- January 24, 2012
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Call No Man Father
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From the end of the talk called Sola Fide by John Martignoni. He invites a 13 year old girl named Leah on stage to talk on the topic of Catholics calling their priests “father.” For this entire recording as well as other free downloads, please visit www.biblechristiansociety.com
A common practice by Protestants and people against the Catholic Church is something called proof texting. Proof texting is when a single verse is taken from the Bible, usually out of context, to try and prove something. People often do this to “prove” that the Catholic Church teaches or does things that go against scripture. One such example is Matthew 23:9. It reads “Call no man your father; you have but one Father in heaven.” Protestants will claim that this proves that Catholics are wrong in calling our priests father. On the surface, this looks like a convincing argument. A Catholic that is unfamiliar with the Bible or this verse may begin to doubt his or her faith. But by digging a little deeper and reading the Bible as a whole (as opposed to pulling out individual verses like so many people do), you will clearly see that this argument is quite shallow.
It should be obvious from reading this verse in context that Jesus does not literally mean to not call any man father. If that were the case, it would be a sin to call your male parent father. The Bible would also be wrong because it tells us to “Honor your father and your mother.” Some will try to argue that Jesus is saying that we should not call any of our spiritual leaders or pastors by the title of father. But that is not what the text is saying. If you insist on interpreting the Bible literally word for word, then you must admit that the text says “Call no man your father” and not “Call no spiritual leader your father.” If you continue reading, it says “Do not be called master.” The word master is where we get our English word mister. So is it a sin if we call someone mister? Verse 8 also says “Do not be called Rabbi,” which means teacher. So is it a sin to call someone on Earth teacher? The word doctor also comes from the Latin word for teacher. So is it a sin to call someone doctor?
When Matthew 23 is read in context, it should be clear that Jesus is not condemning the use of these particular words, but the attitude behind them. He is rebuking the hypocritical Pharisees who “preach but they do not practice” (verse 3). They love the best seats in the synagogues and to be greeted with respect and called rabbi (verses 6-7). The Pharisees were trying to usurp the fatherhood of God by pridefully seeking titles and attention. Jesus is simply telling us in these verses to not put any human being on the same level as God. He is saying to not look at any human as a father in the same way that you look to God as a father. All authority comes from God and not from man, and we should never allow someone on Earth to command what God forbids.
By Catholics calling our priests father, we are certainly not trying to say that they are on the same level as God. Notice in the Bible how Jesus says that He is the Good Shepherd (John 10:14) while at the same time asks other humans to shepherd His people (John 21:15-17, Ephesians 4:11, 1 Peter 5:2). Priests are here to help shepherd God’s people on Earth. Just as a biological father provides food for his family, a priest feeds his spiritual children with the word of God and with Jesus’ body and blood in the Holy Eucharist. A biological father must also provide counsel and encouragement to his family as well as live a good Christian life as an example to his family, much like priests are called to do. As Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12, “As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his children, exhorting and encouraging you…” The Old Testament shows us that priesthood and fatherhood have always been linked. Judges 17:10 says, “‘Stay with me,’ Micah said to him. ‘Be father and priest to me.’” Judges 18:19 says “Come with us and be our father and priest.”
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- January 12, 2012
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Is There A Hole In Your Life?
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To hear this recording in its entirety as well as other free downloads, please visit www.biblechristiansociety.com
John Martignoni, the president of Bible Christian Society, shares his conversion story. He describes a time in his life when he appeared to have everything (nice car, nice house, lots of money, many dates, etc). Yet with all of this, there was still a hole in his life. No matter how much money he made, how many things he bought, or how many dates he went on, nothing seemed to fill this hole. He still felt empty and alone. He even reached a point in his life where he did not want to live anymore and asked God to just take his life. Little did he know, God would take his life, only not in the way that he had planned.
So let me ask you something. Does this describe you? Do you appear to have it all on the outside, but inside of you there is a hole that nothing seems to fill? Have you tried your whole life to fill that hole with money, sex, drugs, or something else, but nothing seems to fill it? Now let me ask you this. Have you ever considered letting God into your heart and seeing if His love can fill that hole?
Throughout human history, people have scoured every nook and cranny of the globe in search of peace. But every new road eventually leads to the dead end of dissatisfaction. The only true and lasting peace comes from God. We are all made in the image and likeness of God, so to do anything against His will is to go against our very nature. This kind of life will never lead to true joy or happiness (despite what society might tell you). The greatest foolishness of man is the fantasy that we can find a lasting happiness separate from God.
