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“By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler” (1 Peter 4:15). We must not presume that God blesses every possible kind of suffering a Christian may become involved in. It’s quite obvious that some sufferings and trials are not part of God’s plan for us. Believers should never suffer because they’ve murdered, robbed, or done evil. But in today’s verse Peter mentions a fourth category—“a troublesome meddler”—whose meaning is not as apparent and whose application might be more in dispute. “A troublesome meddler” interferes with everyone else’s business, and...

The twelve apostles included "Thomas" (Matt. 10:3). Jesus can replace your doubts with hope. When Jesus was crucified, Thomas was shattered. He loved Jesus deeply and wanted always to be with Him. He was willing even to die with Him, but now his greatest fear had been realized: Jesus was gone. Thomas was not with the other disciples when Jesus appeared to them after His resurrection. John 20:25 says, "The other disciples therefore were saying to [Thomas], 'We have seen the Lord!' But he said to them, 'Unless I shall see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and...

Can the Church change its doctrines? Full QuestionI was amazed to read recently where a Catholic priest theologian said that the Church is not infallible and that it has changed its doctrines. Apparently he felt Jesus' words in Matthew 18:18-19 ("Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted them by my heavenly Father") mean that the Church can change its doctrines as times...

A registered nurse who worked in ICU for years and later went into hospice work has logged fascinating deathbed accounts, including glimpses of hell and Heaven and a vision of Jesus that is among the most compelling we have read in this realm of alleged mystical encounters.The nurse, Kelley Jankowski, a mother of six who lives in Maryland, kept a journal and took meticulous notes after listening to what those dying were telling her and has recorded them in a splendidly written, vivid, and credible book, An Army in Heaven -- consoling indeed!There are stories of the simple process...

Nine Brief Examples of the Power of Metaphor Msgr. Charles Pope • May 19, 2016 • Words, while an important part of our toolset, can also get in the way of reality. But how can we live without them? On some level we must allow a deep level of language to help us in sorting out reality; words are something that help us to form a mental picture. In particular, we sometimes turn to metaphors and extended metaphors (parables, allegories, stories, etc.).A metaphor is a figure of speech in which two different things are equated for rhetorical effect. It...

Babylon Rises By Philip Cottraux I normally avoid controversial topics, preferring Bible teachings to divisive political issues. However, I have addressed gay marriage, church shootings and abortion, and now a particular firestorm has come against my state in recent weeks that I can no longer ignore. God is calling His people to take a stand. As homosexual fascism has swept America into embracing immorality under the phony guise of “civil rights,” ethical dilemmas have been created for local governments to deal with. North Carolina recently passed House Bill 2, which states that a transgendered person should use the restroom of...

Cardinal Kurt Koch said the ‘Sunday culture in Christianity is very weak’, urging for a more home-orientated approachThe Vatican’s most senior official on relations with Jewish communities has insisted the Catholic Church must learn from the centrality of the home and Shabbat in Jewish life, saying the Sunday “culture in Christianity is very weak”. The frank comments from Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the pontifical commission for religious relations with the Jews, came during an exclusive interview as he joined leading theologians from both faiths for a two-day symposium on enhancing relations. “The most important thing we can learn from...

Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death: That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.(Psalm 9:13-14)Psalm 9 is an eschatological psalm. It describes the coming of the Lord to this earth to deliver a besieged people, Israel, surrounded by menacing enemies on the verge of destroying her. The Psalmist reveals that Israel’s enemies will be routed by the very presence of the Lord, the perousia spoken...

At this point in the pontificate of the former Archbishop of Buenos Aires, it is fair to ask whether Francis is able to deliver even one sermon or address on Sacred Scripture that does not twist it to suit his idiosyncratic, liberal Jesuit theology. The latest example is the Address of the Audience of May 11 wherein Francis, yet again, bends the parable of the prodigal son to his peculiar notion of Divine Mercy. “The mercy of the father is overflowing, unconditional, and is shown even before the son speaks,” says Francis of the father who sees his lost son...

Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings. When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.(Psalm 9:11-12)The message of Psalm 9, is the coming of the Lord. He comes to deliver Israel from the enemies who besiege her in the last days. He comes to Judge the world in righteousness. He comes to put an end to the wanton destruction of the enemy. Here we see another of the reasons the Lord comes again, He comes as the judge to to make inquisition for...

