Posted on 09/07/2013 5:48:38 AM PDT by markomalley
Christians must never forget that the centre of their life is Jesus Christ. That was the message of Pope Francis at Mass this morning at the Casa Santa Marta. The Pope emphasised that we must overcome the temptation to be Christians without Jesus or Christians that seek only devotions, without Jesus.
Pope Francis dedicated his whole homily to the centrality of Jesus in the life of the Christian. Jesus, he said, is the centre. Jesus is the Lord. And yet, he maintained, this is not always understood well, it is not easily understood. Jesus is not a lord of this or that, but is the Lord, the only Lord. He is the centre that regenerates us, grounds us: this is the Lord, the centre. The Pharisees of todays Gospel, Pope Francis noted, make so many commandments the centre of their religiosity. Even today, if Jesus is not at the centre, there will be many other things, so that we meet many Christians without Christ, without Jesus:
For example, those who have the sickness of the Pharisees and are Christians that put their faith, their religiosity in so many commandments, so many. Ah, I have to do this, I have to do this, I have to do this. Christians of this attitude . . . But why do you do this? No, it must be done! But why? Ah, I dont know, but it must be done. And Jesus where is He? A commandment is valid if it comes from Jesus: I do this because the Lord wants me to do this. But if I am a Christian without Christ, I do this and I dont know why I have to do it.
There are, he added, other Christians without Christ: those who only seek devotions . . . But Jesus is not there. If your devotions bring you to Christ, that works. But if you remain there, somethings wrong. Theres another kind of Christian without Christ, he continued, those who seek things that are a little uncommon, a little special, that go back to private revelations, while the Revelation concluded with the New Testament. Pope Francis warned about the desire of these Christians to go to a spectacle of revelation, to hear new things. But, the Pope exhorted them, take the Gospel!:
But Father, what is the rule for being a Christian with Christ, and not becoming a Christian without Christ. What is the sign of a person that is a Christian with Christ? The rule is simple: only that which brings you to Jesus is valid, and only that is valid that comes from Jesus. Jesus is the centre, the Lord, as He Himself says. Does this bring you to Jesus? Go ahead. Does this commandment, this attitude, come from Jesus? Go ahead. But if it doesnt bring you to Jesus, and if it doesnt come from Jesus, but . . . if you dont know, its a bit dangerous.
And again the Pope asks, What is the sign that I am a Christian with Jesus? The sign, he said, is simple. It is the sign of the one born blind that prostrated himself before Jesus to adore Him:
But if you arent able to adore Jesus, youre missing something. A rule, a sign. The sign is: I am a good Christian, I am on the path of a good Christian if I do that which comes from Jesus and if I do that which leads me to Jesus, because he is the centre. The sign is: I am capable of adoring, the adoration. This prayer of adoration of Jesus. The Lord makes us understand that He alone is the Lord, the unique Lord. And He gives us, too, the grace of loving Him so much, of following Him, of going along the path that He has shown us.
Jesus is real and not just an ethical concept. Nor is he a divine spirit hiding in a skin suit. Remembering his mother helps us remember that.
Mary as the demigoddess or Queen of Heaven as she is worshiped is NOT in the Bible. Mary, mother of Jesus, is in the Bible.
Having idols may help you remember. Fingering rosary beads may help you remember. Worshiping dead people may help you remember. But those are not what is taught in the Bible or by Jesus. If you want to remember, pray to Jesus to help your memory. That is what is Biblical.
This may come as a shocker to you but He has dropped the skin suit.
Unbiblical. Hmm. So the Bible is the point of reference for you? Now THAT’S unbiblical.
Prov. 30:5,6 Every Word of God is pure, He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him. Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
What has been going on in the Middle East the last couple of months, but in a special way the last couple of days is a reminder that regardless of what church community believers worship, we are all part of the large family tree known as the Christian faith.
He talks about being a "Christian" without Christ. He has frequently examined the Church that does not first and foremost point people toward Christ, calling it a "pitiful NGO" in those circumstances. For example:
Today's exhortation is just a different twist on a common theme: the need for radical conversion (at both the individual and institutional levels) and the utter need to become completely dependent solely upon Christ.
really? Is that what you believe? That's not what I read on these forums. I hear "There's only ONE TRUE CHURCH." And some nonsense about an apostolic succession (also unBiblical). Also how about "There's 15 thousand Brand X churchs out there but only is built on the first Pope Peter". A Christian is one who follows Christs teachings (not a Church) and practices. You don't even worship on the same day Jesus did. That family tree needs some pruning to get back to what Jesus taught.
Leave the tree as is.
“A Christian is one who follows Christs teachings (not a Church) and practices.”
A Chrisitan is RATHER one who BELIEVES in Jesus Christ as LORD.
“That family tree needs some pruning to get back to what Jesus taught.”
Best not to prune it, leave it alone as is.
Yes, that's the safest thing to do. And probably what Pope Francis is talking about here. And it is also what the world wants as well. Let's just leave everything the way it is. Everyone feels nice and snug and comfortable.
Just what I said. That's what Jesus taught. To believe on Him.
A false theology from a false leader of a false religion...It is just mind boggling that this pope, this religion teaches you can be a Christian without Jesus Christ...
Does anyone know why that is??? It's obvious...In the Catholic religion you become a Christian by joining the Catholic fraternity, as long as someone sprinkled some water on you...
You are not a Christian if Jesus Christ is not your Savior, and you are not a Christian if you teach otherwise as your popes do...
AMEN to that.
And that is what Pope Francis has been teaching.
I don't believe you because how could these Jesusless Christians not know???... They go to your church...What were they taught before they were allowed membership to your so-called body of christ???
A real Christian, leader or not would not pussyfoot around like this...He'd tell people that if you are without Jesus Christ, you are NOT a Christian whether you think you are or not...
So now we have to ask...What kind of Catholic Christians are those at FR??? The kind with Jesus or Christians without Jesus???
Perhaps if you guys were indwelt with the Holy Spirit as all Christians are, you wouldn't have so much trouble remembering who Jesus is, without clinging to his mother...
Sorry if I come across as too harsh, but if you really believe that, you are not qualified to be in the conversation...
Deu 30:10 If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.
Deu 30:11 For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.
Deu 30:12 It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
Deu 30:13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
Deu 30:14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
God made sure his words were written in the books of the bible so that they are near to us for us to read, learn, and memorize...
The bible is the only point of reference we need, according to God...
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