At one point John and James (the sons of thunder) requested Jesus to call 'heavenly' reinforcement in order to conquer their 'enemies', isn't that sound embarassing to ask for being Jesus' apostles?
One criterion to know whether a particular event in the bible had actually happened is the principle of embarassment.
Thi principle takes into account that the mere fact that the event was embarrassing then it could have actually happened for no one would write something that would put Jesus and his followers in an awkward theme unless it actually happened.
Monday, 11 February 2008
Sunday, 10 February 2008
Thursday, 7 February 2008
Take up his cross daily
Thursday after Ash Wednesday
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 9,22-25.
He said, "The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised." Then he said to all, "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?
Commentary:
This is a classic example that the author had just put something in the mouth of Jesus, i.e. "take up his cross daily."
Why should Jesus be refering into his cross when he was not yet crucified.
Did he abosolutely know that Judas will betray him and that Pontius Pilate will order his crucifixion, because he is God and therefore he knows everything.
If that's the case then Judas and Pilate and the other member of the gang were just playing their roles in the script and thereby not accountable for their evil deeds. Such is absolutely contradictory to Christian understanding of man's freedom.
But whether Jesus said it or not is actually not an issue. The message of this pericope is that one should be willling to sacrifice or suffer when necessity arises, not willing the suffering per se but willingness to suffer for the greater good. For example if it is necessary to put your life and the life of your family at risk because you need to stand as a witness against someone who is a big person in the government, then so be it. You don't have to worry because after the cross there is always a resurrection.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 9,22-25.
He said, "The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised." Then he said to all, "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?
Commentary:
This is a classic example that the author had just put something in the mouth of Jesus, i.e. "take up his cross daily."
Why should Jesus be refering into his cross when he was not yet crucified.
Did he abosolutely know that Judas will betray him and that Pontius Pilate will order his crucifixion, because he is God and therefore he knows everything.
If that's the case then Judas and Pilate and the other member of the gang were just playing their roles in the script and thereby not accountable for their evil deeds. Such is absolutely contradictory to Christian understanding of man's freedom.
But whether Jesus said it or not is actually not an issue. The message of this pericope is that one should be willling to sacrifice or suffer when necessity arises, not willing the suffering per se but willingness to suffer for the greater good. For example if it is necessary to put your life and the life of your family at risk because you need to stand as a witness against someone who is a big person in the government, then so be it. You don't have to worry because after the cross there is always a resurrection.
Wednesday, 6 February 2008
Truth and the Bible
God is Absolutely True.
Jeus is the Way the TRUTH and the Life . . .
Jesus is God
The Bible is the Word of God
but the Bible is not God.
The truth in the Bible is a relative one. It is true in as much as it can bring people to faith. Not everything in the Bible is true in the sense that some of them were just creations of the authors though they might have some reference to an event in history.
Some authors in narrating what Jesus did add something that they thought would be useful for evangelization. It is false in a sense that what they said had happened may not the same as what had actually happened but they are true in the sense that readers came to know more about Jesus in a personal sense, thus making them believers.
Jeus is the Way the TRUTH and the Life . . .
Jesus is God
The Bible is the Word of God
but the Bible is not God.
The truth in the Bible is a relative one. It is true in as much as it can bring people to faith. Not everything in the Bible is true in the sense that some of them were just creations of the authors though they might have some reference to an event in history.
Some authors in narrating what Jesus did add something that they thought would be useful for evangelization. It is false in a sense that what they said had happened may not the same as what had actually happened but they are true in the sense that readers came to know more about Jesus in a personal sense, thus making them believers.
Tuesday, 5 February 2008
Inspired Writer
Another common error with regards to reading the bible is understanding what does 'inspired writers' mean.
Everyone believes that the authors of the bible were inspired by the holy spirit. This is indeed true, however, some think that as inspired authors they would be able to write an account of something that they haven't witnessed. Or maybe the authors were indeed present when the event happened and then wrote an account of the event say, 50 years later. Relying on memory alone is simply not enough to write an account of the event exactly as it happened. Again some believe that being inspired by the holy spirit one would be able to remember everything that he saw even after many years had passed.
