Commentary on "Word on Fire" - Author RoberT Barron 1
"Catholicism"
“Unless you love me more than your own life....... Luke’s Gospel
“If you are not with Me, your are against me” Luke 11:23
“Whoever does not gather with Me, scatters” Luke 11:32
"Marrk 10:32 “And they were going up to Jerusalem and were amazed and afraid."
"On the Old Testament the Jews (Israelites) response to God was: “ Awe and Fear”
Episode 1 Amazed and Afraid
Jesus came to acccomplish four task:
1. To gather the scattered 12 tribes of Israel (The kingdom of God is at hand)
2. Cleanse the Jerusalem Temple (Chassed the money changers out)
3. Deal with the enemies of the Israelite Nation Hour)
4. Reign over heaven and earth
Christian evangelization forces us to make a choice!
In the eyes the Jews, Jesus was revolutionary. He spoke to women in public, ate with sinners, and tax collectors, He healed people of diseases that Jews considered as punishment for sinning. He touched dead bodies (Jireaus’ daughter) something forbidden by Jews. He chassed out demons and forgave sins.
Jesus compels us to make a choice: “Are you with me or Against Me?”
"Who do men say that I am? !
What did the Kingdom of God is at hand mean to the Jews?
1. To the Jews, this meant: “gathering up the 12 tribes “ The Messiah had arrived. We become what we worship. God wants us to worship him so we can become like him. Over a long period, the Israelites would become impatient and worship false gods.
2. “Cleansing of the Temple”
When Jesus drove the money changers out and said “I will tear down the Temple and build it up again in three days”!
In Jerusalem, The Temple on the Mount, also is located at the Dome of the Rock where the Jews, and later the Muslims and Christians worshiped. Most important, this is where the Jews worshiped in accordance with the Torah. The fact that others worshiped in the Temple was considered a desecration. Many other Jews believed the Temple was corrupted because over the year many other (false) gods were worshipped there and that God had left. They believed that one day God would return and purify the Temple and renew the world! Expectations were not the same as what Jesus the Messiah was doing.
3. Jesus deals with the enemies of the Israelite Nation “The Davidic Warrior”
Israel was enslaved by Egypt, Philistine, Assyrians, Babylonians and controlled by the Greeks and Romans. Over 428 years, plus 40 years wondering in the desert. The Jews dreamed that Jesus would battle their enemies and make them rulers of the nations. Christmas Story - Not what the Jews expected. Mary, a young woman about 15 or 16 years old and who was to take Joseph as her husband was approached by the Angel Gabriel and accepted God’s invitation to bear His only son and would conceive by the Holy Spirit.
a. “The Incarnation” - At the very moment of Mary’s conception, mankind is allowed or gifted to share in His Divinity through his Son Jesus Christ! We are adopted sons and daughters of God. When we die and gain heaven, we become divine creatures, joining the saints.
b. We worship God so that we can become like Him. Jesus is our Redeemer and Savior. We become coheirs of the kingdom of heaven through our Lord Jesus Christ.
c. When Jesus returns for the second time, we will even share in the judgment of angels. Back to the Christmas Story: This young couple traveling from town to arrived in the town of Bethlehem where they can find no shelter. But,
somehow they find shelter in a barn where animals are kept. There our Lord is born quietly and without fanfare. This was God’s Plan, not the Jews.
d. Caesar Augustus was the most powerful and wealthy ruler of that time, but was threatened by the word, that the King of the Jews had been born. He had all of the wealth, food and riches anyone could imagine. Yet he feared the Infant Jesus.
e. Jesus would give his body and blood to consume as real food for the life of our souls and bodies. Something no other man could do! He would be “Lord over all the Nations”! After 30 years in obscurity, Jesus started his public life Proclaiming
that the Kingdom of God was at Hand”. That he was the New Covenant” for his chosen people. In all of his works, miracles and preaching he took on all of the enemies of the Jews. The infant Jesus army of angels was much greater and stronger than that of Caesar's.
