much more basic things. Why don't we start by recognizing each other as brothers in Christ because of our shared faith that he is the Savior of the world, our shared experience of his love in our daily lives, and our shared desire that the whole world should be united in knowing and loving him. After we understand each other on this level, we can go into Catholics' added devotion to Mary. If you want to know what we really believe about her and why, read my book Mary in an Adult Church. Then, if you still have questions, tell me. <br /><br />In His love, <br /><br />DavidAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11250000521281668188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-28365906357318830572015-02-14T18:38:25.639-06:002015-02-14T18:38:25.639-06:00THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY, A FALSE ASSUMPTION BY STEV...THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY, A FALSE ASSUMPTION BY STEVE FINNELL<br /><br />The assumption of the Virgin Mary according to the Catholic church is that Mary was bodily taken to heaven after her death.<br /><br />Why would anyone assume something that is contrary to Scripture? Why take for granted a fact that is demonstrably false?<br /><br />John 3:13 No one has ascended into heaven , but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.(NASB)<br /><br />The Virgin Mary has not made the trip to heaven.<br /><br />Acts 2:34 For it was not David who ascended into heaven... (NASB)<br /><br />Davids body is still in the grave and so is the body of the Virgin Mary.<br /><br />1 Corinthians 15:50-53 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.....(NASB)<br /><br />Mary's flesh cannot nor has it inherited the kingdom of God.<br /><br />1 Thessalonians 4:13-17.....16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first....(NASB)<br /><br />Christians will be bodily resurrected from the grave when Jesus returns, until then then they will remain in the grave as will the Virgin Mary.<br /><br />1 Corinthians 15:20-23 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming,(NASB)<br /><br />There will be no bodily resurrections of the dead until Jesus returns. The Virgin Mary was not granted a special resurrection from the grave.<br /><br />NOTE: Today, the belief in the corporeal assumption of Mary is universal in the East and in the West; according to Benedict XIV(Defestis B.V.M viii, 18) it is a probable opinion, which to deny were impious and blasphemous.(Ref. Catholic Encyclopedia:Assumption of Mary)<br /><br />Would it be blasphemous to reject an opinion or blasphemous to reject the written word of God? <br /> <br />YOU ARE INVITED TO FOLLOW MY BLOG. http://steve-finnell.blogspot.comSteve Finnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12863026367048527526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-50525594615130566932014-09-10T21:51:29.760-05:002014-09-10T21:51:29.760-05:00I really like this post.I really like this post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-25715995406329575892014-08-30T09:50:25.282-05:002014-08-30T09:50:25.282-05:00Perhaps parishioners allow this of their pasors an...Perhaps parishioners allow this of their pasors and bishops because it justifies their own attitudes (and lifestyles) of 'bling', comfort, importance, and entitlement.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07883848643297446253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-59682604422416829552014-08-30T04:08:44.567-05:002014-08-30T04:08:44.567-05:00I am so happy today lhat living in life with Chris...I am so happy today lhat living in life with Christ with rightoeusness of him by blood sake and be baptist of the HOly Spirit are our thanskgivng with pleasure of heaven to move on in joy and celebrate for salvation ,thanks and bless,keijo swedenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-75590331849875701862014-08-23T05:26:07.669-05:002014-08-23T05:26:07.669-05:00You have made some decent points there. I checked ...You have made some decent points there. I checked on the web <br />for more info about the issue and found most individuals will <br />go along with your views on this website.<br /><br /><br />Feel free to surf to my web page :: animation (<a href="http://tabur-iklan.blogspot.com/2013/06/rajacoleks-form-raspberry-ketone-diet_19.html" rel="nofollow"></a>)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-61450716876917221952014-08-10T07:27:23.440-05:002014-08-10T07:27:23.440-05:00You're so awesome! I do not believe I've t...You're so awesome! I do not believe I've truly read <br />anything like this before. So good to find another person with some original thoughts on this subject matter.<br /><br />Really.. many thanks for starting this up. This site is something that <br />is required on the web, someone with some <br />originality!<br /><br />Feel free to visit my web page: <a href="http://f1023.org/index.php?title=User:Randell9951" rel="nofollow">loket pembayaran online</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-72350312315809807932014-07-31T21:51:02.018-05:002014-07-31T21:51:02.018-05:00To love your enemy is to resist the evil but not h...To love your enemy is to resist the evil but not hate the person. If you are nice to those who do evil, that is not being good. To love them is to tell them what they did was wrong. "And yet genuine charity consists in acting prudently, and to the end that good may come thereby. He who relieves any poor or needy villain, does evil to his neighbor through him, for by the relief which he affords he confirms him in evil, and supplies him with the means of doing evil to others. It is otherwise with him who gives assistance to the good." (Emanuel Swedenborg)Doug Webberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11071107950046910342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-52040782003719085742014-07-02T19:27:43.250-05:002014-07-02T19:27:43.250-05:00This is challenging.This is challenging.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-13442962158770355382014-06-30T12:54:02.325-05:002014-06-30T12:54:02.325-05:00Has God sent a prophet? www.thewarningsecondcoming...Has God sent a prophet? www.thewarningsecondcoming.com <br />Be sure to read about the “Seal of the Living God” found on the homepage links - *a Biblical reference to this topic: Rev. chapter 7<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com