In Mark 6:7-13 Jesus sends the twelve out, two by two to the mission field. He gives them authority over unclean spirits, and the Gospel records that they “cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them” (Mark 6:13). We see later in the life of the Church the … Continue reading The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick
Sacraments
The Sacrament of Reconciliation Part 4
The Sacrament of Reconciliation perhaps highlights the division of beliefs between Catholicism and most Protestant faiths like no other. Differing understandings of authority, the nature of sin, the nature of the priesthood, what it means to be saved, how sins are forgiven – all of these come into play and since there are fundamental disagreements … Continue reading The Sacrament of Reconciliation Part 4
The Sacrament of Reconciliation Part 3
The Sacrament of Reconciliation perhaps highlights the division of beliefs between Catholicism and most Protestant faiths like no other. Differing understandings of authority, the nature of sin, the nature of the priesthood, what it means to be saved, how sins are forgiven – all of these come into play and since there are fundamental disagreements … Continue reading The Sacrament of Reconciliation Part 3
The Sacrament of Reconciliation Part 2
Within Protestantism, there are some groups who hold to a position of “Once Saved, Always Saved.” This of course is not the Catholic position. But within those groups, they often believe that when a person is saved, all of their sins (past, present and future) are forgiven at that moment. If a person believes that there … Continue reading The Sacrament of Reconciliation Part 2
The Sacrament of Reconciliation Part 1
One aspect of the Catholic faith that can be very foreign to most Protestants is the sacrament of Reconciliation (or Confession or Penance), and that as Catholics we confess our sins to a priest and seek absolution of our sins through this Sacrament. In general, Protestants would view that we can go directly to God … Continue reading The Sacrament of Reconciliation Part 1
The Ministerial Priesthood and Celibacy
One of the most often asked questions of Catholics is why celibacy is required of our priests. Some will claim this requirement is not Biblical, and will cite St. Paul writing in 1 Timothy 4:1-5 “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by giving heed to deceitful … Continue reading The Ministerial Priesthood and Celibacy
The Ministerial Priesthood and “Call No Man Father”
One of the most common verses used to prove that Catholics are not “Biblical” has to be Matthew 23:9 where Jesus says “And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.” Since Catholics call priests “Father” it is viewed to be in clear violation of Scripture. And … Continue reading The Ministerial Priesthood and “Call No Man Father”
The Ministerial Priesthood Part 3
“Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them.” (Matthew 5:17) In my last post I reviewed how the ministerial priesthood of Aaron and his sons in the Old Testament co-existed with the priesthood of the nation of Israel. In … Continue reading The Ministerial Priesthood Part 3
The Ministerial Priesthood Part 2
“Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them." (Matthew 5:17) In my last post I reviewed that from the Catholic perspective God clearly establishes three kinds of priesthoods in the Old Covenant – the high priest, the ministerial priesthood … Continue reading The Ministerial Priesthood Part 2
The Ministerial Priesthood Part 1
“Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them.” (Matthew 5:17) One of the things about the Catholic Church that can be foreign to most Protestants is that we have priests, who wear vestments and preside at Eucharist and administer … Continue reading The Ministerial Priesthood Part 1
The Eucharist, the Road to Emmaus, and Transubstantiation
“Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them.” (Matthew 5:17) One of the most interesting things about the post resurrection appearances of Christ is the many times he appeared to his disciples in a form they did not recognize. … Continue reading The Eucharist, the Road to Emmaus, and Transubstantiation
The Eucharist as the New Bread of the Presence
“Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them." (Matthew 5:17) I began this series of posts on the Eucharist with an understanding that Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophet Moses and is leading his people in a new … Continue reading The Eucharist as the New Bread of the Presence
Common Objections to John Chapter 6 and the Eucharist
“Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them.” (Matthew 5:17) In my last post I reviewed in detail the words Jesus said in John Chapter 6, that Catholics believe clearly point to an understanding of the Eucharist. There is … Continue reading Common Objections to John Chapter 6 and the Eucharist
The Eucharist as the New Manna Part 2 (John Chapter 6)
“Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them.” (Matthew 5:17) In my last post Jesus had multiplied the loaves and fish to feed 5000, which had led the people to pronounce he was the prophet that had come into … Continue reading The Eucharist as the New Manna Part 2 (John Chapter 6)
The Eucharist as the New Manna Part 1 (John Chapter 6)
“Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them." (Matthew 5:17) I began this series of posts on the Eucharist to understand how Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophet Moses and is leading his people in a new Exodus … Continue reading The Eucharist as the New Manna Part 1 (John Chapter 6)
The Eucharist as an Offering
“Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them." (Matthew 5:17) In my last post I reviewed a Catholic understanding of the words said by Christ at the Last Supper -- “This is my body which is given for you. … Continue reading The Eucharist as an Offering
The Eucharist as Remembrance
“Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them." (Matthew 5:17) When Christ institutes the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper, he says “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19) … Continue reading The Eucharist as Remembrance
The Eucharist as Sacrifice
“Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them." (Matthew 5:17) In my last two posts here and here I’ve reviewed the Passover of the Old Covenant and how it foreshadows Christ, who becomes the Passover Lamb of the New … Continue reading The Eucharist as Sacrifice
The Eucharist – Christ as Our Passover Lamb
“Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them.” (Matthew 5:17) In my last post I reviewed how the story of the exodus of the Jewish people from Egyptian slavery is a foreshadowing of our own salvation journey. Moses was … Continue reading The Eucharist – Christ as Our Passover Lamb
The Eucharist – Jesus and the New Exodus
“Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them." (Matthew 5:17) Perhaps there are no words more important than these when we seek to understand what Scripture teaches us about Christ. For it is impossible to understand the things that … Continue reading The Eucharist – Jesus and the New Exodus
The Eucharist – An Overview
The Catechism of the Catholic church quotes Vatican II when it teaches that “The Eucharist is ‘the source and summit of the Christian life.’ The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained … Continue reading The Eucharist – An Overview
The Sacrament of Confirmation Part 2
In my last post I reviewed the extraordinary steps God took to make His will known regarding Gentiles entering the Church, and that they did not need to first be circumcised and become Jews. As I mentioned, some want to use this example to profess that believers receive the Holy Spirit at the moment of … Continue reading The Sacrament of Confirmation Part 2
The Sacrament of Confirmation Part 1
In Luke 3:16, John the Baptist tells those who ask if he is the Christ “I baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” The Catholic understanding of … Continue reading The Sacrament of Confirmation Part 1
Baptism and the Right Side of the “Temple”
There is one last Biblical image of Baptism I would like to cover before I leave this topic. There is a most wonderful vision the prophet Ezekiel has in the Old Testament. “Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple … Continue reading Baptism and the Right Side of the “Temple”
What happens to children who die without Baptism?
In my previous post, I explored why the Catholic Church baptizes infants and young children. In other posts here and here I discussed why the Church believes that Baptism is necessary for salvation, although we quite clearly do not try to box God in about that. But the question that may remain is what happens … Continue reading What happens to children who die without Baptism?
Between the Farm and the Cross 