A wise man once said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results each time. So many people are unhappy with their lives, yet continually try to do things their own way instead of God’s way. So, if you are continuing to live your life how you want and you are still miserable, why not try giving God a chance. What have you got to lose?
- January 12, 2012
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Was The Good Thief Saved By Faith Alone?
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From the recording The Seven Last Sayings Of Christ By Dr. Scott Hahn. For this recording in its entirety or other great recordings, please visit lighthousecatholicmedia.org
I am sure that everyone knows the story from the Bible about the good thief. Jesus is crucified in the middle of two thieves. One of the thieves is only concerned about himself, saying “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us” (Luke 23:39). But the other thief rebukes him, saying “We have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal” (Luke 23:41). The thief then asks Jesus to remember him when Jesus comes into His kingdom. Jesus replies “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). Many people use the story of the good thief to attack various Catholic beliefs. They will say things such as “It is obvious that the good thief was saved by faith alone. He did no good works while on the cross, but because he believed that Christ was Lord, his faith saved him.” They may also say “How can you claim that baptism is necessary for salvation when the good thief obviously was never baptized” or “How can you claim that people need to go to church when the good thief never went to church and was still saved” or “How can you believe in Purgatory when the good thief obviously went straight to heaven because Jesus said ‘Today you will be with me in Paradise’.” Let us investigate these claims a little further.
The first thing that we have to remember with the good thief is that he was nailed to a cross when he accepted Christ, so therefore could not be baptized, go to church, or do good works. But what excuse will you and I have when we face God when we die. When God asks us what we have done while on Earth to be allowed into heaven, what will happen if we do not have a good response? As Jesus tells us in Luke 12:48, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded.” If you have been taught about Jesus from an early age and have accepted Him into your heart at a young age, then much will be demanded of you. The good thief’s situation is an extraordinary circumstance and should not be applied to all humans.
Also, who is to say that the good thief did no works? He defended Christ and rebuked the bad thief. He accepted responsibility for his own sin. This seems like a pretty good work seeing as he had nails driven into his hands and feet and fluid building up in his lungs as he was hanging from a cross. It was difficult for him to breath, much less talk. He had to push himself up on his feet with a nail through them to speak every word. Furthermore, we really do not know what type of works the good thief did before being crucified. It is very possible that the good thief already asked God for forgiveness and did works of penance and charity before he was nailed to a cross.
Another important note is that before Jesus was raised from the dead, He had not established His Church yet, so it would have been impossible for the good thief to be a part of it. The people were still under the Old Covenant. While baptism is necessary under the New Covenant, circumcision is how people entered into God’s Covenant in the Old Covenant. Was Abraham, Moses, or David baptized? They were not because, like the good thief, were under the Old Covenant, yet Abraham, Moses and David were saved.
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- December 2, 2011
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Questions About The Catholic Faith
For answers to all of these questions, visit us on Facebook at 100PercentCatholic.com and click on Notes. For a direct link to the answers of these questions, see below.
Is the Bible the only authority you need?
Why do Catholics follow Sacred Tradition when the Bible clearly speaks against tradition?
Answered in the article Is The Bible The Only Authority You Need?
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Do I have to confess my sins to a priest? Can’t I just go straight to God?
Answered in the article Confession
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What is the unforgivable sin that Jesus mentions in the Bible?
Answered in the article What Is The Unforgivable Sin?
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Do I have to go to church? Can’t I just pray on my own?
Answered in the article Do We Have To Go To Church?
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Why do Catholics believe that the Eucharist is the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ?
Is John 6 symbolic?
Why is Jesus referred to as the Lamb of God or the Pascal Lamb?
Do Catholics re-sacrifice Jesus at every mass?
Answered in the article The Holy Eucharist
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Is contraception sinful?
Answered in the article Contraception: Don’t Shut The Door To God’s Plan For You
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Is it wrong to baptize infants who cannot profess their faith for themselves?
Is full immersion in water the only valid form of baptism?
Answered in the article Infant Baptism
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Why do Catholics sit, stand, and kneel at different parts of the mass?
Answered in the article What Is With All The Sitting, Standing And Kneeling?
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Are we saved by faith alone?
Is there such a thing as a guarantee of heaven or assurance of salvation?
Answered in the article Are We Saved By Faith Alone?
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Why should I go to church when it is full of a bunch of sinners and hypocrites?
Answered in the article Judas — An Everlasting Reminder of Corruption
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Why should we care what the early church fathers had to say? Isn’t the Bible all we need?
Answered in the article The Early Church Fathers
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Are Catholics cannibals?
What did Jesus mean when he said “It is finished” while hanging from the cross?
