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?
Saturday, June 14, 2014
Sunday, June 8, 2014
Why didn't the bush burn up in Ex 3:2-4? Lucy
Dear Lucy;
You are talking about the bush that was totally in flames which Moses saw during his time in the land of Midian. Because it wasn't burning up, Moses had to go over and check it out. That bush didn't burn to ashes because God was making a miracle happen. God wanted to get Moses' attention. He wanted Moses to go back to Egypt, speak to Pharaoh and, with God on Moses' side, rescue the people of Israel from slavery. By showing Moses that He could set a bush on fire without it being consumed by the fire, God was showing Moses that He had the power to do what He said He would do.
You are talking about the bush that was totally in flames which Moses saw during his time in the land of Midian. Because it wasn't burning up, Moses had to go over and check it out. That bush didn't burn to ashes because God was making a miracle happen. God wanted to get Moses' attention. He wanted Moses to go back to Egypt, speak to Pharaoh and, with God on Moses' side, rescue the people of Israel from slavery. By showing Moses that He could set a bush on fire without it being consumed by the fire, God was showing Moses that He had the power to do what He said He would do.
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Faith News: Christian Olympian's confounds the media!
Did you see the article about the freeskiier David Wise who just won a gold medal at the Olympics? He is 23 years old, married, has a 2-year-old daughter and said that someday he thinks he might like to become a pastor. He met his wife at church camp and the two of them lead a youth ministry.
This is not the normal reputation of freeskiiers and because of this reporters and freeskiing promoters don't know how to handle this wholesome man. NBCs answer was to say that Wise "leads an 'alternative lifestyle.' " !! I guess if you look at the norm in the freeskiing world, he does.
Wise - named appropriately - realizes that he's different, but his rebuttal is "Why do [I] want something that has been done before? It's the people who are different who end up shaping the culture.' " He says, "I think being a good husband and a father is more important than being a great skier, We're just flipping and skiing in the halfpipe. It's not an eternally lasting thing."
Way to go, David Wise! Let's all take his lead and make a difference and be a culture-shaper! (from Citizen Magazine, May 2014 Whee! The People section, "An Olympian's 'alternative Lifestyle' p 8)
This is not the normal reputation of freeskiiers and because of this reporters and freeskiing promoters don't know how to handle this wholesome man. NBCs answer was to say that Wise "leads an 'alternative lifestyle.' " !! I guess if you look at the norm in the freeskiing world, he does.
Wise - named appropriately - realizes that he's different, but his rebuttal is "Why do [I] want something that has been done before? It's the people who are different who end up shaping the culture.' " He says, "I think being a good husband and a father is more important than being a great skier, We're just flipping and skiing in the halfpipe. It's not an eternally lasting thing."
Way to go, David Wise! Let's all take his lead and make a difference and be a culture-shaper! (from Citizen Magazine, May 2014 Whee! The People section, "An Olympian's 'alternative Lifestyle' p 8)
Why do Catholics confess their sins to the priest? - Joe Non-Catholic
Dear Joe:
What an important question! Let's begin with an understanding of what happens when a person sins: Every sin damages our relationship with God. However, every sin also damages to some degree, our relationship with the people of God ie: the Church. When we sin we violate that which the people of God (The Church) hold as Truth. And, "to some degree, ... our communion with our brothers and sisters in Christ is weakened, -or even broken."
And, our sin also "damages our relationship with humanity. Sinning hurts our fellow human beings" and even ourselves.
"If we're to apologize and attempt to change our behavior, who deserves to receive that apology? We owe an apology to God, everyone in the Church, and every human being. These are the relationships that need to be healed. Yet this would be next to impossible." How could we apologize to every person in the Church and every person in the world?
"This is where the priest comes in. A priest is unique. He's a mediator between God and people. By his ordination, he is God's representative or ambassador on earth. The Church gives him the power to speak on its behalf, and he represents humanity before God. In a special way, a priest has the faculty to speak on behalf of all the parties who deserve an apology. So the priest receives our confession on behalf of God, the Church, and all of humanity.
"But the priest goes beyond accepting the apology. He helps us fulfill the requirement of contrition. Contrition exceeds and apology. It's a desire not to repeat the offense. This may be difficult, so we always ask for God's grace to avoid sin. But even hearts that [don't] want to sin need help knowing how to avoid it."
