Men of St. Joseph leader, Jeff Galle, is making a movie, Providence, described as part romantic comedy and part journey of faith. We will be following the making of the movie on our blog. Casting call information is here.
BY ROY HOFFMAN, Press Register
MOBILE, Ala. -- Monica is a musician who teaches piano at University of Mobile. John is an office worker at an Evangelical church. They have met before, but each finds the other annoying — though there might be a spark of attraction.
One evening they find themselves side by side offering prayers in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Mobile.
Behind them, the door to the Cathedral closes and a lock clicks. There is no way out of the church tonight.
And they are all alone . . .
Continue reading (and view the video) >>>
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Super Sunday!
Wow, May 1st is going to be quite a Sunday!
First, this Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday.
Second, it is the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, patron of the Men of St. Joseph.
Third, Pope John Paul II (the Great) is to be beatified on Sunday.
What a trifecta!
First, this Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday.
Second, it is the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, patron of the Men of St. Joseph.
Third, Pope John Paul II (the Great) is to be beatified on Sunday.
What a trifecta!
Monday, April 25, 2011
Tithing, What About It?
By JOHN MARTIGNONI
Q: What does the Catholic Church teach in regards to tithing. Are we required to tithe?
A: The word “tithe,” refers to a religious offering of 10% of one’s income to Church and/or charity. In the Old Testament, we see tithing mentioned, I believe for the first time, when Abraham gave one tenth of his spoils from a successful military campaign to Melchizedek (Gen 14:20). Jacob made a vow of tithing to the Lord in Genesis 28:20-22. Tithing was even written into the Mosaic Law, as we see in Numbers 18:21-24.
In the New Testament, though, there is no specific mention of Christians giving a tithe and the Church has not, to my knowledge, ever formally required tithing along the lines of what was done in Old Testament times.
The people of God are, however, required to give of their resources to support Church and charity. One of the five precepts of the Church, as found in Canon Law #222, is this: “The Christian Faithful are obliged to assist with the needs of the Church so that the Church has what is necessary for divine worship, for apostolic works and works of charity, and for the decent sustenance of ministers.” In the Catechism, #2041-43, it summarizes this precept and adds that each is to give “according to his abilities.”
Also, the New Testament speaks of feeding the hungry and clothing the naked (Matt 25:31-46); supporting one’s family and relatives (1 Tim 5:8); selling homes and property to give to the needy (Acts 4:34-35); and mentions the practice of Christians setting aside a contribution on the first day of every week (Sunday).
So, neither the New Testament, nor the Catechism, nor Canon Law, specifically mention tithing when it comes to the support of the Church and of apostolic works and works of charity, but giving to Church and charity is indeed a necessary part of every Christian’s walk.
But, even though there is no “requirement” to tithe put on God’s people as there was in the Old Testament, there are nonetheless strong recommendations for the practice of tithing. Msgr. Martin Muller of Our Lady of Sorrows parish in Homewood each year tells his parishioners that the U.S. Bishop’s Conference recommends giving 5% to the Church and 5% to charity (which would include Church-sponsored charities such as Catholic Charities and Catholic schools). He also says something that I know a lot of people who tithe agree with, which is: “I can’t afford not to tithe, because of the blessings that God has given me through tithing.”
Monsignor’s words reflect the fulfillment of a promise made by God in Scripture. In Malachi 3:6-12, God tells the Israelites that if they will bring the full tithes into the storehouse, then He will “open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.” And He doesn’t just tell them to do this, He says to them, “Put Me to the test!” Monsignor Muller, and many others who tithe, have indeed experienced that overflowing blessing.
Whenever anyone asks me about tithing, I recommend it as strongly as I can. But, let’s say you gave just 2% of your income last year to Church and charity and maybe you’re thinking that jumping up to 10% just can’t be done. I recommend finding ways to sacrifice here and there so that you can double your giving to 4% this year, then double it again next year, and then moving to the full 10% the following year. That way it gives you time to plan your budget around your tithe.
And, if you get to the 10% level, and God does not follow through on His promise of pouring down upon you an overflowing blessing, well, then stop tithing. But, I have yet to meet anyone who put God to the test on this, and wound up being disappointed.
Q: What does the Catholic Church teach in regards to tithing. Are we required to tithe?
A: The word “tithe,” refers to a religious offering of 10% of one’s income to Church and/or charity. In the Old Testament, we see tithing mentioned, I believe for the first time, when Abraham gave one tenth of his spoils from a successful military campaign to Melchizedek (Gen 14:20). Jacob made a vow of tithing to the Lord in Genesis 28:20-22. Tithing was even written into the Mosaic Law, as we see in Numbers 18:21-24.