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Did Jesus establish an invisible church?
Isn’t it all about your relationship with Jesus and not what religion you are in?
Answered in the article Did Jesus Establish An Invisible Church?
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- November 28, 2011
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Nov 28 – Homily – Fr Dominic: Preparation for Holy Communion
We have the obligation to prepare to receive Him well in Holy Communion – very appropriate for the season of Advent where we prepare for His coming at Christmas. Ave Maria! Mass: Ordinary Form – Monday of the 1st Week in AdventReadings: 1st Reading: Isaiah 4:2-6Responsorial Psalm: 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9Gospel: Matthew 8:5-11 To Download Audio go to http://airmaria.com?p=25206
- November 7, 2011
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The Fourth Cup
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From the talk The Passion and the Eucharist by Father Bryce Sibley. For this entire recording as well as others like it, please visit embracethegrace.com
Many people have a hard time seeing how Jesus connected the Last Supper to his death on the cross and how he showed us that the Eucharist he gave us at the Last Supper and his death on the cross are one and the same sacrifice. To understand this better, let me share a little Jewish history with you. Remember that Jesus, who was Jewish, was celebrating the Last Supper during the time of Passover (Matthew 26:17, Mark 14:12, Luke 22:8). The Jewish Passover Seder meal was divided into four parts, with each part involving a cup of wine that was blessed and consumed by the participants. Between the third and fourth cup, a Psalm was sung in praise of God (known as the Great Hallel). Matthew 26:30 tells us that they sang a hymn, which would lead us to believe that when Jesus took the cup of wine and declared it to be his blood (Matthew 26:27, Mark 14:23-24, Luke 22:20), this was the third cup of the Passover meal. Also, the third cup was known as the cup of blessing, which is what Paul calls it in 1 Corinthians 10:16. We also know that this was the third cup because the third cup was taken with the meal. So Jesus says “Take and eat; this is my body,” right before Jesus took the cup of wine and declared it to be his blood. Jesus then says that he will not drink the fruit of the vine again until the day when he drinks it new in the kingdom of God (Matthew 26:29, Mark 14:25, Luke 22:18). And then notice how it says that after they sang the hymn, Matthew tells us that they went to the Mount of Olives. They left the Passover meal without drinking the fourth cup. Although this fact is overlooked by the average person today, a Jew would definitely have noticed this. It would be the equivalent of a Catholic priest skipping over the Eucharist at mass. Any Catholic would definitely notice this. Almost all Jewish scholars who commented on the Last Supper of the Bible note this obvious anomaly.
Then, when praying in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prays to the Father to “let this cup pass from me” (Matthew 26:39). We also know that Jesus sweats blood (Luke 22:44), showing that his sacrifice has already began. Then in John 18:11 Jesus says, “Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?” Later, when Jesus is carrying his cross, Mark 15:23 tells us that Jesus was offered wine, but did not take it. Why would Jesus, who was most likely extremely thirsty from the excruciating punishment that he had been receiving, choose not to drink? Then, when Jesus is hanging from the cross, John 19:28-29 tells us how Jesus says “I thirst” and he was given wine with a sponge on the end of a hyssop branch. It then says in verse 30 that Jesus died. So why would Jesus be so concerned about his thirst just moments before his death? It is because he was drinking the fourth cup and ending the Passover feast that had started the night before. Notice how he says in verse 30 “It is finished.” Some think that Jesus was meaning that our justification was finished. But the Bible tells us that he was raised for our justification (Romans 4:25), so our justification certainly was not finished with his death alone. Jesus is saying that the Passover meal is finished. Notice how none of the Gospels mention anything of a Passover lamb at the Last Supper. It is because Jesus presented himself as the Passover (Paschal) Lamb. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 5:7-8, “Our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the feast.” Notice how Paul does not say that our paschal lamb has been sacrificed and now there is nothing left to do. We must celebrate the feast, just as Catholics do at every mass all over the world. I draw more comparisons to Jesus and the Passover lamb in part 1 of this article. Because Christianity is rooted in Judaism, understanding a little Jewish history is important to understanding some of our Christian beliefs.
Some argue that when Jesus says he will not drink the fruit of the vine again (Matthew 26:29, Mark 14:25, Luke 22:18), that Jesus must have been talking about wine and not his blood. But in John 15:1-5 Jesus says “I am the vine.” So fruit of the vine could also mean Jesus’ blood. Also, notice how in 1 Corinthians 11:26-27 Paul uses the terms “bread” and “cup” interchangeably with the term “body and blood of the Lord.” So even if Jesus is saying wine here, he could still be referring to his blood.
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