When we go to the priest and say we are sorry, we are acknowledging that we must apologize to God and to all our brothers and sisters in Christ whom we have let down by our sin. Because of his ordination, he is the person who can speak for Christ and forgive us and he is the representative of all the people of the Church and he can accept the apology. - We get a two-fer! It's the same idea we have in our government. We have Representatives who made decisions for the people of the United States because we elect that person to speak for us. The priest is the one who can speak for Christ during the Sacraments. And, as a priest, he is the Representative of us, the people of the Church.
So, we say we are sorry and then the priest gives us something to think about and tells us what we should do to make things right - or to reconcile ourselves with God and the Church and humanity. He gives us a penance. "Penance is like medicine for the soul. If we understand the purpose of the penance, we begin a practice that can help us avoid a particular sin. ... the idea is that we've at least started on the right path to avoid sin, and now we may freely choose to continue on that path." Through the priest who acts as the person of Christ for us, our sins are forgiven. In other words, "Jesus forgives our sins through the priest and doesn't hold us guilty."
"Jesus' forgiveness allows established relationships to be restored and new relationships to begin - even though the effects of the sinful action may still exist in the real world."
("Medicine for the Soul" by Fr. Donald Willard, CSsR , Liguorian Magazine, April 2014 p 5.)
What an important question! Let's begin with an understanding of what happens when a person sins: Every sin damages our relationship with God. However, every sin also damages to some degree, our relationship with the people of God ie: the Church. When we sin we violate that which the people of God (The Church) hold as Truth. And, "to some degree, ... our communion with our brothers and sisters in Christ is weakened, -or even broken."
And, our sin also "damages our relationship with humanity. Sinning hurts our fellow human beings" and even ourselves.
"If we're to apologize and attempt to change our behavior, who deserves to receive that apology? We owe an apology to God, everyone in the Church, and every human being. These are the relationships that need to be healed. Yet this would be next to impossible." How could we apologize to every person in the Church and every person in the world?
"This is where the priest comes in. A priest is unique. He's a mediator between God and people. By his ordination, he is God's representative or ambassador on earth. The Church gives him the power to speak on its behalf, and he represents humanity before God. In a special way, a priest has the faculty to speak on behalf of all the parties who deserve an apology. So the priest receives our confession on behalf of God, the Church, and all of humanity.
"But the priest goes beyond accepting the apology. He helps us fulfill the requirement of contrition. Contrition exceeds and apology. It's a desire not to repeat the offense. This may be difficult, so we always ask for God's grace to avoid sin. But even hearts that [don't] want to sin need help knowing how to avoid it."
When we go to the priest and say we are sorry, we are acknowledging that we must apologize to God and to all our brothers and sisters in Christ whom we have let down by our sin. Because of his ordination, he is the person who can speak for Christ and forgive us and he is the representative of all the people of the Church and he can accept the apology. - We get a two-fer! It's the same idea we have in our government. We have Representatives who made decisions for the people of the United States because we elect that person to speak for us. The priest is the one who can speak for Christ during the Sacraments. And, as a priest, he is the Representative of us, the people of the Church.
So, we say we are sorry and then the priest gives us something to think about and tells us what we should do to make things right - or to reconcile ourselves with God and the Church and humanity. He gives us a penance. "Penance is like medicine for the soul. If we understand the purpose of the penance, we begin a practice that can help us avoid a particular sin. ... the idea is that we've at least started on the right path to avoid sin, and now we may freely choose to continue on that path." Through the priest who acts as the person of Christ for us, our sins are forgiven. In other words, "Jesus forgives our sins through the priest and doesn't hold us guilty."
"Jesus' forgiveness allows established relationships to be restored and new relationships to begin - even though the effects of the sinful action may still exist in the real world."
("Medicine for the Soul" by Fr. Donald Willard, CSsR , Liguorian Magazine, April 2014 p 5.)
Friday, May 16, 2014
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?
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?
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
faith news: Arkansas Tornado victim's FAITH through it all!
Before and after photos of April Smith's house.
Both boys died. Dad has sever head trauma, and April has tow broken legs, a broken pelvis, and a broken heart. But she's still full of faith and confident she will see her boys again in heaven. From her hospital bed she is telling her friends to "Show them what my God can overcome."
Check out the story and be inspired!! Click this link & it should get you to the full story. Arkansas tornado survivor
Before & after photos of house taken from same article as the provided link.
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