In the New Testament, though, there is no specific mention of Christians giving a tithe and the Church has not, to my knowledge, ever formally required tithing along the lines of what was done in Old Testament times.
The people of God are, however, required to give of their resources to support Church and charity. One of the five precepts of the Church, as found in Canon Law #222, is this: “The Christian Faithful are obliged to assist with the needs of the Church so that the Church has what is necessary for divine worship, for apostolic works and works of charity, and for the decent sustenance of ministers.” In the Catechism, #2041-43, it summarizes this precept and adds that each is to give “according to his abilities.”
Also, the New Testament speaks of feeding the hungry and clothing the naked (Matt 25:31-46); supporting one’s family and relatives (1 Tim 5:8); selling homes and property to give to the needy (Acts 4:34-35); and mentions the practice of Christians setting aside a contribution on the first day of every week (Sunday).
So, neither the New Testament, nor the Catechism, nor Canon Law, specifically mention tithing when it comes to the support of the Church and of apostolic works and works of charity, but giving to Church and charity is indeed a necessary part of every Christian’s walk.
But, even though there is no “requirement” to tithe put on God’s people as there was in the Old Testament, there are nonetheless strong recommendations for the practice of tithing. Msgr. Martin Muller of Our Lady of Sorrows parish in Homewood each year tells his parishioners that the U.S. Bishop’s Conference recommends giving 5% to the Church and 5% to charity (which would include Church-sponsored charities such as Catholic Charities and Catholic schools). He also says something that I know a lot of people who tithe agree with, which is: “I can’t afford not to tithe, because of the blessings that God has given me through tithing.”
Monsignor’s words reflect the fulfillment of a promise made by God in Scripture. In Malachi 3:6-12, God tells the Israelites that if they will bring the full tithes into the storehouse, then He will “open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.” And He doesn’t just tell them to do this, He says to them, “Put Me to the test!” Monsignor Muller, and many others who tithe, have indeed experienced that overflowing blessing.
Whenever anyone asks me about tithing, I recommend it as strongly as I can. But, let’s say you gave just 2% of your income last year to Church and charity and maybe you’re thinking that jumping up to 10% just can’t be done. I recommend finding ways to sacrifice here and there so that you can double your giving to 4% this year, then double it again next year, and then moving to the full 10% the following year. That way it gives you time to plan your budget around your tithe.
And, if you get to the 10% level, and God does not follow through on His promise of pouring down upon you an overflowing blessing, well, then stop tithing. But, I have yet to meet anyone who put God to the test on this, and wound up being disappointed.
About John Martignoni
John Martignoni is the Director of the Office of Evangelization for the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama and also the President of the Bible Christian Society. John's column, Apologetics 101, appears regularly in the diocesan newspaper, the One Voice. If you have a question about the Catholic Faith, please send an email to: jmartignoni@bhmdiocese.org. And check out John's free audio and written apologetics materials at: www.biblechristiansociety.com.
John Martignoni is the Director of the Office of Evangelization for the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama and also the President of the Bible Christian Society. John's column, Apologetics 101, appears regularly in the diocesan newspaper, the One Voice. If you have a question about the Catholic Faith, please send an email to: jmartignoni@bhmdiocese.org. And check out John's free audio and written apologetics materials at: www.biblechristiansociety.com.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Suffer the Children
BY DAVID O’BRIEN
We’re expecting a baby in August. Early in this pregnancy, we learned that Rachel’s red blood cells consider the baby’s blood to be an intruder, a threat. Right now the risk is low but if it increases, my wife’s body will protect itself by getting rid of this "intruder". In a sense, the mother might kill her baby.
Praying in front of the Planned Parenthood clinic, I see the same thing happening. Our society treats some babies as unwelcome intruders. They threaten our deeply cherished values of freedom, comfort, control, security and the pursuit of the American dream. They interrupt our national quest for happiness and the American standard of living. Such intruders must be dealt with, aborted, disposed of. Mothers literally kill their own children.
During the Roman Empire, the system of Pater familias placed the eldest male in charge of the household, the property, the family, and the slaves. Accordingly, a child born on his property -son, daughter, grandchild or slave baby-was brought before him to learn his/her fate. If this man decided to welcome that child, he picked it up and placed it in his arms, signifying to all that the infant would be officially accepted as a member of his household. If, however, he decided he did not want that child-the child was sickly, he had too many children and slaves already, or he was having a bad day-he turned his back and walked away from the child. The child then was either sold into slavery or taken outside of the property, put on a hillside and left to die.
An ancient letter written by Hilarion in the year 1 BC instructed his pregnant wife that if she delivered, "a girl, to cast it out". She was to throw the baby into the dumpster and treat it as garbage. "It" was undesired, a nuisance to be tossed aside as refuse. Here, the father kills his child.
