Church Teachings

Have you ever asked yourself, "Was the passion necessary? Could God have saved us another way?" Since we are talking about God, I'm sure the answer is yes. After all, nothing is impossible for God. The fact is, however, He did choose to take our humanity and He did choose to die on the cross. The questions we have, while they may be worthy of thought, may be better asked in this way: "Why did God take on our humanity, and save us by the cross?" This question leads to an understanding of who we are, and it has a definitive answer. In short, the humanity of Jesus and His passion gives us the ability to approach Him, because in these acts, He makes Himself look like us.  

In order to comprehend this, we must go back to the beginning. When "God created man in His image; in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them" (Gn. 1:27). He originally made us with complete freedom, in unity, and with a perfect ability to be open to Him and each other. These gifts, now lost due to original sin, can be attained once again. This is why the Son of God came and offered Himself. When we look through the lens of the way we were created to be, the original man, as Pope John II called us, then we can understand why God chose to save us in the way He did.  

In the beginning, "The man and his wife were naked, yet they felt no shame" (Gn. 2:25). Understanding their nakedness should not focus on the physical element of their situation; rather, we should focus on the transparency they had with one another. Their ability to be intimate with each other, and with God. The original sin changed all this. What was the original sin? What was its effect?  

Did it really have to do with eating an apple? Probably not. But we do know it had to do with disobedience. We know that the Lord gave Adam this order: "You are free to eat from any of the trees of the garden, except the tree of knowledge of good and evil. From that tree you shall not eat; when you eat from it you shall die" (Gn. 2:16-17). Apparently, God did not tell Adam of the trouble in Heaven in regard to the rebellion of Satan and his angels. Certainly, a knowledge that God would have revealed in time.  

The order to Adam was given prior to Eve's creation, and we know he taught her about the forbidden fruit, from the account of the temptation in the garden. The serpent approached Eve with the question, "Did God really say, 'you shall not eat from any of the tress in the garden'?" "The woman answered the snake: 'We may eat of the trees in the garden; it is only about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden that God said'. 'You shall not eat it or even touch it, or else you will die'" (Gn. 3:1-3).  

Next, we hear the first recorded lie. "But the snake said to the woman: 'You certainly will not die! God knows well that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, who know good and evil'" (Gn. 3:4-5).  

We know how the story ends, but did they actually die? Well, physically no-- at least not right away. There was, however, an immediate death, the loss of innocence, which created a separation from God and caused the original wound. After the Fall, we read: "When they heard the sound of the Lord God walking about in the garden at the breezy time of the day, the man and his wife hid themselves from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. The Lord God then called to the man and asked him: 'Where are you?' He answered, 'I heard you in the garden; but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid'" (Gn. 3:8-10). Now the sin grows from disobedience to lies. Eve blames the serpent who tricked her, and Adam blames the woman that the Lord put in the garden with him (Gn. 3:12-13). Their excuses are as familiar as any four-year-old who gets in trouble.  

It is clear to see the effect of sin on relationships. The natural gift of intimacy was gone, and other consequences included toil, labor, birth pangs, suffering, and death. An effect that is not so clear is the damage sin causes to our heart and soul. We suffer internally but cannot see it. Our hearts are cut and bleeding from the injustices in life, some which we inflict upon ourselves. These consequences have tarnished the unspeakably great gift of being created in God's image, both inside and out.  

So, what does this all have to do with the life, passion, and death of Jesus? What can we learn?  

Jesus told Sister Faustina, "The bride must resemble her bridegroom." When He spoke these words to her, she described Him as being in the midst of His passion: stripped naked, his body bloodied, bruised, with whip marks, His face swollen and spit upon (Diary 268). As the bride must resemble her groom, Jesus is the groom, and we are His bride. In our current state, we are incapable of making ourselves look like Jesus, like what we had in the state of original man. Therefore, Jesus took the form of our humanity, to match what we look like on the outside. He then stooped even lower and through His passion experienced: torture, humiliation, abandonment, crucifixion, and death in order to look on the outside the way we look on the inside as a result of sin, which has bruised and battered our inner self. He has made himself a perfect match. We need no longer to hide out of fear of our shame being exposed. Let us come to God as we are. After all, nothing is hidden from Him.  

