Was Sampson a good guy or a bad guy? - Lee

Lee - 

That question tells me you have really read the story of Sampson!  For those people reading this blog who might not remember, you can find his story in the book of Judges (Chapters 13 - 16).  Sampson was one of the judges in Israel before the time of the Kings.  The judges were people whom God sent to rescue the Israelites out of oppression.  In Sampson's time, the Philistines were the oppressors.  

"Sampson fulfilled that job well.  But Sampson also did some cruel and foolish things, just as most people do.  God didn't force him to do everything right.  Like us, Sampson had the freedom to choose to use his God-given abilities (in his case, strength) for good or bad.   Sometimes Sampson chose to go his own way instead of God's."  

What we can learn from his story is that God uses imperfect people to work out His perfect plan.  We also can learn that God will accept our heartfelt repentance and give us a second chance.   The story is an interesting one.  

* Quotation section from #145 in the book "Over 200 Questions Children ask about God and the Bible,"  by David R. Veerman, M.Div., James C. Galvin, Ed.D., James C. Wilhoit, Ph.D., Daryl J. Lucas, and Richard Osborne.  (c) 1997, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Wheaton, IL

Did children in the Bible color?

Oh, what a fun question! 

"Children in Bible times didn't color with crayons like the ones we have today, but they did draw pictures.  They also played games.  Archaeologists (people who study ancient cities and cultures) have found some of the games. 

"Children back then dressed differently than the way we do, their houses and schools were made differently, and they had different kinds of games.  But they were just like kids today in many ways.  They liked to have fun.  They had family chores to do.  When they were bad, their parents disciplined them.  They studied.  They had times of happiness and sadness.  They were real kids."
Question #190 from "Over 200 questions children ask about God and the Bible " by Veerman, Galvin, Wilhoit, Lucas, & Osborne,  Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.  Wheaton, Ill,  (C) 1997.

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)

I have a question on Matt 10:34 "My mission is to spread, not peace, but division." -Matthew 10:34 We call Jesus the "Prince of Peace" (Is 9:5), so how can He say he won't bring peace?

It is a confusing statement, isn't it? 

Here's the way the Catholic Bishops have explained this:  Jesus, "divides and separates us from all that keeps us from a close, intimate, personal relationship with Him. He wants full communion with us and nothing less. He has come to divide us - to tear us from relationships with people and things that are keeping us from being closer to Him."  So, how can we be in full relationship with the 'Prince of Peace?  First we must examine our relationships. and ask ourselves some questions such as: "Am I spending time with any people who are pulling me away from Christ? Am I  spending too much time in front of the TV or wasting too much time with electronic devices or other inanimate objects that keep me from prayer time?" Are any of my relationships more important to me than my relationship with Jesus?  If the answer to any of those questions are, "Yes," then I need to "cut them out" of my life.

Jesus wants to mean everything to us.   We can let Him into our lives today in a bigger, more profound way:  We just have to "make the cut."

One Bread, One Body   Monday, July 14, 2014   http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/071414.cfm

I am confused. I was named after David in the Bible and was always proud of it. But now I discover that David was a murderer and an adulterer. I am thinking about going with my middle name no so that I won't be associated with that reputation. What do you think? - D

Dave,

You are right.  David from the Bible was a murderer and an adulterer.  But that's not all he was.  Let's look at the whole picture.  David was also chosen by God to lead His people.  He loved God and "the LORD" was "with him,"  (1 Sam 16:18).  David was a man who followed God. 

However, there came a time in his life when David became complacent.   It was during this time that he saw a woman and became lustful for her.  Instead of turning his head and heart from her, he took her, she became pregnant, and so he ended up having her husband murdered.  He then took her as his wife.  God knew of this and He had Samuel confront David about it.  David, being king could have had Samuel killed for confronting him, but David took the rebuke for what it was and he repented.  Still, he paid dearly for his actions.  The consequences of his sin rippled through the rest of his reigning years.  You can read about his sin in 2 Samuel 11 & 12. 

Even though David fell, should we condemn him?  Obviously the answer is a resounding, "NO!"  God didn't condemn him.  He forgave him when he repented.   God also forgives us when we repent.  But God doesn't take away the natural consequences of our sin.

That said, we need to remember that we humans don't see as God sees.  God looks at the heart.  David's heart was turned to God.  He strayed.  He returned.  We are the same.  We love God.  But we stray.  Hopefully we return. 