Finally, I hear Jesus as He responds to the men of His day (Matt 19:14), men He has chosen to be His heralds of a new world order, men who have the power to throw their babies in the garbage. They say to him: "Get these annoying children, these worthless street urchins, out of our way so we can minister to those who matter." Were these the children who had been left on the hillside to die, abandoned by their parents, family, tribe and society?
I imagine Jesus responding: "Bring the children unto me. And by the way, if you don’t become like them-survivors, fi ghters, innocents who carry the sins of men like you-if you do not become like them, souls who have experienced hate and still choose to love, hearts that refuse to believe that God created them to be thrown away, if you do not become like that, you’ll never enter the Kingdom of God. You’ll stay in this hell you have created where some people matter and some don’t. That may be business as usual in this world, but there is no room for that in my Father’s kingdom. Now bring those beautiful street children to me and pray that God might save you through their innocent suffering."
The apostles were undoubtedly shocked.....again. What was Jesus saying? Children matter? That didn’t make any more sense than the poor are blessed and the rich probably won’t make it to heaven. The religious authorities are missing the point. Women and sinners are to be welcome. What kind of kingdom will this be?
Simply put, God’s kingdom is where one’s value does not come from how busy you are, what you can buy or sell, whether you are athletic or severely handicapped, if you are young and beautiful or old and sick, what kind of letters come after your name, or whether you possess documents that say you are "legal". In Jesus’ kingdom, human value is standard equipment on the model. Whatever may become of a person’s life, they never relinquish their status as a son, a daughter, a child of the only Father whose opinion matters.
That is what Jesus is telling us by embracing the children and welcoming them into His arms. "You belong to my Father. You are part of my family. Don’t let anyone tell you differently."
About David O’Brien
David O’Brien is the Associate Director of Religious Education for Lay Ministry for the Archdiocese of Mobile. His column, Everyday Faith, appears regularly in the archdiocesan newspaper, the Catholic Week. Email David at dobrien@mobilearchdiocese.org.
We’re expecting a baby in August. Early in this pregnancy, we learned that Rachel’s red blood cells consider the baby’s blood to be an intruder, a threat. Right now the risk is low but if it increases, my wife’s body will protect itself by getting rid of this "intruder". In a sense, the mother might kill her baby.
Praying in front of the Planned Parenthood clinic, I see the same thing happening. Our society treats some babies as unwelcome intruders. They threaten our deeply cherished values of freedom, comfort, control, security and the pursuit of the American dream. They interrupt our national quest for happiness and the American standard of living. Such intruders must be dealt with, aborted, disposed of. Mothers literally kill their own children.
During the Roman Empire, the system of Pater familias placed the eldest male in charge of the household, the property, the family, and the slaves. Accordingly, a child born on his property -son, daughter, grandchild or slave baby-was brought before him to learn his/her fate. If this man decided to welcome that child, he picked it up and placed it in his arms, signifying to all that the infant would be officially accepted as a member of his household. If, however, he decided he did not want that child-the child was sickly, he had too many children and slaves already, or he was having a bad day-he turned his back and walked away from the child. The child then was either sold into slavery or taken outside of the property, put on a hillside and left to die.
An ancient letter written by Hilarion in the year 1 BC instructed his pregnant wife that if she delivered, "a girl, to cast it out". She was to throw the baby into the dumpster and treat it as garbage. "It" was undesired, a nuisance to be tossed aside as refuse. Here, the father kills his child.
Finally, I hear Jesus as He responds to the men of His day (Matt 19:14), men He has chosen to be His heralds of a new world order, men who have the power to throw their babies in the garbage. They say to him: "Get these annoying children, these worthless street urchins, out of our way so we can minister to those who matter." Were these the children who had been left on the hillside to die, abandoned by their parents, family, tribe and society?
I imagine Jesus responding: "Bring the children unto me. And by the way, if you don’t become like them-survivors, fi ghters, innocents who carry the sins of men like you-if you do not become like them, souls who have experienced hate and still choose to love, hearts that refuse to believe that God created them to be thrown away, if you do not become like that, you’ll never enter the Kingdom of God. You’ll stay in this hell you have created where some people matter and some don’t. That may be business as usual in this world, but there is no room for that in my Father’s kingdom. Now bring those beautiful street children to me and pray that God might save you through their innocent suffering."
The apostles were undoubtedly shocked.....again. What was Jesus saying? Children matter? That didn’t make any more sense than the poor are blessed and the rich probably won’t make it to heaven. The religious authorities are missing the point. Women and sinners are to be welcome. What kind of kingdom will this be?
