A. Back ground: after analyzing, value of Eucharist, the pre conditions that we should follow to receive God to digest into our body , last sunday, we were told about how God, planned to extend his kingdom,till the end of earth with,married and single,life. How they should behave in each category, to reach happiness. This sunday, we were reminded about, how to develop our knowledge and practice(against your earth bound comforts) to realize Happiness,as guaranteed by God.
B. Pre amble for todays reading:
B.1 Path For Happiness!
Church was initiated by Holy Spirit,on pentecost day and provides easy path for Happiness both in this world and outside. To drive a car,from one place to another,you should be aware of driving rules, otherwise you might end up with accidents. Similarly our life too, we are traveling in time. God guaranteed you, Happiness with respect to time. We know birth and death is only controlled by God. You cannot decide from which parents you should come to this world, neither you cannot decide upon your death time. Both are controlled by God.
Hence you should be clear, about, what God has told you to do?
B.2 Basic Rules
you should be aware about basic rules to follow, in Catholicism
(A)10 commandments/
(Thou shalt have no other Gods before Me/Thou shall not take name of Lord thy God in vain/ Keep holy Sabbath Day/ Honor thy father& mother/ Thou shalt not Murder/Thou shall not commit adultery/Thou shall not steal/Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor/Thou shall not covert thy neighbor's wife/Thou shalt not covert thy neighbors goods)
(B)Follow7 sacraments;
INITIATION-(BAPTISM,HOLY EUCRASTIC & CONFIRMATION):
HEALING-PENANCE & ANOINTING: COMMUNITY-Matrimony&Holy orders
(C)Pardoned your enemies and avoid7vices(sloth,Anger,Pride,
(D)avoid artificial birth control,Euthanasia and abortion.
Practice(A-D),to receive Eucharist, and anticipated Happiness derive from it.
B.3 Jesus teachings and Church guide lines for happy life!
Church has created 2 sacraments to maintain God kingdom in this world. Matrimony and holy orders. Similarly, God changes the way of living of people (paradigm shift). How church synchronize this paradigm shift and maintain the wish of God?. Through papal infallibility this has been achieved. Church carefully study and put set of guide lines, that has t be followed by catholics.
Ex: artificial birth control,Euthanasia , abortion are main points to mention. Church identifies papal infallibility, is essential for this Without identifying papal infallibility, catholic church will not be dynamic.
B.4 Papal infallibility
It does not mean that Pope has the power to change what God has already revealed or decreed(Divine law & natural moral law). Instead,catholics believe that the HOLY SPIRIT protects the pope & the church from teaching error in matters of faith& morals.
Unlike divine inspiration, which is limited to the sacred authors of the Bible,this infallibility does not involve God influencing the words used by the pope. The gospel writers(Matthew,Mark, Luke& John),for instance,were divinely inspired,which means that every word they wrote is Sacred Scripture is considered to have revealed by God.
Infallibility is different from divine inspiration in that infallibility does not mean that each word and sentence the Pope writes is guided by the Holy Spirit(which would be inspiration). Instead,it means that God would intervene if a Pope attempted to solemnly teach a moral or doctrinal error to the universal church. We don't know how or what kind of divine intervention would take place- just that pope would somehow be prevented from teaching a moral or doctrinal heresy (false teaching)
So catholics believe that the pope and the bishops doesn't possess absolute authority because they can't change what has already been divinely inspired and revealed, nor can any pope or Bishop change any precept of divine law or natural moral law. Yet, Catholicism teaches that the church was commissioned by God to authentically interpret, define,defend,and explain what is contained in revelation to prevent confusion. And ambiguity through the teaching authority of the Pope and Bishops.
OFFICALLY DEFINED DOCTRINES ON FAITH AND MORALS CANNOT AND WILL NOT BE CHANGED-BUT THEY CAN,HAVE,AND WILL BE EXPLAINED IN DFFERENT TERMINOLOGY, CONTEXT AND PERSPECTIVE.SUBSTANTIALLY, THE NATURAL MORAL LAW AND DEFINED DOCTRINES ARE UNCHANGABLE. HOW THEY ARE DESCRIBED AND APPLIED IN PARTICULAR INSTANCES CAN BE MODIFED TO SUIT THE SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF THE TIME AND ERA.
C.Today's readings:
Book of Deuteronomy(Dt: 4:1-2.6-8) says"..Israel..notice..laws and customs..I teach you..take possession..fathers giving you..add nothing..command you..demonstrate..your wisdom.."
St James says(Jm 1:17-18.2122.27)"..good..
Mk(7:1-8,14-15,21-23) says"..Pharisees..gathered..
Reminds: only talking is not expected by God, in creating you. First you should know his rules given to follow. Understand the rules. Follow the rules, in your life. Earth bound attractions are generally opposed to the given rules. There are 2 types of rules. (1) give by Jesus- to follow 10 commandments+ pardon each other+follow God's Will.
(2) Given by church; Holy spirit form the church. In Jesus time, God shown the method of salvation only to jews. Certain rituals like not eating pork or circumscion were even followed by Jesus+all apostles or even Paul. But the church, which has been formed by Holy Spirit, extended salvation to whole world, without restrictions such as eating pork or neither to circumcise.
Pope infallibility gives rulings on certain controversial issues, with the support of Holy Spirit. Artificial birth control, euthanasia and abortions are few to name.
7 sacraments, has been laid down by catholic church, in order to have more meaningful worship to God.
D. Conclusions: Today, we are invited to analyze the basic rules, that we should follow, for us to receive God's grace. Once we are with God, one can notice that he will avoid the vices that has been mentioned in Gospel. I.e fornication, theft,murder, adultery,avarice,malice,
GBU
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