4. “Reigning over heaven and earth as Lord of the Nations”
a. He came to Rome to spread the word of his Father and as a fighting warrior. He would fight by taking away the sins of the world.
b. This was to be the end of Jewish Religion as it was known then and the founding of “Christianity”. The formation of the first Christian Jews took place in Rome.
c. After Jesus rose from the dead, he appeared to his apostles and the first thing he did was to show them His wounds so that could see that it was really him. The next thing he did was to say “Peace be with You”.
d. After His resurrection he would be known as Lord of the Nations. In those days, there could only be one Lord, Caesar. The Jews now recognized that person as Jesus.
e. In Mark’s Gospel he refers to Christ resurrection as an Imperial Victory. The son of God was killed by the Romans, but the word incarnate over came death and rose to reign over all of the nations. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is where the actual stone table is located, that Jesus' body was prepared for burial.
Epidose 2 The Teachings of Jesus"
1. The Eight Beatitudes
2. The Path of Non-Violence
3. The Prodigal Son
4. Matthew 25 - The Two Great Commandments
a. Testimony to Jesus’ Teachings is evident in Art, Songs, Witnesses and all that exist. RE: Psalm 139 "All knowing Ever Present God"
b. The first Christians told what they heard and seen repeatedly. If someone were to misrepresent some detail, one who knew first hand would be quick to correct that individual.
c. Jesus is the speaker of the divine truth and it is He who taught the crowds. "Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you do it to me"
1. "Eight Beatitudes"
Jesus was the "New Moses" on the Mount of the Beatitudes. Matthew 5: 3-11 and Luke 6: 20-26 - 8 Beatitudes
1. Blessed are the Poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
a. Not attached to material things!
2. Blessed are they who morn, for their will be comforted.
a. Not being addicted to “good feelings” all of the time.
3. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
a. A path of prevention to addiction to worldly powers.
4. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they
will be satisfied.
a. Provides fulfillment. Wealth, Pleasure, Self-Honor, Power are not lasting, therefore can not fulfill mankind.
5. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
a. We must give all out of “Love”!
6. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Links all people and things of God; a gathering force!
a. God unifies all that he has created! We give glory to God.
7. Blessed are they, who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
a. Prevents addiction to self-honor.
8. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.
a. Humility is the virtue that especially pleases God and the reward is great in heaven. God is a unifier of all that he has created. Man can only be satisfied by, glorifying God and keeping his commandments . The 8 beatitudes are rules to follow that will assist us in getting to heaven.
Mankind continues to try an find fulfillment in wealth, pleasure, power and self-honor. Since none of these are lasting one can never find fulfillment except through God.
2. “The Path to Non-Violence”
Jesus Sermon on the Mount was the beginning of his teaching about LOVE!
a. He said: “Lover your enemy and pray for those who persecute you”!
b. Love is not sentiment or feelings. Love is actively willing the good of others. We don’t do this to make ourselves feel good.
c. God is Love, therefore love everyone, good and bad.
d. In Violent situations we can 1. Flight or 2. We can fight! Flight makes things worse and Fighting only confirms the evil.
(1) An eye for an eye etc., - Not really. Jesus says turn the other cheek and if someone sues you for your coat, then give it to him.
(2) We need to change the situation from confrontation to spiritual in the hope of helping the offender to see a different way to act or to love.
3. “The Prodigal Son- Parable”
Everyone is familiar with this parable.
a. The prodigal son was satisfying a personal need, felt entitlement, and asked for his inheritance before the death of his father. After he squandered all of his inheritence and returned home, he was greeted with great love and joy just like our heavenly Father will greet us when we repent and ask forgiveness.
b. God is forgiving. We grasp and clinch and seek and want things we believe we deserve when he provides for all of earthly and spiritual needs. In his mercy he forgives us each time we say that we are sorry. He doesn't need to give us his love, mercy and his graces, but he does. Shouldn't we show our love in return for all that we have and are?
4. “Matthew 22: 37 The Two Great Commandments”
The Jews had 613 laws, along with the 10 Commandment. When asked which of these laws or rules were the greatest; Jesus replied:
First - You shall love the Lord your God with you whole heart, your whole mind and your whole soul.
Second - You shall love you neighbor as yourself. Love one and other as I have loved you!
Proof of the absolute Love of God for his people is the beautiful world we live in! All of creations was made for us!
a. Come to me, all you blessed of my Father who gave me water to drink when I was thirsty, clothing when I was naked.... And enter into my Kingdom for all eternity.
b. Depart from me accursed for you did not give me food to eat when I was hungry or water to drink when I was thirsty......and enter into the eternal fire.
c. We do not own anything in this world. All we have hs been give to us by God.