Simply put, God’s kingdom is where one’s value does not come from how busy you are, what you can buy or sell, whether you are athletic or severely handicapped, if you are young and beautiful or old and sick, what kind of letters come after your name, or whether you possess documents that say you are "legal". In Jesus’ kingdom, human value is standard equipment on the model. Whatever may become of a person’s life, they never relinquish their status as a son, a daughter, a child of the only Father whose opinion matters.
That is what Jesus is telling us by embracing the children and welcoming them into His arms. "You belong to my Father. You are part of my family. Don’t let anyone tell you differently."
About David O’Brien
David O’Brien is the Associate Director of Religious Education for Lay Ministry for the Archdiocese of Mobile. His column, Everyday Faith, appears regularly in the archdiocesan newspaper, the Catholic Week. Email David at dobrien@mobilearchdiocese.org.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
An Act of Charity on a Baseball Field
Following is a heartwarming letter recently sent to parents and boosters of McGill-Toolen Catholic High School in Mobile, Alabama, regarding events that followed a school baseball game:
Subject: A Letter from the Athletic Director
Dear Parents & Baseball Booster Club,
I would like to thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to our baseball program. We couldn't run a first class program without your help. Many hours of hard work and sacrifice are necessary to running a successful booster club that supports 3 baseball teams. In a world where athletics seems to get negative attention at times, it is heartwarming when one gets a glimpse of the real meaning of high school athletics. I would like to share with you a story that should reassure you that the sacrifices that you are making to your sons baseball program is worth it.
On Friday night I watched our baseball team beat Williamson 25-1. One would be compelled to think that we really ran the score up, however, that was not the case at all. Our coaching staff constantly held runners up when they could've easily made it to the next base, every player on the bench played, and we did everything we could to keep the score down.
After the game was over and the teams shook hands, I noticed one of our players and a Williamson player were talking in the middle of the field for what I thought was an extended period of time. After their conversation, the Williamson player starting walking towards our dug out. I decided to walk to our dug out to see what was going on. To be honest, I was thinking that the player was upset about the score and that we were getting ready to have an incident.
What I witnessed next, was perhaps one of the best displays of sportsmanship that I have seen in quite some time. Once I reached the dug out, the Williamson player had about six bats under his arm and one of our players was carrying a set of catchers equipment for him. This young man from Williamson said "God Bless Yall" to our players and left to join his team with the bats and catchers gear.
I asked the nearest player what was going on and he relayed the following story:
Will Franklin was catching and noticed that the bats that Williamson was using were very thin and rattled when they hit the ball. In other words they were not very good at all. It was between innings that Will and some other seniors approached Coach Lawley and asked if we could give them some of our equipment. Coach Lawley didn't hesitate and said absolutely. I later found out that Williamson had their equipment stolen during the summer and they were "doing the best they could with what they had". They didn't have a spare set of catching equipment so they couldn't even warm up a new pitcher in the bull pen during the game. So we gave them an extra set of ours with the bats.
This whole exchange took place without ceremony and in a manner that upheld the dignity and pride of the opposing team. Outside of our baseball team who new what was going on, I am sure I was only one of a few people who had the blessing of witnessing this act.
I would like to commend Coach Lawley, his staff and his players for demonstrating the true spirit of sportsmanship. This is what we hope to teach at McGill-Toolen in the classroom and in our extracurricular activities. The easy and pain free thing for Will Franklin to do would have been to simply return to the dug out inning after inning without saying a word. After all why should he be concerned about a public schools athletic program. I am so proud that we have students who don't look for the easiest thing to do. I thank God that we have students who have the courage to do the right thing. In this case, the right thing to do was to show compassion and kindness to others.
I believe that those of us who teach and coach at McGill-Toolen should do so in a manner that is a reflection of Jesus Christ. On Friday night, I saw the face of God in a group of teenage baseball players and their coaches. That young man from Williamson left the field with more than equipment Friday night. And so did our boys.
Thank you for sending your children to McGill-Toolen and thank you for allowing our coaches to have an influence on them.
Sincerely,
Bill Griffin
Interim Athletic Director
Subject: A Letter from the Athletic Director
Dear Parents & Baseball Booster Club,
I would like to thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to our baseball program. We couldn't run a first class program without your help. Many hours of hard work and sacrifice are necessary to running a successful booster club that supports 3 baseball teams. In a world where athletics seems to get negative attention at times, it is heartwarming when one gets a glimpse of the real meaning of high school athletics. I would like to share with you a story that should reassure you that the sacrifices that you are making to your sons baseball program is worth it.
On Friday night I watched our baseball team beat Williamson 25-1. One would be compelled to think that we really ran the score up, however, that was not the case at all. Our coaching staff constantly held runners up when they could've easily made it to the next base, every player on the bench played, and we did everything we could to keep the score down.
