YOU WILL HAVE BELIEVED IN VAIN

L’OBSERVATORE ROMANO, the oficial newspaper of the Holy Father Benedicto XVI on the 4 of january 2012 begs all bishops and priests TO GET OUT OF THEIR CHURCHES to meet people on public squares, in homes, at work.

“ AND WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD, 

BECAUSE ANYONE WHO COMES TO HIM MUST BELIEVE THAT HE EXISTS AND THAT HE REWARDS THOSE WHO EARNESTLY SEEK HIM.”  Hebreos 11:6.

MT 5:23-24

1)-TO BELIEVE IS TO ACCEPT SOMEONE’S WORDS AS TRUTHFUL.

THEREFORE, WHO TEACHES ME?  WHOM DO I BELIEVE? ARE QUESTIONS THAT MUST NOT BE ADANDONED TO THE DANGERS AND RISKS OF THE STREETS.    EACH PERSON NEEDS 

2 GROUPS TO CHOOSE THE TRUE TEACHINGS OF JESUS.  

WHEN HIS 2 GROUPS FAIL, DESASTROUS CONSEQUENCES RAVAGE THE YOUNG AND THE 2 GROUPS THAT FAIL.

2)-TO BELIEVE IS THE MOST DANGEROUS WAY TO LEARN. 

 I MUST PROBE THE VERACITY OF THE MESSAGE I ACCEPT.  IS THIS MESSAGE TRUE OR FALSE?

3)-TO BELIEVE IS TO PUT MY LIFE IN SOMEONE ELSE’S HANDS.

TO BELIEVE IS SIMPLE.  WHEN I BELIEVE, I BEG THE PERSON WHO TEACHES ME TO GUIDE MY LIFE.  I MAKE MYSELF A FOLLOWER OF THE PERSON TEACHING ME.  THUS, I MUST SCRUTIZE THAT PERSON WHO TEACHES ME.  I MUST PROVE THE HONESTY OF MY PREACHER, AND THE VERACITY OF HIS TEACHINGS.  I MUST KNOW IF MY PREACHER GUIDES ME INTO THE PATH OF DIVINE FAITH OR IF HE GUIDES ME AWAY FROM THE TRUTH.  WHERE DOES HIS TEACHING COME FROM?

4)-THERE ARE 2 CLASSES OF FAITH BECAUSE WE HAVE 2 CLASSES OF MESSAGES OR DOCTRINES.

WHEN THE MESSAGE THAT I ACCEPT IS DIVINE, MY FAITH IS DIVINE OR SUPERNATRUAL THAT HAS THE POWER TO SAVE.

WHEN THE MESSAGE THAT I ACCEPT IS HUMAN, MY FAITH IS HUMAN THAT DOES NOT SAVE.

5)-POPE BENEDICT XVI NEVER USES HUMAN FAITH.  

THE HOLY FATHER  ALWAYS USES DIVINE OR SUPERNATURAL FAITH. 

THE POPE HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED BY JESUS HIMSELF TO TEACH US THE DIVINE FAITH.  HE MUST GIVE US TO KNOW THE DIVINE MESSAGE WHICH ARE THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS

6)-JESUS PRAYED FOR PETER THAT HIS OWN FAITH MAY NEVER FALTER.

JESUS ENTRUSTED TO PETER HIS BROTHER BISHOPS WITH THE PROMISE OF INFALLIBILITY WHEN TEACHINGS US MORALS AND DOGMAS.

May we read Jesus own words in Luke 22:31-32:

“Jesus said:

Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, Simon that your faith may not fail.  And when you have turned back to me, you must strengthen your brothers.”

7)-FEED MY LAMBS!  TEND MY SHEEP IS JESUS CONSIGNMENT TO SAINT PETER.

IN HIS CHURCH,  JESUS ENTRUSTED HIS TWO GROUPS TO PETER TO GUIDE THEM TO SALVATION.  FIRST OF ALL TO TAKE CARE OF HIS LAMBS  WHO ARE HIS FAITHFUL.  

