The power of Love

"And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
1 Corinthians 13:13

A couple of weeks ago the church we are now going to started to watch an episode of Father Barron's "Catholicism Project" every Friday. These episodes are amazing and I highly recommend them to you! Today the topic was Peter and Paul. Now, if you've read my past blogs you'd know that I had quite the heated discussion with my Presbyterian friend about "Peter and the Rock" and "Faith and Works" so this weeks episode brought back that memory and I was able to talk a little bit about it in the discussion we had after we watched the episode. Since I have already covered Peter and the Rock in one of my previous blogs, I want to talk about Faith and Works.

Back in the days of my heated discussion with my friend he was fully convinced that we are saved by Faith alone. Now this is not what we as Catholics believe. We believe that by both Faith and Works we are saved.

I showed him the verse in James, 

"Faith without works is dead" 

James 2:26

he then pointed me to Galations, 

"...knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ." 

Galations 2:16

I then asked if he believed if there were any contradictions in the Bible, he quickly said "No." then I asked how could these two verses exist and how could they only pick one to follow. He said that when you have faith you automatically do work...but you don't have to. (If that makes any sense.)

I then told him that if that was so then we are saved by Faith and Works. We are saved by Love which God is! I explained it like this "Love is an act. An act is a work. If we are saved by our faithful love then would not we be saved by our faithful work? Thus both Faith and Work."
I also said this in today's discussion and Father again agreed with me! It made me feel so absolutely great!
Also, one verse that really stood out to me that can be added to this discussion, was 1 Corinthians 13:13, which was in the video by Father Barron. This verse is, 

"And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." 

1 Corinthians 13:13

Also I told my friend about this verse, in Romans 2:5-6 it says,

"But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, ⁶ who “will render to each one according to his deeds.” 

Romans 2:5-6

And two others I've found for this blog are, 

"…we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." 

Cor 5:10

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."

Mattew 7:21

Also in the video Father Barron said something wonderful. When we get to heaven we no longer need faith because we are there in what we had faith in. We no longer need hope because what we hoped in we have now achieved, but love remains because God is love and his kingdom is love.
So if love is an act, and an act is an action which is also a form of works, are we not then saved by both Faith and Works? I am not saying one is more important than the other. You heard the verses; without one, the other is worthless. It is like the Earth and day and night. If we were forever lit up with the sun nothing would grow; everything would burn up before growing. If we were forever kept in the darkness of the night nothing would grow because it would be too cold.
But with both, a coexistence of each other, the Earth flourishes with life. Thus, with faith and works we flourish in Jesus Christ.

I hope that makes sense. Sometimes I get into the moment and just write whatever comes to mind and then don't read it again. I come back later and realize nothing makes sense!

So...I guess I'll end here with just a quite saying one of the older folks said about protestants. "Without Catholics there would be no protestants."
Today's discussion was truly amazing. I felt reassured by the people there. Even at the end when everyone was leaving, an old man who was a Catholic convert thanked me for bringing up the topic! I feel so at home at this new parish. The people are friendly (although not quite my age group, I admit) and the priest there is superb! He is young, he understands both the old and young, he's humble and hilarious and smart! He is definitely one of a kind and I feel blessed to have ever met him.

May the Grace and Peace of God remain always with you!
God Bless, 

~Katherine

What if I told you that Jesus loves religion

And that by his coming as man he brought his religion to fruition

See this had to be addressed, the use of illogical terms and definitions

You clearly have a heart for Jesus but its fueling atheistic opinions

See what makes his religion great is not errors of wars and inquisitions

It's that broken men and women to participate in his mission

Clearly Jesus says I have not come to abolish

I came to fulfill the law and I came to fulfill the prophets (Matthew 5:17)

And lines about building big churches and tending to the poor

Sounds a bit like Judas when the perfume was being poured (John 12:5)

See His religion is the largest worldwide source of relief

For the poor, the hungry, the sick and repentant thief

Oceans of compassion, opening wide the doors

For single mothers, widows and orphans, married and divorced (James 1:27)

We all detest hypocrisy, and empty show is just the worst

But blaming religion for contradictionIs like staring at death, and blaming the hearse.

See the teacher will teach when the students are ready to listen

But those that choose to sit in the pews and refuse the good news

Is not the fault of religion. And If I have the Jersey and I'm playing for the Bulls

There's going to be some boundaries, regulations and some rules.

You can't have Christ without his Church; you can't have the King without his Kingdom

Sins of the Body and internal treason will never ever make me leave him

And that Jesus said it is done, is absolutely true

But he also gave us a mission with many things to DO.

Jesus says if you love me, you will Do what I command. (JN 15:14)

Go and Baptize in the name of the Father, Son & Spirit in Every Land. (MT28:19)

And on the night he was betrayed he took his men in the Upper Room

Take at eat this is my body take and drink my blood for you.