1. Peter Maurin, one of 23 children was the founder of “The Catholic Workers Movement”. He was born in France and later moved to Canada. He was supervised by the Christian Brother in France and was inspired by St. Francis of Assisi who was an advocate of the Corporal work of mercy. In encyclicals Pope Leo XIII and Pope Pius XI stated is so many words: "Once the demands for necessity and property have been met, the rest belongs to the poor".
2. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote that “private ownership of property is allowed, but the use of it should be for the common good.
3. Mother Theresa’s five finger prayer: YOU DID IT TO ME
Episode 3 The Ineffable Mystery of God
1. The Mystery of God
2. Arguments for God’s Existence
3. Naming God
4. The Provident Creator
5. The Problem of Evil
6. The Trinity
1. The Mystery of God - Ineffable - beyond expression, unspeakable, Not to be uttered. Not explainable.
Atheist - claim that there is no Supreme Being, nature/cosmos control most things, etc., If this were true, that would mean God had a beginning. God is a mystery, not explainable, yet very real. He made us in his likeness out unfathomable love. The more Glory we give to God, the more we are elevated.
2. “Arguments of God’s Existence”
God’s omnipotence - his omnipresence - all knowing ever present. We can see God, indirectly, in the beauty of his creation in the world.
Everything outside of itself has a cause. God does not.
One, whose nature is to be, is GOD! He can’t be measured, he is not changeable. He is what we are not.
3. Naming God
Sinners either grasp at God or run from Him.
We know what God is not.
Psalm 139 tells us that He is all knowing and ever present. Quote: You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. ..... When I was being made in secret, fashioned as in the depths of the earth. Your eyes foresaw my
2 actions in you book all are written down; my days were shaped before one came to be.” Unquote”
He is not a Being. He is transcendent. He is hidden. He is Omnipotent - his presence is a finite reality. We know he exist because all things and people exist. We say in the creed, that he made heaven and earth. God unites all things and people.
He wants us to fall in love with Him! And why shouldn’t we. He is all to all in all our finite world.
Moses on Mt. Sinai - when he saw the burning bush was curious. God had called Moses. God told him to come no closer, because he was on Holy Ground. Moses asked who he was. God told him he is the God of Isaac and Jacob.
Moses ask what shall we cal you? God’s reply was; I am who I am! St. Thomas Aquinas said, if you understand then, then it is not God.
4. The Provident Creator
God created heaven and earth out of nothing. This was a nonviolent conscience act of love. As we live and breath, creation continues to take place. God connects all things and people that exist. He orders all that exist.
He has provided all that he has created. All is interconnected by the will of God’s divine providence.
5. The Problem of Evil
Why is there so much evil in the world. We could probably answer much of the reason ourselves. Who starts wars, who kills others, who steals, injures other physically etc., But the question remain what about natural disasters, brain tumors, still births, deaths of little children for no apparent reason. Theologians explain “to bring about a greater good”. For example, the support families give one and other upon a death, or a natural tragedy like Katrina, or earthquake. The Book of Job goes into great detail how Job seemingly has horrible things happen to him. He lost his entire family, all of his wealth yet he was a righteous man and trusted defended God to all. His friends claimed he must have done something really bad to have this much misfortune. Job’s friend Elihu questions God and In Chapter 38 the Lord’s Speech is given to Job and his friends. In the first sentence He say “who is this that obscures divine plans with words of ignorance.” Where were you when I founded the earth...and he goes on about all of creation and how all is a part of the His Divine Plan. Lest we forget, we were put on earth to Know, Love and Serve God so that we could be happy with him in heaven for all of eternity. That includes misfortune we create and those that God sends as a test of our trust and love of him.
6. The Trinity
Jesus spoke in the person of God, he said that the Father and I or one and that the Father would send another spirit. God, His Son and his Spirit, all one of each other. It is a mystery of our faith. When we make the sign of the cross we profess that faith. When we say the Glory Be prayer, again we profess our faith.
God is Love - He calls his Son “Beloved” - He shares love in his Spirit.
God is Love The Son is Beloved The Holy Spirit is shared Love
The Son is the possession of the Father, the love breathed out by the Father and Son is the Holy Spirit. The Trinity is not separable, but one triune God. An image of one and other.
We are made in God’s image. For example, when we look into the mirror and see our reflection. In a similar way, we are both object and subject of the images of the Trinity. Our mind sees the reflection, we able known to ourselves and then can love ourselves. Because we are Beings and a reflection of the Trinity, we are all about Love!
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