ALSO JESUS ENTRUSTED TO PETER TO TEND HIS SHEEP  WHO ARE THE BISHOPS IN THE CHURCH.

May we read Jesus own words to Peter in Jn 21:15-23:

 “Jesus Reinstates Peter.

 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”  “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”  Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”  He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”  Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.   Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”   Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”)    When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”   Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

8)-JESUS’ CONSIGNMENT TO PETER CONTINUES IN HIS SUCCESSORS.

THERE IS A POPULAR BELIEF THAT PETER CONTINUES TO TAKE CARE OF THE CHURCH FROM HEAVEN.  

HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT WHAT JESUS TOLD PETER.  JESUS MANDATED THAT THE MISSION OF SAINT PETER CONTINUES IN HIS SUCCESSORS.  JESUS FORTOLD OF SIMON SON OF JONAS’ DEATH.  HOWEVER, THE MISSION OF PETER IN THE MILITANT CHURCH ON EARTH CONTINUES IN HIS SUCCESSORS IN THE MILITANT CHURCH ON EARTH.  May we read Jesus’ words:

 “But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

THUS,  JESUS MANDATED PETER’S CONSIGNMENT IN HIS SUCCESSORS IN THE CHURCH ON EARTH until I return.

9)-THE SUCCESSOR OF SAINT PETER IS THE ONLY  ONE TO WHOM JESUS  PROMISED NEVER TO TEACH DOCTRINAL ERRORS ON MORALS AND DOGMAS.

May we read Jesus words in  Mt 28:19-20:

“ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

10)-HUMAN FAITH HAS NO DIVINE POWER TO SAVE.

HUMAN FAITH ORIGINATES IN A HUMAN TEACHING OR MESSAGE.  SOMEONE TEACHES ME WHATEVER HE LEANED, WHATEVER HE THINKS ABOUT GOD.  HIS TEACHINGS ARE HUMAN BECAUSE THEY COME FROM A HUMAN BEING, THEY DO NOT COME FROM GOD. WHEN I ACCEPT THESE HUMAN TEACHINGS AS TRUE, I BELIEVE AND MY FAITH IS HUMAN.  SUCH HUMAN FAITH HAS NO POWER TO SAVE.   

11)-TO ACCEPT A HUMAN TEACHING AS A DIVINE TEACHING IS TO BELIEVE IN VAIN.

I ACCEPT A HUMAN MESSAGE WHEN I BELIEVE THE PREACHER  WHO TEACHES ME.  I BELIEVE IN VAIN WHEN I THINK THE MESSAGE IS FROM GOD  WHEN IN FACT IT IS NOT FROM GOD, BUT FROM THE PREACHER. 

FOR EXAMPLE, THE PROPHET MOHAMMED, THE PROPHET OF ISLAM, OR THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH, THE PROPHET OF THE MORMONS, TEACHE HUMAN MESSAGES.  THEIR WORDS ARE HUMAN SINCE THEY DO NOT COME FROM GOD. THEIR MESSAGES HAVE NO DIVINE POWER TO SAVE.  TO ACCEPT THEIR HUMAN PREACHINGS AS DIVINE, COMING FROM GOD, IS TO BELIEVE IN VAIN.

12)-THE PREACHER, WHO TEACHES ME WITH THE BIBLE IN HIS HANDS, IS THE PERSON TO WHOM I BELIEVE.

I BELIEVE THE PREACHER WHEN HE TEACHES ME WITH THE BIBLE IN HIS HANDS.  WHEN HE TEACHES ME THE WORD OF GOD, I BELIEVE GOD TEACHING ME THROUGH THE PREACHER.  WHEN HE TEACHES ME WHAT HE THINKS, I ONLY BELIEVE THE PREACHER AND NOT GOD.

WHEN MY PREACHER READS ME THE BIBLE, HE READS ME THE WORD OF GOD.  HOWEVER, WHEN MY PREACHER CLARIFIES A MESSAGE FROM THE BIBLE, HIS PREACHINGS IS NOT THE WORD OF GOD, BUT HIS OWN WORDS.  THE PREACHER TELLS ME WHAT HE KNOWS, WHAT HE LEARNED, WHAT HE THINKS AND WHAT HE LIKES TO TELL ME.