A New covenant you see, an act connected to the tree

,Do this time and time again in Memory of Me. (Mt 26:26-28)

And at last with crown of thorns beaten beyond comprehension

His eyes were looking for yours and mine; it was divine, no human invention.

So as for religion I love it, I have one because Jesus rose from the dead and won.

I believe When Jesus said IT IS FINISHED, His religion had just begun.

"You are Peter, and on this Rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell wil not prevail gainst it." Mattew 16:18

May the Grace and Peace of God remain always with you!
God Bless, 

~Katherine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ru_tC4fv6FE&feature=plcp

Thanks to Father Pontifex for this excellent response to the popular video "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus"

Power of God perfected in weakness

"...That I, Paul, might not become too elated, because of the abundances of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated." 2 Corinthians 12:7

Hi! Long time to write to. Due to the fact that I will never be able to tell you everything that has happened in practically a year I will just tell you about the major events coming up/most important.

1) My sister-in-law is going to have a baby!! She's due this December/January.
2) My sister, Jeanne, is getting married in a week and 6 days!!
3) I finished my second year at my community college! I have one more year left and then am hoping to transfer to WWU in Fall 2013

So much has happened over the past year, I can't even explain it. All I can say is that I have changed...a lot...and for the better I think.
Now, let me get to today's reading.
I want to focus on the second reading written by Paul to the Corinthians. This reading has confused many a Christian. He talks about weakness and a thorn in his flesh. This thorn, an ailment of some kind, he says was given to him so that he would not become to elated because of all revelations. People have always wondered what this thorn was and why he so desperately wanted God to take it away. He said

 "Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me..."

First, let me clarify that the "three times" is more of an expression, explained best by Father Robert Barron. He is saying that over and over again he has asked God to take it away, repeatedly asked...not just three.
What was it that was so painful he asked God to take it away so many times? What is this thorn he talks about? A physical ailment? Some say that perhaps he was going blind, or he was old and could not walk so easily. Was it a speech impediment? Some say perhaps he had a problem speaking which made it hard for him to preach the good news.
It's clearly not a simple problem in the passing moment. It's a long painful thing. Every person has a thorn in the flesh, something that bothers you like a stone in your shoe. I'm sure you've encountered your own difficulties that you've asked God to take away, I know I have. For myself I consider my anger, my impatience, and my lack of courage to preach the good news a thorn in my side.

However, it is apparent to me that that part of the passage is not as important as the rest. People often forget the rest of this reading because they are too busy wondering about Paul's thorn. The whole point of this passage is weakness, and what Paul is trying to say is that through our weaknesses power in God becomes perfected. God said to Paul,

"My Grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness."

No matter what the suffering is, God's grace is sufficient. If you're connected to God then anything can, in principle, be endured. Paul does not rejoice about the many revelations God has given him but rather in the weaknesses that were given. 
Somehow the weakness of the cross is the revelation of the power of God. Isn't that incredible? Who would have guessed this?
Father Robert Barron had a couple of theories about why weakness, failure, and suffering can be power.
First, Suffering can force us to rely on the power of God. When I am content with my lives I rest in my own ego, God becomes an afterthought. But then I suffer, I fail, I come up against a brick wall, am blocked, I am forced in a  new way to rely upon God, to decenter myself away from the ego and to God. Nothing does this more effectively than suffering.

Second, sometimes suffering, the conscious bearing of suffering, can affect the taking away of sin. Paul said,

"I'm content with weakness, insults, hardship, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ."
Christ didn't fight evil on it's own terms, he didn't answer insult with insult, or persecution with persecution. Christ took upon himself the sin of the world and thereby took it away. He put a wrench in the works that usually governs human affairs. Violence meets with violence, injustice meets with answering injustice...etc. By bearing this he took away the sin of the world so we his followers could unleash power precisely through our suffering.

It's interesting, my mom had this theory....She once told me that the reason America was slowly losing it's faith was because we are too comfortable. Look at countries that are suffering, like Africa or South America.  There are entire towns, cities, that are Catholic that work toward building a stronger community in Christ so that they can endure their hardships. During the Great Depression in the 1930's faith communities were so strong because they needed Gods help to overcome the weaknesses of the world.
Now look at us. The numbers of Christians who are actively involved with their communities is decreasing. Oh sure, people are converting right and left but that's it. "There, I'm Christian. I believe in God!...Let's go have a party!"
Priests and nuns are getting older and not as many young men and women want to become priests or nuns to take these aging people's places. It's very sad to me, the morals of today upset me so much...I pray constantly for the Catholic people that they might open their eyes and hearts and become more involved with each other to spread the good news of our faith.

