“At mass, the words and actions of Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Scriptures, are remembered, as well as the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
I realize that the Roman church believes in apostolic authority which is extra-biblical. But then any man claiming authority can become the authority over the Scriptures. I am not trying to be unkind, but I don’t believe that any pope has authority to do anything.
The New Testament isnstructs walking in the spirit and being filled with the Holy Spirit for all the children of God (Eph. 5). They that are led by the spirit are the sons of God (Romans 8). And so Colossians ch. 2 instructs clearly that Christians have no particular holy days. So what right does a pope or a church system have to over-ride the Scriptures Themselves?
The world can see religious pomp and ceremony any day of the year in any part of the world. But the world so rarely sees common Christians who are filled with the Holy Spirit, living Christ in their daily expression, words, activities.
Holy days and religious trappings are mainly for leading along people who have not the Spirit of God. Religion is basically a substitute for the Holy Spirit.
Catholics should take more interest in the souls of others if they truly believe what they believe. I agree that going to Church on Sunday is not enough to live a Christ centered life. I used to be like that, just going through the motions, but in order to be a true follower of Christ I must live my faith.
At Mass we remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who became the new Lamb at Passover, dying and rising from the dead for our sins. Masses are held at an altar, not a dinner table (or at least, they are supposed to be, but there has been liturgical abuse by those who do not “stick to the script”). The Eucharistic Prayer said at every mass includes the words of Christ at the Last Supper, although in one week we will remember specifically the day in which this took place.
What we do may be pomp and ceremony but the incense, the procession, all these things, are designed to show reverence to Jesus Christ as we believe in His True Presence in the Eucharist. I guess it all depends on your interpretation of John chapter 6, verses 22 through 71; and Luke chapter 22, verses 14 through 20. Although those who do not believe in transubstantiation will see it as pomp and ceremony. I guess it all depends on your perspective.
And yes, I suppose the Pope’s authority and the authority of all the bishops, etc. depends on whether or not you agree with apostolic succession. You may believe whatever you’d like to believe. You may, however, review Acts chapter 6.
And we are not just a Roman church. There are 22 Eastern rite Catholic churches in full communion with the Pope, including the Chaldean Catholic church in Iraq who just had an archbishop kidnapped and killed by terrorists.
I agree that we should all be filled with the Holy Spirit. The apostles (and Mary) were on the day of Pentecost in the upper room. However, as you recall in Acts chapter 8, they had accepted the Word of God, but had not received the Holy Spirit. Peter and John came to them, and prayed that it would be done, but it did not happen. These people had been baptised, but it was not enough. Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. This is why Catholics celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation, that we may all receive the Holy Spirit from the laying on of hands by the representatives of the apostles at this current time, the bishops (here is that apostolic succession thing again). So I agree, we should all receive the Holy Spirit and take the message of Christ to all who are not enlightened.
And we should all live with Christ at the center of our lives. As Jesus says:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.”
And: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
If we are not doing these things, we are not living as Christians. As a Catholic I am obligated to attend Mass every Sunday and on non-Sundays such as Christmas, but that is the bare minimum; it is not enough. We should be living for Christ, each and every day, with all our hearts-, minds, and strength.