After the game was over and the teams shook hands, I noticed one of our players and a Williamson player were talking in the middle of the field for what I thought was an extended period of time. After their conversation, the Williamson player starting walking towards our dug out. I decided to walk to our dug out to see what was going on. To be honest, I was thinking that the player was upset about the score and that we were getting ready to have an incident.
What I witnessed next, was perhaps one of the best displays of sportsmanship that I have seen in quite some time. Once I reached the dug out, the Williamson player had about six bats under his arm and one of our players was carrying a set of catchers equipment for him. This young man from Williamson said "God Bless Yall" to our players and left to join his team with the bats and catchers gear.
I asked the nearest player what was going on and he relayed the following story:
Will Franklin was catching and noticed that the bats that Williamson was using were very thin and rattled when they hit the ball. In other words they were not very good at all. It was between innings that Will and some other seniors approached Coach Lawley and asked if we could give them some of our equipment. Coach Lawley didn't hesitate and said absolutely. I later found out that Williamson had their equipment stolen during the summer and they were "doing the best they could with what they had". They didn't have a spare set of catching equipment so they couldn't even warm up a new pitcher in the bull pen during the game. So we gave them an extra set of ours with the bats.
This whole exchange took place without ceremony and in a manner that upheld the dignity and pride of the opposing team. Outside of our baseball team who new what was going on, I am sure I was only one of a few people who had the blessing of witnessing this act.
I would like to commend Coach Lawley, his staff and his players for demonstrating the true spirit of sportsmanship. This is what we hope to teach at McGill-Toolen in the classroom and in our extracurricular activities. The easy and pain free thing for Will Franklin to do would have been to simply return to the dug out inning after inning without saying a word. After all why should he be concerned about a public schools athletic program. I am so proud that we have students who don't look for the easiest thing to do. I thank God that we have students who have the courage to do the right thing. In this case, the right thing to do was to show compassion and kindness to others.
I believe that those of us who teach and coach at McGill-Toolen should do so in a manner that is a reflection of Jesus Christ. On Friday night, I saw the face of God in a group of teenage baseball players and their coaches. That young man from Williamson left the field with more than equipment Friday night. And so did our boys.
Thank you for sending your children to McGill-Toolen and thank you for allowing our coaches to have an influence on them.
Sincerely,
Bill Griffin
Interim Athletic Director
Monday, April 11, 2011
Is the Father Greater Than the Son?
By JOHN MARTIGNONI
Q: In a previous column you gave a number of passages of the Bible that point to Jesus’ divinity, but I had a Jehovah’s Witness come to my door who read a verse where Jesus says something about the Father being greater than he is. Is that verse in the Catholic Bible and, if it is, doesn’t that point to Jesus not being God, since he says he isn’t equal to the Father?
A: The verse you are referring to is indeed in the Catholic Bible. John 14:28: “You heard Me say to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father for the Father is greater than I.”
How can the Father be greater than Jesus, if Jesus is indeed God? After all, if Jesus is God, then He would obviously be equal to the Father. So, does the Father being greater than Jesus mean that Jesus can’t be God?
Not at all. What Jesus is saying here can be interpreted in two ways, neither of which denies Jesus’ divinity. The first, is that Jesus is speaking of His human nature in relation to the Father’s divine nature. Is not the Father’s divine nature greater than Jesus’ human nature? Indeed it is. In the Athanasian Creed, for example, it says Jesus is, “Equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, and inferior to the Father as touching His manhood.” St. Augustine says we, “Acknowledge the twofold nature of Christ - the divine, by which He is equal to the Father; the human, by which He is less than the Father.”
So, we have to keep in mind the two natures of Christ - human and divine. The Word Incarnate, as man, is less than the Father; whereas, the Eternal Word, as Son, is equal to the Father.
The other possible way to interpret what Jesus says in John 14:28 is that the Father is greater than Jesus, not in the sense of nature or of being more complete, better, more excellent, or any such thing, but only in the sense of divine origin. The Father is “greater than” Jesus in the sense that Jesus is begotten of the Father. Jesus proceeds from the Father, but the Father proceeds from no one.
St. John Chrysostom, “If anyone will contend that the Father is greater, inasmuch as He is the cause from which the Son proceeds, we will bear with him and this way of speaking, provided he grant that the Son is not of a different substance or nature.”
St. Hilary of Poitiers, “The Father is greater than the Son: but this is said in respect to generation - as a father is to a son - and not of classification...The possession of a paternal designation is permissive of a distinction; but there is no distinction as to nature.”