Blessed are the Pure of Heart – A Reflection on an Often Misunderstood Beatitude and Virtue Msgr. Charles Pope • May 18, 2016 • This post is a kind of follow-up to yesterday’s reflection from the Letter of James, in which we were summoned away from our double-minded ways.One of the beatitudes taught by Jesus is often misunderstood, largely due to the popular translations of it from the Greek text: “Blessed are the pure of heart,” or “Blessed are the clean of heart.” Let’s look at three facets of the beatitude: its fundamental meaning, its focus, and the freedom...

ROME, May 18, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) – Two days after the Rome Life Forum in which he called faithful Catholics to be prepared to endure the “Martyrdom of Witness” for the sake of “the defense of human life and its cradle in the conjugal union of husband and wife,” I was privileged to obtain a personal interview with Cardinal Raymond Burke for LifeSiteNews in which he made clear that in his view, Amoris laetitia can be read “critically.” He spoke gravely, even sadly, deploring the fact that many Catholics today are “ignorant of their Catholic faith,” underscoring also that “the part...

The twelve apostles included "Bartholomew [Nathanael]" (Matt. 10:3). God knows your heart and will honor your search for truth. Despite Nathanael's prejudice, Jesus knew he was an honest, sincere, Jewish believer in whom there was no religious hypocrisy or deceit (John 1:47). He truly sought after God and looked forward to the Messiah's coming. Most of the Jewish people of Jesus' day believed that every circumcised descendent of Abraham was a true Jew and a beneficiary of the Abrahamic covenant. But in Romans 2:28–29 Paul explains that salvation is an issue of the heart, not of national origin: "He is...

“But to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation” (1 Peter 4:13). We should rejoice in trials and persecutions, not for their own sake, but for the benefits that result. The late D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, in his classic book Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, made the following careful distinction on what it means to rejoice in persecution: “The Christian is, in a sense, one who must feel his heart breaking at the effect of sin in others that makes...

The ninth Psalm is eschatological. It is a celebration of the return of King Messiah, whose coming is an intervention, a deliverance of Israel from the amassed nations of the world who have united to destroy her. The psalmist taunts the enemies who have sought Israel’s destruction, O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them.(Psalm 9:6)Either this is rendered as ‘Your destructions are over forever!”, or it means “You are eternally destroyed”. Perhaps it is both, for the Coming of the Messiah shall certainly produce both effects;...

A Diagnosis of Sin and a Healing Remedy Msgr. Charles Pope • May 17, 2016 • There is a reading in daily Mass this week (Tuesday of the 7th Week of the year) in which James masterfully sets forth a fundamental aspect of our struggle against sin. He speaks of our disordered passions and double-minded ways. He assesses our problems and then offers solutions. The text from the Letter of James (James 4:1-10) is presented below in bold italics, while my commentary is shown in normal font. I. Source – Where do the wars and where do the conflicts...

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12). We can be certain of God’s love for us, no matter how unexpected or difficult any trial might be. Reassuring words are vital as we strive to deal in a godly fashion with trials and sufferings in our Christian lives. In today’s verse, Peter opens with a pastoral term (“beloved”) that conveys tenderness, love, and concern for his audience. It reinforces in a single word the concepts of fervent love...

The twelve apostles included "Bartholomew [Nathanael]" (Matt. 10:3). Prejudice can destroy relationships and prevent people from coming to Christ. Prejudice is an uncalled-for generalization based on feelings of superiority. It is an ugly sin that has fueled hatred and conflicts for centuries, dividing entire nations and bringing untold misery. But prejudice is most damning when it blinds people to God's Word. The prophet Jonah was so prejudiced against the Assyrians, he refused to go to Nineveh to preach to them. Even after God convinced him to obey, he wanted to die because the people of Nineveh had repented and God...

The Psalms of the Bible are full of prophecy. A major theme of many of the Psalms is that of the return of the King, Messiah, and his sufferings and glory. The prophecies of the Psalms are eschatological also, describing in great detail the last great conflict of Israel, and of the world conditions at the time of the second coming of Christ. The ninth Psalm is an example of this. I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing...

“If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire.” (Mk. 9:43)It requires no great insight in order to discern what the modern world would make of such a statement had it been uttered by a contemporary man. Secular society would simply dismiss the words as the ravings of an angry extremist. The reaction in the Church would likely be little different. Certainly, such a statement is hardly pastoral, as it seems to condemn, not “accompany.” All...