Posted on 12/31/2015 4:29:48 PM PST by NYer
Whether it is while saying the rosary or not, meditating on Scripture is a wonderful form of prayer.
One day when praying the first Luminous mystery, the Baptism of the Lord, I was reflecting on how John might have felt when he saw Jesus arriving at the Jordan River where he was preaching the baptism of repentance. I thought of Mary’s visiting Elsabeth, how John leapt in his mother’s womb. I got to wondering how often Mary and Elisabeth got together as their sons were growing up. Was Elisabeth at the temple when Jesus was presented to the Lord? Or when Jesus was found at the temple? I picture Jesus and John playing together as kids; maybe John was there when the 12 year old Jesus was astonishing the doctors in the temple. Was there a stirring in John’s heart when he saw his cousin, the one who was greater than he, approach him to be baptized?
I have lately been meditating on Scripture that is not part of the rosary. I imagine myself being with Andrew and the other disciple as they follow Jesus to where He was staying and spend the day there. Or walking on the road to Emmaus with Cleopas as Jesus draws near. Other meditations include watching Jesus being taken up into heaven and coming across as He is preparing breakfast over a charcoal fire along the sea of Tiberias.
There are so many wonderful things to reflect on from Scripture. But I imagine you already know that.
Do you spend as much time nourishing Jesus in your heart as you do criticizing others who nourish Jesus in their hearts?
You nor any other member here were being criticized.
Extra Biblical Catholic doctrines and teaching were criticized for not being in line with God’s plan.
You see to have missed the point.
It's one of the reasons I, along with other Christians, are on this board pointing out the false teachings of roman catholicism.
btw....here's another.
Because Mary shared in all Jesus' sufferings and because her life so perfectly resembled His, she was rewarded and crowned Queen of heaven and earth. She is a good Queen who wishes to distribute the many graces Jesus has given her upon her children if they just ask.
This corresponds with other catholic writings I've read on asking Mary for things when Jesus won't answer.
I won't address the false title of queen of heaven and earth.
In either case they're both totally unscriptural.
I encourage all roman catholics to read the Word and ditch the rosary.
Nothing that the Catholic church claims it means is anywhere supported in Scripture.
FWIW, ALL believers are grace d with the same grace that Mary was given.
Mary and Grace
The word grace used in this passage in Luke is used in one other place in the Bible and that is Ephesians 1 where Paul tells us that with this same grace, God has blessed us (believers) in the Beloved. IOW, we all have access to that grace and it has been bestowed on us all.
http://biblehub.com/greek/5487.htm
Luke 1:28 And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!"
Ephesians 1:4-6 In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
Greek word "grace"
charitoo: to make graceful, endow with grace
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: charitoo
Phonetic Spelling: (khar-ee-to'-o)
Short Definition: I favor, bestow freely on
Definition: I favor, bestow freely on.
HELPS Word-studies
Cognate: 5487 xaritoo (from 5486 /xarisma, "grace," see there) - properly, highly-favored because receptive to God's grace. 5487 (xaritoo) is used twice in the NT (Lk 1:28 and Eph 1:6), both times of God extending Himself to freely bestow grace (favor).
Word Origin: from charis
Definition: to make graceful, endow with grace
NASB Translation: favored (1), freely bestowed (1).
You’ve changed your focus a bit in just a couple of postings.
Not in the least. The one thing those who are critical of the rosary do not understand is how powerful the rosary is in bringing us closer to Jesus.
May the peace of Christ be with you,
Rich
Mormons and other cults also focus on false teachings thinking the same thing.
Oh that's rich coming from you!
Should I share your "colorful" language, or boasts to "eviscerate" me on open threads?
For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. James 1:24 | KJV
The Good Doctor explains it in Luke 1:30. He says she's found favor with God because she's been chosen by God to give birth to Christ.
The context of the passage answers the bulk of the questions catholics seem to keep missing.
The things of the Spirit are foolishness to those who are perishing.
Most of the teachings we focus on are the very same teachings you focus on.
I’d hang around to discuss this with you further, but I’m off to prayer group. We start the evening praising the Lord - God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; singing songs such as Shout to the Lord, He Is Exalted, More Precious than Silver, Holy Ground, Lord I Lift Your Name on High; focusing on the Word of the Lord; and closing by lifting our needs to the Lord followed by the Our Father, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever and ever amen.
May the Peace of the Lord be with you,
Rich
You asserted, “Most of the teachings we focus on are the very same teachings you focus on.” If that is so, how about explaining what you mean by ‘nourishing Jesus in your heart’. Is this catholicly connected to Mary nourishing Jesus in her womb?
When Jesus dwells in your heart by faith, there is no closer to Him that you can get.
It may make you feel better when you say the rosary, but nothing you can do will ever get you closer to Jesus than you are when He is living within you.
Nice selection of songs there.
*Sigh**
>>>There are other parts of ‘god’ that were NOT born by Mary
Do you want to state otherwise?
Aside from the unusual terminology of calling the Father and the Holy Spirit “parts” of God, no, I do not disagree with that statement. But if Jesus is God (which He is) and Mary is His mother (which she is), then Mary is the mother of God.
>>>Have YOU tried it???
Hail Mary, Mother of JESUS...
Hail Mary, Mother of JESUS...
Hail Mary, Mother of JESUS...
Go ahead; TRY IT!!
I’ll bet your head will NOT spin around!
I’ve got no reason to. I don’t say Hail Mary at all. I’m not Catholic.
It was metmom who asked why someone else’s interpretation was better than hers. I simply asked why someone else’s was better than mine. It is you who interjected the worn out insults about Catholics not being Christian and not knowing anything about the bible in a personal, condescending post. Now you try to act like no insult was intended. That’s not very honest, or very loving toward a fellow Christian, is it? And nobody has addressed metmom’s question, which is, “Why is anyone’s interpretation better than anyone else’s? Who gets to decide whose interpretation is “inspired by the Holy Spirit?”
And yes, I can love your soul and not like your self-righteous self one little bit.
Love,
O2
Mother of God is NOT accurate because GOD did not have a mother or beginning.
Jesus was born here on earth, therefore Mary is the mother of Jesus.
The Holy Spirit chose to use the term *mother of Jesus*. HIS choice, not Protestants choice. The Catholic church is the one who thought the work of the Holy Spirit was wanting and it it on itself to change it.
That takes a lot of chutzpah to sit in judgment of God and tell Him He’s wrong or could have done a better job.
Uh, what?
If that is so, how about explaining what you mean by ‘nourishing Jesus in your heart’.
It came from a talk I heard on the parable of the sower. When Jesus explained the parable to His disciples, He concluded by saying:
But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. Luke 8:13 KJV
The speaker talked about how a farmer will take samples of soil from his farm to have them analyzed at a local university extension. From this analysis he can learn what nutrients can be added to nourish the ground on his farm so that it may produce a greater yield. The speaker said that, similarly, we should set aside time to meditate on the Word of God so we can learn what can be added to nourish our hearts, so that it may bring forth more abundant fruit.
He then concluded: “Do you nurture God in you heart”?
This resonated with me and I have since then endeavored to spend more time nurturing God in my heart. It’s not just a Catholic thing; it’s something we all can do.
May the peace of the Lord be with you and Good Night,
Rich
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