God's re-acceptance of David should reassure us - like the story of the prodigal son and the forgiving father in the New Testament.  We should be comforted that no matter how great our sin, we are embraced by God when we repent.  Most of us won't commit the sin of murder.  We won't commit adultery.  Those are some of the worst of the sins we could commit. They fall on the top ten list of BAD THINGS not to do.  But God sees all sin as repugnant.  We aren't to compare ourselves to others.  We are to use our perfect God as our measuring rod and understand that we never measure even close to His perfection. 

We can know through David's story that if God would accept someone who has committed the most heinous of actions back into His embrace, He will accept us, who also sin, back too.  Instead of looking at David as a let down, look at him as one who is like us, a sinner who loves God but strays.  Be encouraged because even though David failed miserably to the flesh, God used him to do great things.  Be happy that he found his way back to God and thus was deemed worthy to be listed as an ancestor of Jesus! 

As far as your name goes, try to emulate the good in this namesake of your and hope that you can love God so much that it can be said that 'the LORD is with you!'  Grasp the fact that David did great things for God and open yourself to Him, asking Him to use you to do great things too. 

How can I know what God's mission in life is for me? - Jack

That's one of the million dollar questions!  We all know that we have been made with a special task.  But how do we figure out what that task is?  First of all, we have to be relating with God.  Praying.  Meditating (listening at Mass, reading the Bible which is God's Word to us, etc).  Then we must be utilizing the strengths, the special gifts and talents which God has given us through our personalities.  

We can then determine which path we are to take by knowing what God desires, not just of us, but of everyone. He tells us in the Bible what that is.  And basically, God's desire for everyone is the same.  That's right, His goal for me, for you, and for all of us is is exactly the same! However, how each of us goes about reaching that goal is going to be different.

God tells us through Timothy in his first letter (1 Tim 2:4) that He "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."  That's a pretty clear task!  
Logically progressing, we can first know that our purpose is to fulfill God's desire that we be saved.  Salvation is offered to everyone, but not all people will be saved.  Why?  Because we have a choice.  We can accept God's gift of salvation or we can deny it.  God wants us to accept it.  But He doesn't force us to accept it.  Once we say we accept, then we are invited to come to KNOW the TRUTH.   Know it - as in to be totally intimate with it.  Like a musician knows his instrument; he knows how to take it apart, how to clean it, how to put it away so it doesn't get scratched or damaged, how to tighten the screws, how to wet the reed, how to rosin the bow, etc.  Or to KNOW like I know that (God willing) my husband will be out hunting the Monday after Thanksgiving this year - because I am familiar with his likes and dislikes and his habits, passions, and desires.  I KNOW him.  God doesn't mean KNOW the TRUTH as in know what it/He is, not to just be familiar with it, to be able to talk about it.  He wants us to be intimately knowledgeable with it.  

What is the truth God means?   He told us through His son Jesus.  Jesus (the 2nd person of the Trinity) said, "I am the way and the TRUTH and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me."  (John 14:6)  And, you know what?  Truth never changes.  God is immutable - unchanging.  And, Truth is God's standard.  

Truth is not what people in these postmodern times tout, 'what's right for me might not be right for you' - because they don't want to seem intolerant.  The Truth was set in stone, literally, over 4000 years ago.  God set the standard. He gave us the TRUTH.  

And, Jack, as uncomfortable as that might make you feel, if you really want to know how God wants you to use your talents and gifts, you have know God.  To know God is to know the Truth.   

Oh, another thought:  (Didn't you know this wasn't going to be a simple, short answer!)  Jesus told his disciples just before He ascended into heaven, "Go ... and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." (Matt 28:19-20) That was part of the last statement he said to them!  That means it was a pretty important message.   

The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that we as Church - that is the PEOPLE - must be obedient to the command of its founder. (CCC 849) We are to bring others into communion with God the Trinity and in that bringing, teach those people to bring others.  We are to reach out to everyone.   

Frank Duff - a holy Irishman who died and is being investigated for sainthood - wrote this:  "The Church is a society in which Jesus Christ lives, and which exists for the purpose of bringing Him to all men.  ... Action is paramount. ... Simple effort must come first. ... Nothing is expected of anybody except what he has got." (Maria Legionis Magazine:  'Each Soul' by the Servant of God, Frank Duff  pp 3-6  May - July 2014 issue)  

Those points make it fairly clear that our purpose is to find God, know God, invite others to find and know God, and to encourage those others to invite others to do the same. How we do that is by using our uniqueness, by taking our gifts and talents which God has bestowed upon us, and being a Christian voice through them.   Can I fulfill that mission as a teacher?  Yes.  Can I fulfill it as a parent?  Yes. What about as a professional skate boarder?  You betcha. What about as a lawyer or a politician?  Yes, even through those.  

