Posted on 04/27/2016 8:41:02 AM PDT by Salvation
The second reading from last Sunday’s Mass (5th Sunday of Easter) is very Catholic, and too informative to merely pass up. It presents the Church as rather highly organized and possessed of some of the structures we know today in full form. Granted, some of these structures are in seminal form, but they are there.
We will also notice qualities of the original kerygma that are at variance with what some modern thinkers declare should be the methodology of the Church. The soft Christianity of those who replace the cross with a pillow and who insist on solely inclusion and affirmation is strangely absent in this early setting.
Let’s look the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 14:21-27) and see there the true path of priests, teachers, and leaders in the Church. Four steps are prescribed for our consideration, by noting that they went forth announcing, admonishing, appointing, and accounting.
I. Announcing – The text says, After Paul and Barnabas had proclaimed the good news to that city and made a considerable number of disciples …
Notice that the happiness is linked to the harvest. By proclaiming the Good News, they yield a great harvest. As Catholics, we are not sent out merely to proclaim a list of duties; we are sent to proclaim the Gospel. And the Gospel is this: God so loved the world that He sent his Son, who by dying and rising from the dead has purchased for us a whole new life, free from sin and the rebellious obsessions of this world. He is victorious over all the death-directed drives of this world. Simply put, he has triumphed over these forces and enabled us to walk in newness of life.
God save us from brands of the faith in which rules and obligations are all that is heard by sour-faced saints, dead disciples, fussy Pharisees, bored believers, and frozen chosen. Save us from Pharisaical philosophers who are obsessed with particulars not even commanded by God, who sneer at things they consider beneath than their preferences.
No, we are sent to announce a new life, a life free from the bondage of sin, rebellion, sensuality, greed, lust, domination, and revenge. We are sent to announce a life of joy, confidence, purity, chastity, generosity, and devotion to the truth rooted in Love.
Yes, here is a joyful announcement rooted in the cry Anastasis (Resurrection)! New Life! The old order of sin is gone and a new life of freedom from sin is here!
Did everyone accept this as good news? No. Some, indeed many, were offended and sought to convict Christians as “disturbers of the peace.” Some don’t like to have their sin and bondage called out as such. They prefer bondage, sin, and darkness to light, holiness, and freedom.
As Catholics, we announce what is intrinsically good news, and we ought to start sounding like it by proclaiming it with joy. We must proclaim it without the bitterness and anger that are indicative of those who are more interested in winning an argument than in joyfully announcing something wonderful, freeing, and true.
II. Admonishing – The text says, … they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch. They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”
Preaching/teaching is a process. You don’t just preach or teach once and then move on; you return and reiterate. Paul and Barnabas are retracing their steps back through towns they have already evangelized. They do not just come, have a tent revival, and move on. They return and, as we shall see, they establish the Church.
Notice what they do:
1. Encourage – They strengthened the spirits of the disciples.
2. Exhort – They exhorted them to persevere in the faith.
3. Explain – They explained by saying, “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”
Let’s focus especially on the last the point. Paul and Barnabas teach that if you’re not willing to endure the cross, no crown will come your way. If you can’t stand a little disappointment, if you can’t stand being talked about, if you think you should always be up and never down, then I’ve come to remind you: No cross, no crown.
Yes, beware of “cross-less” Christianity. We do have good news to proclaim but there is also the truth that we get to the resurrection and the glory through the cross. There is a test in every testimony, a trial in every triumph. There are demands of discipleship, requirements for renewal, laws of love, and sufferings set forth for Saints.
Good preaching combines the hardship and the happiness in one message. It is a joy to follow in the footsteps of our Lord, who endured hostility, hardship, and the horrors of the cross but still triumphed and showed that the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. Yes, He caught the wise in their craftiness and showed that the thoughts of the wise in this word are futile (cf 1 Cor 3:20). He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them (paradoxically) by the cross (cf Col 2:15).
Thus, St. Paul and Barnabas announce the cross, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles (cf 1 Cor 1:23). Many today insist that the Church soft-pedal the cross, that she use honey, not vinegar. No can do. We joyfully announce and uphold the paradox of the cross. We must be willing to be a sign of contradiction to this world, which sees only pleasure and the indulgence of sinful drives as the way forward, which exalts freedom without truth or obedience, and which calls good what God calls sinful.
Too many so-called Christian denominations have adopted the pillow as their image and have a “give the people what they want” mentality. That is 180 degrees out of phase with the cross.