St. Basil the Great, “The Son is second in order from the Father, because He is from Him; and in dignity, because the Father is His origin and cause...The Son is not, however, second to the Father in nature, because the Godhead is one in each of them.”
Either of these interpretations of John 14:28 are valid and are consistent with the rest of the New Testament. As I did indeed point out in an earlier column, there are a good number of verses that directly, or indirectly, identify Jesus as God. Both of the interpretations mentioned above fit perfectly well with all of those verses; whereas, an interpretation of John 14:28 that says Jesus is not God, is in direct contradiction to the rest of the New Testament.
About John Martignoni
John Martignoni is the Director of the Office of Evangelization for the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama and also the President of the Bible Christian Society. John's column, Apologetics 101, appears regularly in the diocesan newspaper, the One Voice. If you have a question about the Catholic Faith, please send an email to: jmartignoni@bhmdiocese.org. And check out John's free audio and written apologetics materials at: www.biblechristiansociety.com.
Q: In a previous column you gave a number of passages of the Bible that point to Jesus’ divinity, but I had a Jehovah’s Witness come to my door who read a verse where Jesus says something about the Father being greater than he is. Is that verse in the Catholic Bible and, if it is, doesn’t that point to Jesus not being God, since he says he isn’t equal to the Father?
A: The verse you are referring to is indeed in the Catholic Bible. John 14:28: “You heard Me say to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father for the Father is greater than I.”
How can the Father be greater than Jesus, if Jesus is indeed God? After all, if Jesus is God, then He would obviously be equal to the Father. So, does the Father being greater than Jesus mean that Jesus can’t be God?
Not at all. What Jesus is saying here can be interpreted in two ways, neither of which denies Jesus’ divinity. The first, is that Jesus is speaking of His human nature in relation to the Father’s divine nature. Is not the Father’s divine nature greater than Jesus’ human nature? Indeed it is. In the Athanasian Creed, for example, it says Jesus is, “Equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, and inferior to the Father as touching His manhood.” St. Augustine says we, “Acknowledge the twofold nature of Christ - the divine, by which He is equal to the Father; the human, by which He is less than the Father.”
So, we have to keep in mind the two natures of Christ - human and divine. The Word Incarnate, as man, is less than the Father; whereas, the Eternal Word, as Son, is equal to the Father.
The other possible way to interpret what Jesus says in John 14:28 is that the Father is greater than Jesus, not in the sense of nature or of being more complete, better, more excellent, or any such thing, but only in the sense of divine origin. The Father is “greater than” Jesus in the sense that Jesus is begotten of the Father. Jesus proceeds from the Father, but the Father proceeds from no one.
St. John Chrysostom, “If anyone will contend that the Father is greater, inasmuch as He is the cause from which the Son proceeds, we will bear with him and this way of speaking, provided he grant that the Son is not of a different substance or nature.”
St. Hilary of Poitiers, “The Father is greater than the Son: but this is said in respect to generation - as a father is to a son - and not of classification...The possession of a paternal designation is permissive of a distinction; but there is no distinction as to nature.”
St. Basil the Great, “The Son is second in order from the Father, because He is from Him; and in dignity, because the Father is His origin and cause...The Son is not, however, second to the Father in nature, because the Godhead is one in each of them.”
Either of these interpretations of John 14:28 are valid and are consistent with the rest of the New Testament. As I did indeed point out in an earlier column, there are a good number of verses that directly, or indirectly, identify Jesus as God. Both of the interpretations mentioned above fit perfectly well with all of those verses; whereas, an interpretation of John 14:28 that says Jesus is not God, is in direct contradiction to the rest of the New Testament.
About John Martignoni
John Martignoni is the Director of the Office of Evangelization for the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama and also the President of the Bible Christian Society. John's column, Apologetics 101, appears regularly in the diocesan newspaper, the One Voice. If you have a question about the Catholic Faith, please send an email to: jmartignoni@bhmdiocese.org. And check out John's free audio and written apologetics materials at: www.biblechristiansociety.com.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Catholic Men Are Not John Waynes
Last summer the Men of St. Joseph visited Buffalo, Wyoming, at the invitation of Father Pete Johnson, pastor of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Fr. Pete asked us to come talk about starting a MOSJ chapter at his parish. Below, is his homily about Catholic men, titled "Catholic Men Are Not John Waynes":
Monday, April 4, 2011
Does Hell Exist?
Image via WikipediaBY JOHN MARTIGNONI
Q: At my Bible study last week (all Catholics), one of the regular participants informed all of us that she no longer believed in Hell. When we asked why not, she said that her DRE, who is a nun, and her priest had both told her that Hell did not exist. We were dumbfounded. What can we do about this?