As Saint Paul says, "No creature is concealed from Him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must render an account. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace for timely help" (Hebrews 4:14-16). Allow ourselves to be raised with Him in His Resurrection as we unite ourselves with His death. 

Have you seen the movie Sister Act with Whoopi Goldberg?  In the movie, she played an FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) informant named Deloris Wilson-Van Cartier.  They gave her protection by hiding her in a convent in New York City. She came from a life of crime, and needless to say, she was not comfortable with a life of prayer and penance. 

At some point in the movie, however, her heart began to soften. She began to convert, repent, and progressively, she began to turn towards and open her heart to God.  The joy that "the sisters" exuded she found to be attractive. 

One evening after prayer, Dolores was talking with the nuns. Mother Superior (the convent authority figure).  She explained how she once lived in a convent in Siberia. She said it was always cold, they were hungry, and could barely sleep. It was HELL, we loved it!

From this brief quote, you may get the impression that all nuns and/or Catholics enjoy suffering. However, this is not the full picture. The misconception comes from a quote by St. Padre Pio, who once said, "Suffering is a gift from God." Most people stop at these words and think nothing of it, but St. Padre Pio continues with these words: "Blessed is the one who knows how to profit by it."

That is profit, not prophet, which means there is something to gain in suffering.  However, as imperfect humans, we naturally see suffering as something to avoid. For example, we may buy luxury items in order to increase the quality of our lives, and if we see someone bullying another person or doing other immoral actions, we may stay silent, for fear of confrontation with the wrongdoer.

The common mantra this writer is aware of is Yahweh, which comes from the Hebrew word meaning "I am." The first appearance of this word was in Exodus 3:14, when Moses was at the burning bush. God said, "Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you'" (ESV). 

When Jesus was arrested, HE answered the question of the Roman Soldiers, "I AM," and all fell to the ground. They HEARD the resounding voice of God in that moment, for sure.  AND they still arrested THE ONE, who came into the world. Shame on them.  Yes, maybe.  I've learned not to be so quick to judge those guards because I have also imprisoned Jesus in my brother, sister, wife, and MOTHER by my words and actions. The IMPORTANT thing to know. 

Back to suffering, or as Jesus puts it, the cross.  Remember, he promised one cross for each day of the week when He said, "Take up your cross DAILY and follow ME".  Follow my plans, my way, my WILL!  Accept the crosses I give you, for they are your salvation. This is indeed my prescription for joy."  

Joy?  Really, Lord?  Yes, Asso (it is so).  The profit comes when we unite our crosses the ONE who came into the world.  Then WE participate in His salvific mission, yes!  The fruit of doing so is joy. 

To quote our President Joe Biden, "Here's the deal, folks." Catholics don't love suffering, at least if they think they do, they fail to understand that rather, Catholic Saints embrace the daily crosses Jesus Himself gives us as a gift, and they know how to profit by it.  They bear the fruit of JOY!  

The choice really and truly is ours alone to make-- God or earthly pleasures, happiness or misery, life or death eternal.  

I pray we choose LIFE that we may live. Will you join me?  Join me in prayer and join me in choosing life!

 Fraternal correction is the term used by the Church when we tell a brother or sister who has sinned against God the offense that they are guilty of.  See Matthew chapter 18.  When done in love, it is a multi-step process if the offender is not listening.

First, we are to go alone to the offender. Next, take a person or two along. If the offender is still not listening, we are to tell the church. If the person continues in obstinance, we are to pray for them that God will break through to them and help them repent for their sins. 

To be added

If you look at the face of Jesus, you might see many things. Suffering. Anguish. Pain. However, I see Joy. Jesus was obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. The Son of God gave His life for the ransom (payment for freedom) of sinners. Through his redemptive suffering, we have received the privilege to be forgiven of our sins and to be in Heaven with God.

However, this doesn't mean that Jesus's death was a joyful event for Him. For example, recall his anguish in the garden where Jesus begged His suffering to stop, and an angel came to comfort Him. Jesus was joyful because he had trust in His Father, knowing that God had great plans for Him, and for us!

To be added