Jack, whatever position you are called to be in is the best place you can fulfill your mission - and where you are called to fulfill it!  My gifts will only allow me to come into contact with people who have my interests.  Your gifts will allow you to come into contact with a whole different group of people.  Another person will come into contact with another group etc.   Together, all of us who make up the Church can reach everyone in the world.   

And that's pretty cool, isn't it?

What does James mean when he says "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?" - Penny

Penny:  

My response when someone asks about a specific verse always is to look at its context.  The verse you mention is James 2:14.  Its context?  James has been talking about how to persevere in faith.  Earlier he gives the receivers of his letter a rule for living life as a Christian:  He says they should be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to get angry (1:19). Then he takes what he has told further and says they must do rather than just hear the word of God (1:22).

James, in following the teaching of Jesus basically says that just formally observing the rituals of faith does not get to the essence of loving God.  

So, arriving at your verse (2:14) James then clarifies the difference in faith and works.  What he says is that when people truly have faith in God those people show their faith by the works of love they perform to their fellow-men.  He says that having faith alone - without works -is like having a body without a soul.  It's dead.  

He is NOT saying is that people can "work" their way to heaven.  

He is saying that it is impossible to show your faith if you are not performing works which demonstrate that faith. Our works demonstrate our faith to others.    ie:  He is saying: You can say you have faith, but you can't prove it to anyone unless you have works.  

Try to prove the reality of your faith without works.  Can't be done.  People who say they are Christian but don't DO anything aren't viewed as being different than people who aren't Christian.       - Actually, they give Christians who are living out their Christianity a bad name!  

When we say we are Christian, we mean that we are FOLLOWERS of Christ.  Christ performed many wonderful works.   When we say we have faith in God we are talking more than just believing in God.  We are speaking of a belief in, a devotion to, an allegiance or loyalty to God, often without 'logical' proof.  When we say we have faith, that faith is something we Christians are called to LIVE. - as in live the faith! 

James reminds us that even demons believe in God (2:19) Having faith is more than believing.  It requires a demonstration of what we mean by it.

So, what does James mean when he says, "what good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?"  
* He's saying, 'don't just talk the talk.  Walk the walk of too!' 
* He's saying, 'Put your money where your mouth is.'  
* He's saying, 'Show me by what you do that you mean what you say.'  
* He's saying what Jesus said, "... a tree is known by its fruit."  (Matt 12:33)

What kind of fruit are you producing?

Pentecost is both Jewish & Christian!

"The Jewish Harvest Festival, or Festival of Weeks, is also called Pentecost, a Greek word that means 'fifty' ... [It] shares the name Pentecost with the Christian commemoration of the coming of the Holy Spirit.  The Acts of the Apostles describes this event:  'When the day of Pentecost came, all the believers were gathered together in one place. ... They were all filled with the Holy Spirit' (2:1,4). 

"Acts is referring to the Harvest Festival, which takes place fifty days after Passover in the Jewish calendar.   Jesus was crucified near the end of Passover.  Fifty days after the Resurrection, Jews gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Harvest Festival - and then the Holy Spirit descended on Christ's followers. 

"That is why the Church commemorates Pentecost seven Sundays (or fifty days) after Easter Sunday."  

(Saint Mary's Press Parish Catalog Spring 2014 edition, p 44)

Coincidences in the Bible?

As I ponder some of the stories in the Bible, I think God speaks to us through situations  which some people would label as “luck,” “a fluke,” or “happenstance.”  For example, look at the book of Esther.   It seems like coincidence that she, a Jewess, is selected as the replacement Queen and that Haman – the bad guy – has chosen to kill all the Jews.  And is it a coincidence that nobody knew she was Jewish?  That she had kept the fact of her Jewish roots quiet ?  It certainly seemed to be a coincidence that the King had insomnia and discovered that he owed a favor to Mordecai just before Esther sups with the king and Haman and discloses the evil plot.  However, none of those happenings were by accident.  God placed each person exactly where that person needed to be so that the Jews would be saved from Haman’s execution.  It just took a look from the end of the story to see it all.

         What about Joseph?  Was it a coincidence that he was sold as a slave to the 2^nd in command of Egypt?  Was it a coincidence that he was in Egypt when his family was dying of famine in Palestine?  Was it a coincidence that his brothers had to come to him to get food?   No. God turned Joseph's  seemingly bad 'luck' into something bigger than the ugliness he had to endure.  God put Joseph right where he needed to be in order to save his people.  Again, it is only in hind sight  that God’s plan is clearly seen.