A: First of all, I would ask this person why she is continuing with the Bible study. If there is no Hell, you might as well be studying something by Shakespeare, or Dostoevsky, or Faulkner, or Tennyson, or any one of a number of great writers and poets. After all, if there is no Hell, then the Bible is a book filled with lies and why would you want to be studying a book filled with lies? It talks about Hell (Gehenna), it talks about judgment, it talks about being saved from our sins, it talks about the lake of fire, and so on. Well, if there is no Hell, then there is no judgment, and there is no need to be saved from our sins.
All of which leads to the conclusion that there was no need for God to become human and die on the cross for our sins. So, either Jesus did not die on the Cross, or He must not have been God, because how could God make the mistake of thinking that He had to save us from our sins, so that we would not be condemned to Hell, when there is no Hell? Wouldn’t God know that there is no Hell?
So, to be studying the Bible, which talks about all of these things, when none of them are true - if there is no Hell - seems to me to be a quite unproductive use of her time. Now, she might say, “Well, we can learn a lot of good things from Jesus, he was quite the enlightened teacher,” or some such thing. Sorry, but if Jesus wasn’t God, then He was either a liar or a fool, as He clearly identified Himself as God. Or, the people who wrote about Him were either liars or fools, as they clearly identified Him as God. Which would mean there is basically nothing in the Bible that you could trust as being true and accurate. So, again, why bother studying it?
Regarding the claim that her priest and DRE had told her that Hell does not exist, I would say to not believe that unless you heard it directly from their mouths. I find it very hard to believe that a priest or a nun does not believe in Hell, although I can believe it about a nun more easily than I can about a priest. And I say that not as an insult to nuns, but the fact is, for a priest to not believe in Hell, basically means that he is putting the lie to everything he does on a daily basis.
If there is no Hell, then there is no need for any of us to be redeemed. There is no Original Sin. Therefore, Baptism...being born again...is a lie. If there is no Hell, then Jesus Christ did not die on the Cross to redeem us. Therefore, the Mass...the Eucharist...is a lie. If Baptism and the Eucharist are lies, then all the other Sacraments are lies, too.
Which means his priesthood would be a lie. His vocation would be a lie. He would be lying every time he says Mass, hears confession, puts on his collar, baptizes a baby, anoints the sick, confirms those coming into the Church, and officiates at a wedding. Those Sacraments are all lies because they are all oriented towards our salvation, but our salvation is not an issue, since there is no Hell, so all of them are lies. The Church itself would be a lie. And it seems troubling to think someone could choose to live such a life, a life of lies, rather than simply leaving the priesthood and moving on. Which is why I find it very hard to accept that she heard such a thing from her priest.
Q: At my Bible study last week (all Catholics), one of the regular participants informed all of us that she no longer believed in Hell. When we asked why not, she said that her DRE, who is a nun, and her priest had both told her that Hell did not exist. We were dumbfounded. What can we do about this?
A: First of all, I would ask this person why she is continuing with the Bible study. If there is no Hell, you might as well be studying something by Shakespeare, or Dostoevsky, or Faulkner, or Tennyson, or any one of a number of great writers and poets. After all, if there is no Hell, then the Bible is a book filled with lies and why would you want to be studying a book filled with lies? It talks about Hell (Gehenna), it talks about judgment, it talks about being saved from our sins, it talks about the lake of fire, and so on. Well, if there is no Hell, then there is no judgment, and there is no need to be saved from our sins.
All of which leads to the conclusion that there was no need for God to become human and die on the cross for our sins. So, either Jesus did not die on the Cross, or He must not have been God, because how could God make the mistake of thinking that He had to save us from our sins, so that we would not be condemned to Hell, when there is no Hell? Wouldn’t God know that there is no Hell?
So, to be studying the Bible, which talks about all of these things, when none of them are true - if there is no Hell - seems to me to be a quite unproductive use of her time. Now, she might say, “Well, we can learn a lot of good things from Jesus, he was quite the enlightened teacher,” or some such thing. Sorry, but if Jesus wasn’t God, then He was either a liar or a fool, as He clearly identified Himself as God. Or, the people who wrote about Him were either liars or fools, as they clearly identified Him as God. Which would mean there is basically nothing in the Bible that you could trust as being true and accurate. So, again, why bother studying it?
Regarding the claim that her priest and DRE had told her that Hell does not exist, I would say to not believe that unless you heard it directly from their mouths. I find it very hard to believe that a priest or a nun does not believe in Hell, although I can believe it about a nun more easily than I can about a priest. And I say that not as an insult to nuns, but the fact is, for a priest to not believe in Hell, basically means that he is putting the lie to everything he does on a daily basis.
