I was recently at my youth group and a discussion was brought up about Jesus on the cross. We were discussing what Jesus meant when he said, "My God, why have you forsaken me?" I have always thought that he was quoting scripture. Which scripture is he quoting? If any? Regards, Missy

Yes, you are right it was a quote from Bible.  Jesus quoted a lot of scripture in his ministry!

At this time it was Psalm 22:2. The title of the Psalm is "The Prayer of an Innocent Person"  and although it begins with such intense distress, it progresses to inviting people to praise God and ends in a universal chorus of praise. 

Now I ask you something, Missy ... Jesus quoted scripture throughout his life and especially at his final moments.  What was he teaching us?  What should we learn from him through that?  What do I need to do if I want to be more like Jesus in my life?

"Did Jesus really multiply the loaves and the fish?" I have friends who say that the real miracle that took place was that the people shared their food with each other.

Yes, Jesus really multiplied the loaves and the fish.  People who say that everyone shared their food then are doing something "theologians call 'reductionism,' ie:  trying to explain a supernatural event in purely natural, worldly terms.

In John:6 the focus is on what JESUS did, not what the people did.  Jesus showed his compassion for the people who had been with him all day.  He recognized that they were hungry and so asked the apostles about buying food for them.  The apostles informed Jesus of two things.  1. There was no place nearby where there would be enough food for that many people, and 2. Even if there was someplace they could purchase enough food, they would need more than 200 days' wages to be able to get enough to feed them all.  Two hundred days is over 6 months worth of days!  They would have had to work over 1/2 a year to have enough money to feed all those people!

Jesus already know that.  John tells us, "he said this to test [Philip], because he himself knew what he was going to do."  John 6:6. 

Peter's brother Andrew then came forth and said that he had found a little boy who was selling food, but he only had 5 barley loaves and two fish - certainly not enough for 5000+ people!   Jesus told the crowd to sit and get ready to eat.  He didn't stand up and ask if anyone else had more food.  He didn't give them a lecture about sharing what they had.  No, he blessed the food and fed them all.  When the leftovers were collected, there were 12 wicker baskets of bread fragments left. 

In this miracle Jesus revealed that "He is the One who provides nourishment - both physically and spiritually - for his people. ... He is the living bread come down from heaven which gives life to the world.  (John 6:51, 35)"  This miracle foreshadows the Eucharist.  And what a miracle that is!
(Did Jesus have a last name & 199 other questions from Catholic teenagers.  by Matthew Pinto & Jason Evert   Ascension Press  (c) 2005 p 45)

An explanation of Andrei Rublev's Icon of the Old Testament Trinity

                                                             zlandrum.blogspot.com

 

    This picture is the depiction of the three mysterious visitors to Abraham and Sarah which is told in Genesis 18.  The three visitors are depicted as angels, signifying that they belong to heaven rather than earth.  You will note that their faces are essentially identical.  This represents the equality of the three persons of the Holy Trinity.  They are also shown as basically genderless.  Some sources identify them as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

     The one on the left - Father - wears a cloak of an indefinite color with pink, brown, and blue-green highlights.  That is symbolic of the impossibility of portraying God in visible form. It's hand could be pointing to the meat in the dish, or to the second figure (Jesus), or simply holding out one finger signifying that it is the first person of the Trinity.  Above this angel is a building, symbolizing the Church and worship of God.

     The angel in the middle - Son - is wearing a dark reddish purple tunic and a dark blue cloak.  Those are the customary garments found on Christ in many icons.  The reddish purple color symbolizes Christ's human blood which He shed for humanity and also indicates His royalty.  The blue signifies the mystery of His divine nature.  Above this angel is the Oak of Mamre mentioned in the Genesis account depicted.  The tree also symbolizes Christ's crucifixion.  Most icons of Jesus show a cross inscribed in his halo.  This one does not because the angel is only symbolic of Him, not an actual representation of Him.

     The angel on the right - Holy Spirit - is dressed in a green cloak, traditionally the color of life and renewal.  It wears a blue tunic indicating divine mystery.  Above it is a mountain.  Mountains symbolize the spiritual journey or the climb towards salvation. 

     Look at the basic form of this picture.  It is circular.  This unites the three figures in a flowing pattern.  A deliberate distortion of the natural visual perspective in which similar objects that are closer to the viewer are drawn smaller than ones which are further away is used here to pull the viewer into that circle.  (That technique is called 'inverse perspective.')

     On the table is a dish of meat which Abraham prepared for the guests.  It is the focus of the circular arrangement and symbolizes the Holy Eucharist.  On the front of the table is a small, rectangular hole.  That symbolizes the 'narrow door' to salvation mentioned in Luke 13:24

 

 

 

 

Why is the Blessed Mother often in pictures with flowers?

In icons and often in religious paintings, all the items tell something about the thing being depicted.  For example, the number of items can indicate something; the color of an item can indicate something; and even the flowers can indicate something.  There are special flowers especially associated with the Blessed Mother.  For example:  the violet is also known in some places as "Our Lady's Modesty."  It is associated with her humility.  The lily of the valley is known as "Mary's Tears."  It reminds us of her sorrow as the death of her Son.  The hawthorn is known as "Mary's flower of May."  Lilies represent purity.  The Rose is often depicted with her because the word Rosary means 'rose garden' and of course she gave us a garden full of prayers when she taught us the rosary.