In conclusion to today's reading, Paul said,

"When I am weak, then I am strong."
 It is my weakness that allows the strength and power of God to surge into me and through me into the world. I hope that both you and I can look at our weaknesses in this way so that we can become closer to God and to his kingdom in heaven.

May the Grace and Peace of God remain always with you!
God Bless, 

~Katherine

Father Robert Barron, Word on Firehttp://www.wordonfire.org/WOF-Radio/Sermons/Sermon-Archive-for-2012/Sermon-600-A-Thorn-in-the-Flesh-Why-We-Suffer.aspx

"If Your Brother Sins Against You..." Plus utterly shocked.

(OLD POST! The date for this is, I'm guessing, September 4th 2011)
Matt 18:15-17

Getting right to the point, last Sunday's gospel reading was about forgiveness. Pointing out to a brother or sister his or her sins. Now look, I don't know any senseable particular person who likes to do this. Most of us shrink at the task of pointing out other peoples sins. Here's the thing, Christians are truth tellers. Jesus referred to himself as the way, the truth, and the life. That means we are obliged to live in the truth. Sin is always the path of untruth. The devil is called the father of lies. Untruthful form of behavior. Jesus is the way. How do you find the way? By finding Jesus who is the truth. Therefore we tell the truth, we operate out of the truth. We don't make excuses, runaway, hide...We tell the truther, we live out of the truth. And part of that is telling the sometimes telling hard truths about others.


Now that I have said this I want to tell you something.

This past Sunday something utterly alarming and so shocking happened that we have decided to change parishes.
Our new priest is...Not what we all had thought. When he got here there had been some disagreement in certain parts of the Mass as to whether or not we are allowed to kneel at certain times or not. We fought with it a little but just finally let the priest have his way. Now, we knew he was a little upset with us for arguing about it at first but we didn't think he would hold such an intense grudge.
Today during mass my family knelt after receiving communion, as was allowed by our priest. However, the priest had to go back to give communion to those who were unable to walk up. But as he was going back he noticed my family had knelt a little early. Apparently my newest family member, John's new wife, noticed he was shaking as he gave the final blessing. As we all went out to shake his hand and say good morning, I was still saying some prayers to myself as I always do. I got up and started for the door and as I got there I heard arguing and yelling, and when I looked I saw the priest was yelling at my mom.
Should I repeat that? Very slowly? Our new priest was yelling at my mom. Why? Because he said we can't kneel after receiving the body of Christ. Even though he did.
I want to say something but I can't because he is still a priest.
Anyway, he was yelling at her, shaking and crying! It was like watching a child throwing a fit about not getting his way! I came in too late to hear what he had said but I'll repeat what my family said.
My mom reached out to shake his hand and say good morning but he didn't move and yelled "What is wrong with your family? Why can't you just do this one thing I ask?" My mom didn't know what he was talking about and tried, calmly and kindly, to ask what he was talking about. He just continued to yell and such. I can't remember what he said after that, but when she finally understood what he was talking about, she tried to say that they didn't, in fact, kneel during communion. Once everyone had received communion the priest went back to give communion to the disabled, my family knelt as he passed by because he was still holding the body of Christ. Is that so wrong? They didn't disobey, they just knelt a little early!
Anyway, my mom told him she had gone to the Archbishops website to be sure what he was telling us to do was the right thing. When she tried to say this he got even louder, got right in her face and yelled "Don't you talk to me in that voice!" That's when I came out.
After my mom tried to explain he yelled "If you want to leave the parish leave! Just leave!"
At this my family was so shocked that they just started walking away, they didn't know what to do! As they walked he shouted out "You're all very disrespectful!"
I walked up, shook his hand and walked right past to the Hall, where we usually just meet together and talk, and walked to the bathroom. I didn't know what to do, I wanted to go back to him and yell at him and just give him a piece of my mind. I went to my car and called home(because at the time I didn't know why he had yelled) and when I discovered I was so close to jumping up and marching up those steps to the Church.
However, I recovered myself and waited till I cooled off before driving home.
It was the most depressing Sunday I had ever witnessed. We all gathered in our living room and talked about the whole thing. We concluded that we would be indeed leaving the parish and going to one who's priest was really great. (The one my brother had his wedding at) So anyway, I just needed to let some steam out.
I'm done ranting now, I think I'll continue praying for both the Parish, the priest and for our future in a very welcoming Church.

On a positive note, I finished the Bible on Monday the 5th! I was getting ready for work, rather upset that I had to stay behind and work instead of going to the ocean with my sisters, when I picked up the Bible and just read, read, read! I made it through the final book, Revelations though confusing as it was, I was very happy!

May the Peace and Grace of Christ Jesus remain always with you.
~Katherine