If there is no Hell, then there is no need for any of us to be redeemed. There is no Original Sin. Therefore, Baptism...being born again...is a lie. If there is no Hell, then Jesus Christ did not die on the Cross to redeem us. Therefore, the Mass...the Eucharist...is a lie. If Baptism and the Eucharist are lies, then all the other Sacraments are lies, too.
Which means his priesthood would be a lie. His vocation would be a lie. He would be lying every time he says Mass, hears confession, puts on his collar, baptizes a baby, anoints the sick, confirms those coming into the Church, and officiates at a wedding. Those Sacraments are all lies because they are all oriented towards our salvation, but our salvation is not an issue, since there is no Hell, so all of them are lies. The Church itself would be a lie. And it seems troubling to think someone could choose to live such a life, a life of lies, rather than simply leaving the priesthood and moving on. Which is why I find it very hard to accept that she heard such a thing from her priest.
About John Martignoni
John Martignoni is the Director of the Office of Evangelization for the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama and also the President of the Bible Christian Society. John's column, Apologetics 101, appears regularly in the diocesan newspaper, the One Voice. If you have a question about the Catholic Faith, please send an email to: jmartignoni@bhmdiocese.org. And check out John's free audio and written apologetics materials at: www.biblechristiansociety.com.
John Martignoni is the Director of the Office of Evangelization for the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama and also the President of the Bible Christian Society. John's column, Apologetics 101, appears regularly in the diocesan newspaper, the One Voice. If you have a question about the Catholic Faith, please send an email to: jmartignoni@bhmdiocese.org. And check out John's free audio and written apologetics materials at: www.biblechristiansociety.com.
Come Back to Me
BY DAVID O'BRIEN
About David O’Brien
David O’Brien is the Associate Director of Religious Education for Lay Ministry for the Archdiocese of Mobile. His column, Everyday Faith, appears regularly in the archdiocesan newspaper, the Catholic Week. Email David at dobrien@mobilearchdiocese.org.
Remember that song called "Hosea" we always sing during Lent, especially on Ash Wednesday? It starts like this:
"Come back to me with all your heart. Don’t let fear keep us apart."
I usually think about myself when I sing that song. How have I drifted away from the Lord? What do I need to do to come back to Christ?
But this past Ash Wednesday that next line hit me. "Trees do bend though straight and tall. So must we to others call."
Others? Who are these "others"? Is God singing "come back to me" to someone else?
My sister comes to mind. She stopped practicing her Catholic faith decades ago. Good person? Sure, one of the best people I know. But she steers clear of the Catholic Church for all kinds of reasons, not least of which that she married a non-Catholic.
My cousins, all born and raised Catholic, might come to Mass for Easter, Christmas, a wedding or a funeral. They never receive communion anymore, forget about confession.
"Trees do bend though straight and tall. So must we to others call."
What is the Lord asking me to do? How can I bend towards "others" in my life? They already know how important my faith is to me. I worry that if I push, they will resist even more.
But what about all the stories I hear from people involved with the Catholics Returning Home program. Each recounts how they left the faith for personal reasons. But somewhere along the way, they see a sign or receive a personal invitation to check out this group for Catholics interested in reconnecting to their faith.
I remember what Frank said: "I was walking in front of St. Dominic Church and noticed a sign inviting me to a class which taught how to reclaim my Catholic faith. I attended the first couple meetings and looked for ways to discredit the group. However, the more I came...the more I began to reconnect with what my parochial training had instilled in me. What really helped was the class learned how to pray the rosary as well as go to confess our sins to a priest. I had forgotten how to do both."
Or Christine: "My mom always nagged me about coming back to Church and I should’ve listened. But then a co-worker of mine who knew I was Catholic invited me to go to a group at her parish. Deep inside I missed Mass and feeling close to God in that way. So I went with her. Now I can’t believe I stayed away for all those years. I hate to say it but my mom was right."
All around the Archdiocese-Mobile, Montgomery, Dothan and Enterprise-Catholics Returning Home programs are giving those of us who are active in our faith a chance to invite "others" back to Christ in the Eucharist.
Frank told me he is reaching out to others now too. He said: "I asked a woman the other day...to attend this group because I noticed she did everything but take communion. Although she hasn’t been to a meeting yet, I suggested we could go together so that I might share with her the joy of what I rediscovered."
That song is in my mind again and I imagine what God must say when all these people come back to Him.
"Long have I waited for your coming home to me and living deeply our new life."
David O’Brien is the Associate Director of Religious Education for Lay Ministry for the Archdiocese of Mobile. His column, Everyday Faith, appears regularly in the archdiocesan newspaper, the Catholic Week. Email David at dobrien@mobilearchdiocese.org.
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