Pope Francis greets the faithful at the May 8 General Audience (Credit: CNA / Stephen Driscoll)
Posted on 09/07/2013 3:49:35 PM PDT by NYer
.- In his daily homily on Saturday, Pope Francis reflected on the question of authentic Christianity and rejected the practice of focusing more on devotions than on Christ himself.
Jesus is “the center” of faith, said the Pope. “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 don’t know why I have to do it,” he said to the congregation at the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta on September 7.
Like the Pharisees, he said, there are some people who “make so many commandments the center of their religiosity.”
Others who have a false sense of religiosity “only seek devotions” or “things that are a little uncommon, a little special, that go back to private revelations,” noted Pope Francis.
“If your devotions bring you to Christ, that works. But if you remain there, something’s wrong,” he explained.
“If Jesus is not at the center, there will be many other things,” so that people become “Christians without Christ.”
Remembering that Jesus is the center of faith “regenerates us, grounds us.”
Pope Francis further explained the mark of a true “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 center, the Lord, as He Himself says.”
Christians can avoid false religiosity by adoring Jesus as “the Lord, the only Lord.”
“If you aren’t able to adore Jesus, you’re missing something,” warned Pope Francis.
The sign of a true “Christian with Christ” is one who does “that which comes from Jesus” and that which leads to Jesus.
Such adoration bears true fruit in the life of a Christian, encouraged the Pope.
He said that Jesus also gives “the grace of loving Him so much, of following Him, of going along the path that He has shown us.”
A “Christian with Christ” has the courage to proclaim Jesus as Lord.
Pope Francis exhorted Catholics not to focus on false piety, but rather evangelize and “take the Gospel!”
Ping!
Pope Francis is having parish priests advocate of amnesty for illegals tomorrow and backs liberation theology.
Bye.
Christianity was never meant to make you comfortable.
Get a clue.
Hmm! I agree with his statement. Now if they would just dump all that extraneous stuff and just focus on Christ.
Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Good one! It’s Jesus and only Jesus!
Revelation 4:11 "Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created."
1 Peter 4:11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
As a Protestant the anti-Catholicism here is obnoxious. If a conservative doesn’t like guns she doesn’t own one. If a conservative wants to recycle he does so without demanding that others do. If a conservative does not like Catholicism she worships as she chooses and minds her own business. Reality check: It’s not the Catholics that are trying to blow us up. In fact, a group of nuns, may God bless them, were marched prisoner style through the streets of Egypt by muslim animals.
As you pointed out the anti-Catholics don’t even know the difference between the Pope and the USCCB; however, the consider themselves experts on the religion. As a Protestant I wish the anti-Catholics here would focus on Protestant churches that embrace gays, gay marriage, and abortion.
You must be one of those Protestant Catholics...
AMEN
Christianity and the Church are two different things. Not a hater, but for now I consider the Church to have left me.
Is that anything like a white Hispanic?
Not much difference! Men of God are called to speak out against all who deny “the faith once delivered to the saints,” whether it be Catholics or Protestants. False teaching is condemned, regardless of where they come from.
And don't get me started on the gay mafia in the Church (have a friend whose cousin is part of it - it is very real).
Without the Church there is no Christianity. The Church is Christ’s Body. The Church doesn’t leave anyone. But people make excuses for not knowing any better.
Dear Good, well said. I’m of the same opinion. See my posts in the 100+post thread “Pope Francis: overcome temptation to be “Christians without Jesus” (Daily Mass”)
And Ben Franklin’s statement “either we all hang together or we will all hang separately” is as true for Christianity today, as it was for the founding fathers of the nation in 1776. Not only do we have to defend ourselves from radical Islam, but also secular humanism and the militant atheists who have been seizing control of the nation and its society.
There appears to be an anti-Catholic ping list, and the members pride themselves on posting scripture in pretty colors. It is childish and actually really embarrassing. If my soul were lost, their brand of Christianity would not pull me back.
That's the USCCB.
Not Pope Francis.
Please get at least the major parts of the story straight.
Thank you.
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