The Catholic Church does not exist to reflect the views of its members, but to reflect the views of its founder and head, Jesus Christ. As He went out to die, Jesus announced the cross without ambiguity, saying, Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to me (John 12:31-32).
And so we announce the cross not merely as suffering, but as life, power, and love. By the power of the cross, it is possible to live without sin, to overcome rebellion, pride, lust, and greed; it is possible to learn to forgive and to live the truth in love.
The world will hate us for this. But such hardships, such crosses, are necessary preludes to the hallelujah of Heaven. The Church can do no less than to point to the cross. The center of our faith is a cross not a pillow. And the cross is our only hope (Ave Crux spes unica nostra (Hail, O Cross, our only hope).
Yes, the Church announces the cross and admonishes a world obsessed with pleasure and with passing, fake happiness.
III. Appointing – The text says, They appointed presbyters for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom they had put their faith. Then they traveled through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia. After proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia.
And thus we see the ordination of priest leaders in every place. “Priest” is just an English mispronunciation of the word “presbyter.” Paul and Barnabas did not simply go about vaguely preaching and then moving on. They established local churches with a structure of authority. The whole Pauline corpus of writings indicates a need to continue oversight of these local churches and to stay in touch with the priest leaders established to lead these local parishes.
Later, St. Paul spoke of the need for this structure in other places when he wrote (to Titus),
This is why I left you in Crete, that you might amend what was defective, and appoint presbyters in every town as I directed you (Titus 1:5).
This appointment was done through the laying on of hands and is called ordination today. It was a way of establishing order and office in the Church to make sure that the work continued and that the Church was governed by order. This is why we call the sacrament involved here the “Sacrament of Holy Orders.”
Note, too, that a critical task for leaders in the Church is to develop and train new leaders. Too many parishes depend on individual charismatic and gifted leaders whose inevitable departure leaves a void, not an ongoing ministry or organization. This should not be so. Good leaders train new leaders.
IV. Accounting – The text says, From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now accomplished. And when they arrived, they called the church together and reported what God had done with them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
Note that Paul and Barnabas are now returning to render an account for what they have done. Accountability is part of a healthy Church. Every priest should render an account to his bishop, every bishop to his metropolitan and to the Pope. Today’s ad limina visits of bishops to the Pope is the way this is done. Further, priests are accountable to their bishop through various mechanisms such as yearly reports and other meetings.
A further background to this text is that Paul and Barnabas are returning to Antioch because it was from there that they were sent forth by the local bishops and priests on this missionary task.
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off (Acts 13:2).
Thus St. Paul was not the lone ranger that some think him to be. He was sent and was accountable.
But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days (Gal 1:15-18).
Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. I went up by revelation; and I laid before them (but privately before those who were of repute) the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, lest somehow I should be running or had run in vain (Gal 2:1).
The preacher and teacher must be accountable: For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.” So each of us shall give account of himself to God (Rom 14:10-12).
And thus we see some paths for priests, preachers, teachers, and leaders. We must announce the Gospel as good news, with joy and confidence. We must admonish a world obsessed with pleasures to embrace the cross as our only hope. We must continue to develop, train, and appoint leaders to follow after us. And we must be accountable to one another.
A nice and quick portrait of some healthy traits for the Church!
It’s only a sin with Catholics ...
Not at all, I believe that God inspired the scriptures and that Jesus founded a church which interpreted them and compiled a book (the Bible) which the church could, and still does, properly interpret. Do I think that everyone is capable of accurately interpreting the Bible?????The answer is NO, and it is very evident in the world today that there are those who attempt to do so and fail miserably.
Please pay attention to Christ's original church and their teachings. They are the ONLY authorized and CORRECT authority on the Bible.
REALLY????? whoda thunkit??? It is apparent in your postings.....it is SO much easier that way!!
“Let me say this loud and clear NO sacrament saves you or forgives any sin.”
Matthew, Mark, Luke, Paul, and Peter all disagree with you.
“Only the shed blood of Jesus Christ forgives sins and not by works but by Grace through faith.”
That is a very true statement.
What would you be without C O N F L A T I O N ?
There's a passage that says" Jesus took bread in His hands, blessed it, broke it and gave it to His Apostles saying Take and eat of this, THIS IS MY BODY"
I Interpret this as Jesus saying "Take and eat of this, THIS IS MY BODY"
How do you interpret it???
