Posted on 05/16/2020 6:29:00 AM PDT by MurphsLaw
Saturday, May 16, 2020
SATURDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK OF EASTER
JOHN 15:18-21 Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus warns us to expect persecution. But do not be afraid, because in Jesus Christ, we are connected to the very power of God, to that which is here and now creating the universe. No matter how much violence and mayhem is going on, we have a place of safety.
How wonderfully Jesus expresses this: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.” The body passes, but the soul, that place where you are in contact with the living God, lasts forever. So get your fears in right order: “Rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.”
Now think of the saints, especially the martyrs. They might be defined as those rare human beings who had rightly prioritized their fears. Of whom were they afraid? Not the wickedest human beings around them. Rather, they feared God. They worried, not about what people wanted them to do, but what God wanted them to do.
None of these great figures lived a serene life, a life free of worry, threat, persecution. Instead, they found courage in the struggle. Their courage got them through the negativity.
Maybe this is just a quibble.
OK, this is a quibble.
But I was taught that God finished all his creating and rested on the seventh day. Nothing new was created.
That was then amended to, nothing new was created except that every human soul is created, new and individual, at the time of conception (some would specify fertilization) by God.
Therefore creation is not --- except for new human souls --- an ongoing thing.
Comment?
Maybe like so many things, that simplistic creation story is old-fashioned. The new theology has opened up so many possibilities of things to believe!
Umm. Wouldn’t be sure about that.
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far away.
Isn't that a possibility?
Just asking. :o)
However this notion of creation being, basically, over is on the basis of Genesis 1. And it 's mentioned both in the OT and the NT that God 'rested', therefore the basis of the Sabbath, which gives it to my mind, an extra dollop of significance.
Sabbath is something we should take more seriously, and I am saying that (hypocritically) to myself since I am a terribly delinquent Sabbath-breaker.
I don't know--- just musing here --- but I do think the idea of this being God's *one* universe lends to the idea that we are His special project. That's hinted at in the Psalms. It makes *us* seem less like a disposable Model #4765327653765 and more like the apple of His eye.
Lol.
Well, according to Carl Sagan NEW galaxies ARE in a continual state of being created and destroyed.
But "universe" means everything...and there is no superlative to EVERYTHING.
I also find it odd that WE are the sole sapient beings (the leaders of the Democrat party not included here) in the entire universe. All this UNIVERSE for little ole earthy-poo?
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There is always time for GOD...ALWAYS!
As for God's omnipotence, there's no doubt God *can* do anything, but the question is, is there any record, of any kind, of God creating anything --- bringing it into being out of literally nothing --- after the initial Creation.
The answer *seems to be* no, although I'm not sure that rises to the level of being a doctrine. I supposed a scientific way of asking the same question might be, "As far as we know, is the Universe a closed system?" -- related to the "Law" (?) of the Conservation of Matter and Energy.
But don't look at me! I don't know!
I highly doubt God is constrained by the "law" of conservation and mass and energy. How could the Great Flood have happened unless there was an "open system" for all that water to come from and where did it go, after forty days?
And I don't know where the idea originated, that I was taught: that God rested from His work of Creation, except for the creation of each new, individual human soul --- although it IS stated that God did rest from all His work of creation.
Douay-Rheims BibleAs far the water that inundated the world in the Noah Flood: the Bible does not say it was created on the spot: it says it both rained down from the clouds, and upwelled from "the fountains of the deep" being opened.
Genesis 2:2"And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made: and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done."
It's only fairly recently been discovered that there is more water beneath the earth's crust, than above it. That discovery suggests the water could have emerged mostly from "the Deep" --- beneath the earth's crust, probably at some of its thinnest spots, which would be on the ocean floor in the abyssal deeps and trenches --- and, arguably, returned there due to massive crustal subductions.
But like I said, I don't know!
Can souls change? From a sinful conscience state of being to a conscience change to doing good in one’s life?
Maybe not on the spot, but Noe was only given seven days notice.
[4] For yet a while, and after seven days, I will rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and I will destroy every substance that I have made, from the face of the earth. Genesis, Chapter 7.
[12] And the rain fell upon the earth forty days and forty nights.
I find it hard to believe the earth's atmosphere could hold enough moisture to shower the entire earth with rain for forty days, without violating the conservation of mass and energy.
And then there's this:
[24] And the waters prevailed upon the earth a hundred and fifty days.
The earth took only seven days to flood, but 150 days to dry out?
[2] And the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he saw that the bush was on fire and was not burnt. Exodus, Chapter 3.
Was it actually in flames, or was it a matter of flashing light that looked like flames? Or was this a vision, a strong visual and auditory impression generated in Moses' brain?
(As someone who spent considerable time hallucinating in an ICU five years ago, this possibility intrigues me.)
Was it supposed to be symbolic of something? What?
But if you say "symbolic of God, of course" then I have to say: "But a plant? God is like a plant how?"
The whole thing seems to resist interpretation.
But the human soul is a spiritual entity. It is not part of the physical Universe. You don't inherit it genetically, as it were, from your father and mother. It does not creep into your from "elsewhere." It is not subject to physical development or deterioration.
It's created individually, at the instant you come into existence.
As I understand it. Not that I understand it at all!
The Bible says [kingjamesbibleonline.org/Exodus-Chapter-4/]:
2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
Makes perfect sense.
(Emoticon of wiggling eyebrows.)
I didn’t say you said that! Sorry! It was just my migrating thought.
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