Being inspired by the Holy Spirit does not make one a magician or someone with extra ordinary power that is not present in an ordinary man.
Being inspired by the Holy Spirit means that authors were able to write something that has the power to convert a non-believer. A piece of story that has the power to bring someone to faith.
The Bible is an all time best read book because it continues to inspire people over the years. It brings them to a personal relationship to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Everyone believes that the authors of the bible were inspired by the holy spirit. This is indeed true, however, some think that as inspired authors they would be able to write an account of something that they haven't witnessed. Or maybe the authors were indeed present when the event happened and then wrote an account of the event say, 50 years later. Relying on memory alone is simply not enough to write an account of the event exactly as it happened. Again some believe that being inspired by the holy spirit one would be able to remember everything that he saw even after many years had passed.
Being inspired by the Holy Spirit does not make one a magician or someone with extra ordinary power that is not present in an ordinary man.
Being inspired by the Holy Spirit means that authors were able to write something that has the power to convert a non-believer. A piece of story that has the power to bring someone to faith.
The Bible is an all time best read book because it continues to inspire people over the years. It brings them to a personal relationship to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Monday, 4 February 2008
The Bible is Not a Book of History
While the Bible contains historical elements, i.e. accounts of things that happened in the past, nonetheless it should not be taken as such.
The bible does not aim to tell a historical account of things that happened in the past but rather it aims to bring people to faith.
Once a reader starts treating the bible as a history book,troubles start coming out. For example the Creation Story of the genesis. How can the author write a historical account of something which he did not witness at all.
Reading the Bible therefore is not learning history but knowing God personally. It's not enhancing one' s knowledge about the past but enhancing personal relationship with God,
When a reader finds something in the Bible that is historically doubltful, he shouldn't be bothred at all. What is important is that one's faith deepens by reading it.
The bible does not aim to tell a historical account of things that happened in the past but rather it aims to bring people to faith.
Once a reader starts treating the bible as a history book,troubles start coming out. For example the Creation Story of the genesis. How can the author write a historical account of something which he did not witness at all.
Reading the Bible therefore is not learning history but knowing God personally. It's not enhancing one' s knowledge about the past but enhancing personal relationship with God,
When a reader finds something in the Bible that is historically doubltful, he shouldn't be bothred at all. What is important is that one's faith deepens by reading it.
Sunday, 3 February 2008
The Beatitude and Global Warming
Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth . . .
Living simply is the best solution to global warming.
To be meek is to be humble and to be humble is to live simply.
Living simply means less CO2 emissions. With less carbon dioxide in the air, our planet has a big chance of survival.
Walking helps a lot, not only to our planet but also to your heart.
False needs created by advertisments is making things worse. We change mobile phones every now and then, and so with our i-pods, pc's etc. In producing loads of them because of high demand, we add more CO2 in our atmosphere.
Live simply, be meek and we can save the planet.
Friday, 18 January 2008
The essense of ex-seminarian
What is a seminary?
A place wehre semens are not necessary.
What is a seminarian?
By analogy,
If a vegetarian eats,
vegetables,
then a seminarian eats,
during seminars.
What is an ex-seminarian who is not an ex-seminarian?
A priest.
What is an ex-seminarian who is not an ex-seminarian and who is not a priest?
An ex-priest.
What is the essense of ex-seminarian?
A seminarian who is no longer a seminarian but with X-factor.
A place wehre semens are not necessary.
What is a seminarian?
By analogy,
If a vegetarian eats,
vegetables,
then a seminarian eats,
during seminars.
What is an ex-seminarian who is not an ex-seminarian?
A priest.
What is an ex-seminarian who is not an ex-seminarian and who is not a priest?
An ex-priest.
What is the essense of ex-seminarian?
A seminarian who is no longer a seminarian but with X-factor.
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