         Examples of “coincidences” abound in the Bible.  Certainly they abound in our lives today.  What do they all show us?  That God is always in control, even when we don’t understand our situation.  To trust God.  To remember that being in the right (or wrong) place at the right (or wrong) time is not enough; that the outcome often hinges on our response.  Anything else?  Oh, yeah ...that God’s “coincidences” always have a greater purpose than we might ever realize.

Check out the the story of Esther in the book of Esther.  It's short and a pretty easy read. And you can find Joseph's plight in Gen 37, & 39-46   You’ll never look at those little chance encounters of life in the same way again. 

Do you have a thought on "coincidences" you like to share?

Solomon's Fall

Not too long ago we were hearing about Solomon in our readings during the daily Masses.  Let's unpack 1 Kings 11. 
      Solomon, unlike his father, gave his heart away to the idols of the other nations.  How did this happen?  Through his many wives.  God told the Israelites not to marry 'foreign' women.  Why?  Because they did not worship God, but instead worshipped many gods.   But Solomon followed the way of the kings of the other nations and he married many women ... every time he made a pact with another king from another nation he took a daughter of that king to seal the pact.  These many women brought their gods with them - and their beliefs.  Solomon wanted to please his wives and so he built altars for them to worship their gods upon; and he eventually started to listen to their talk about these same false gods.  Sadly, he began to make offerings up to those false gods.  Because he adored the false gods, the kingdom which had only been together for about 120 years was torn apart at his death.  

That should not have come as any surprise.  God had not only given this law to all the Israelites, God had spoken to Solomon - twice - and reminded him to keep the covenant. 
Solomon blew it.   The entire nation of Israel suffered the consequences of his behavior. 

 ... Well, how about truly considering these questions: 

How much like Solomon am I? 
How much like Solomon is our nation?  
What might I need to do to get back on track with God? 
What can I do to help the nation get back on track with God?

Got any thoughts about this that you'd like to share?  We'd love to hear what you have to say!

The Ark of the Covenant

Wow, what a thought that Mary, the Blessed Mother is the New Ark of the Covenant.  It's actually not a new thought.  The Bible spoke of Mary as the Ark in the Book of Revelation.  (Chapter 12) 

There is a fabulous Monstrance in St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish in Chicago, Illinois which honors that title of Mary.  It's the largest Monstrance in the world.

Photo: 2008 dimitre.com             http://thedivinemercy.org

**  A Monstrance is that holy piece of equipment which holds the consecrated host during Adoration.  Usually it is formed like a sun with the Host being the center part of it.

This monstrance is actually an Icon too.  It is titled "Our Lay of the Sign - 

Ark of Mercy," and was carved from linden wood then gilded.  It is nine feet tall and weighs 700 pounds. It  was unveiled and blessed by Cardinal Francis George, on May 31, 2008, on the Feast of the Visitation.

The idea of this iconic monstrance was conceived nine years before it was completed!

Look at the woman placed upon a replica of the Old Testament's Ark of the Covenant.  It is Mary. She is dressed in red as is the tradition of the Eastern Orthodox tradition.  The red symbolizes her suffering with Christ. 

The big circle in her heart is actually the place the consecrated host - Jesus - goes.  (Remember that part of the monstrance is called the luna.  Luna means moon in Spanish.)

Why do we call Mary the Ark of the Covenant?   Actually she is the Ark of the New Covenant;  Here's a quick reasoning on why: 

The Old Testament Ark Contained the Commandments, Manna, & Aaron’s Rod
New Ark Contained Christ Our Lord: Logos, Bread of Life, King/Priest
 
The Old Testament Ark was said to contain three things: the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments carved by the finger of God, the priestly rod of Moses’ brother Aaron, and the heavenly manna that sustained Israel in post-Egyptian wandering.
While the old Ark is acacia wood wrapped in gold, the New Ark of the Covenant is the Immaculate Woman Mary. Since being overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, her womb became the dwelling place of God on Earth until the birth of Christ. As the New Testament is a perfection and fulfillment of the Old, so too is Christ’s Incarnation in the Virgin Mary a perfection of the Old Ark of the Covenant. The contents of the New Ark perfect the contents of the Old Ark insofar as Christ the Lord takes upon himself the roles of the former objects: Word of God, Bread of Life, & Eternal Priest."
http://www.stpeterslist.com/2022/4-biblical-reasons-mary-is-the-new-ark-of-the-covenant/