But we understand that to do the extra work of checking on how GOD remains unchanged is not allowed by the magicsteeringthem who you follow.
Here's my counsel on this:
(1) Do not take up somebody else's offenses.
(2) It's acceptable to apply a name whatever value their argument seems to have, but be very careful about calling someone else a pejorative name while discussing their work.
Respectfully . . .
I might agree with some of what you claim as long as it is understood that this "church" isn't exclusive to the Roman Catholic church. God has continued to set up pastors and teachers within the local assemblies to be in authority over their flocks and to teach them those things that God has revealed through His word and which is confirmed by the Holy Spirit to our hearts. This then enables others to evangelize within their families, friends and neighbors and so continue to build Christ's body, His bride, His church. This was the example the Apostles gave and the entire collection of written, Divinely inspired Scripture was recognized, copied, disseminated and taught among the early churches by the end of the first century.
Where you continue to err is in asserting "your" church is the same "original" church that Jesus began nearly two thousand years ago. They're not. They have YET to even publish a "Roman Catholic church" commentary of Scripture and have left humongous gaps in "interpreting" all of Scripture. Heck, you guys skip over half of the Bible in your Scripture reading in Mass and even what is covered is basically just read with little expounding on what was read. How long are your church's homilies these days? Fifteen minutes? Twenty?
Failure to understand God's word is more a problem of the reliance upon the natural man - which is incapable because a spiritual discernment is needed. God is not stingy in illuminating His truth to those who earnestly seek to know it. Sometimes all that is needed is a willing and open heart and an open Bible. Get over this elitist mindset and stop limiting God in whom and how He carries on the building of the spiritual temple of which ALL believers are its living stones.
It is indeed sir. Try it, you'll like it. I rely on the Holy Spirit to help me understand the Word. If you don't, that's on you. How are you going to bluff your way into Heaven? I would like to hear your version. See if I agree with it or not.
Oh, I forgot to mention, I have Catholics coming for Bible study tomorrow. Pray that I can have a good influence on them, and show them the truth. I think the Navigators will be there too. Praise God for them. 😇
How do you interpret it???
I interpret it the correct way. See 449. I think you have been told about 74 million times, but I don't believe you get it yet.
Besides, some dude told me the sacraments are not required to be saved. I agree with whoever said that. How are you going to bluff your way into Heaven?
“Most of us aren’t at the foot of the cross....think of how much more convenient it is for Him to have the seven Sacraments administered in hundreds of thousands of Catholic churches around the world on a daily basis.”
If your not at the foot of the cross you are probably a lost soul.
Convenient... are you kidding me your god is that small! The God I worship is so big that the universe can’t contain him, 1Kings 8:27. The God I worship made and controls through his Son every single event in this realm and the Heavenly realm ( Colossians 1:16-17) and you think he’s has a conveince issue!
Wow I have heard people put God into a box before, but you have used the smallest box I have ever seen.
It pains me that you no relationship with God through Christ Jesus and please don’t tell me do. It’s obvious by your comment that your god lives in that building you call the rcc or even in that little wafer. Please for your soul’s sake accept Christ as your personal Savior and be born again.
You misinterpret Catholicism completely....I, long ago, accepted Christ as my personal savior...and i decided to follow the church which He, Himself founded.I certainly wanted to avail myself of the seven Sacraments which He instituted (6 of the seven, I wasn't ordained a priest)...I accepted the Eucharist as He directed, whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven...convinced me that the Sacrament of reconciliation existed, the 2016 year, unbroken history of His church is definitely a strong point, and witnessing thousands of man made "denominations" over the years did not impress me at all.
You proclaimed, “I, long ago, accepted Christ as my personal savior ...” Do you believe it is up to you to keep yourself saved? Or do you believe you are yet saved or just awaiting salvation after living as close tot he sacraments as you can?
That is an interesting view. So, OK, let's go back a little.
What is your opinion as to who, in our time, has authority to ordain elders of the kind Titus did in Crete when he was left there by Apostle Paul for that purpose?
Men as Titus, as one of the presbuterion.
Under what authority did Titus conduct himself in Crete?
Under ordained authority as a presbyter flowing from Christ, to the apostles, to the presbyters and to others, to whom (conditional) obedience is enjoined as those "over you" in the Lord. (Heb. 13:17) Whom is over you in the Lord that you are to obey? Under what authority did the Scribes and Pharisees sit in authority in the seat of Moses? Just make your argument, which has been already refuted.
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