13)-WITHOUT DIVINE REVELATION, NO ONE CAN ATTAIN SALVATION.  

GOD HIMSELF REVEALS THAT I MUST BELIEVE IN GOD TO WORK MY SALVATION.

GOD, IN HIS COMMANDMENT TO BELIEVE IN GOD, DID NOT WANT TO EXPOSE ALL OF US TO THE PERIL AND DANGERS OF THE STREET.   

GOD ORGANIZED EACH ONE’S LIFE WITH 2 GROUPS TO HELP US AVOID THE PITFALLS OF DAMNATION.  HE SAW ME TO BE BORN WITH 2 GROUPS  WHO WOULD HELP EACH ONE TO WORK OUR SALVATION.

14)-MY PARENTS ARE MY FIRST GROUP.  

GOD MANDATES  MY PARENTS TO TEACH ME ALL GOD’S TEACHINGS.  

May we read God’ WORDS to my parents in  Genesis 18:19:

“For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”

15)-MY BISHOPS AND PRIESTS IN THE CHURCH ARE MY SECOND GROUP.

BISHOPS AND PRIESTS ARE MY SECOND AUTHORITY WITH GOD’S MANDATE TO TEACH ME THE TEACHINGS OF GOD.  

May we read God’s own words to my priests and bishops in Matthew  28:16-20:

“THE GREAT COMMISSION TO THE BISHOPS AND PRIESTS OF THE CHURCH:

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.  And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.   And Jesus came and said to them, 

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.    Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in  the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,   teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

JOHN PAUL II AFIRMS TEACHING CATECHISM TO THEIR FAITHFUL, AND TO ALL NATIONS, IS THE MANDATE OF JESUS HIMSELF TO HIS BISHOPS AND PRIESTS IN THE CHURCH.  

EACH FAITHFUL HAS THE MORAL OBLIGATION TO HELP HIS PRIESTS AND BISHOPS TO TEACH PAROCHIAL CATECHISM ALL YEAR ROUND.  IT IS A GRAVE OBLIGATION FOR THE CLERGY TO TEACH CATECHISM SINCE IT SPOUTS FROM THEIR PRIESTLY ORDINATION. 

BISHOPS AND PRIESTS WILL BE JUDGED IN THE FINAL HOUR ON THIS MANDATE OF THE LORD JESUS.

16)-BISHOPS WITH THEIR SEMINARIES DO NOT PREPARE PRIESTS AND BISHOPS TO TEACH CATECHISM.

THE UNFATHOMABLE AND MOST DEPLORABLE LIE IN THE CHURCH IS TO SEND PRIESTS EVANGELIZERS WHO CANNOT EVENGELIZE.  

THERE IS NOT ONE PRIEST WHO LEARNED THE “CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH” IN  THE SEMINARY. “POOR PRIESTS,”  THEY NEVER HAD CLASSES ON HOW TO TEACH, HOW TO PREPARE A COURSE IN CATECHISM. ONCE THEY ARE IN THE MINISTRY, THEY ARE UNDER PRESSURE TO TEACH. ALL THE CAN DO IS TO THROW IN “A TALK”  WHERE PEOPLE  UNDERSTAND NOTHING.  THIS IS WHY OUR BISHOPS AND PRIESTS DETEST TEACHING CATECHISM.  THEY TELL THE FOLKS THEY ARE ABOVE CATECHISM, THEY ARE THEOLOGIANS!!!

17)-THE MOST IMPORTANT DOCTRINE IN THE LIFE OF THE BELIEVER, THE BISHOPS LEAVE IT TO GRAN’MOTHERS AND LITTLE GIRLS.

MOST CATECHISTS ARE VOLUNTEERS TO TEACH CATECHISM SINCE THEY ARE TOLD PRIESTS ARE TOO BUSY ELSEWHERE!  UNFORTUNATELY THEY HAVE  NO ADEQUATE PREPARATION.  

THE GRAVE AND SOLEMN MANDATE OF THE LORD JESUS HIMSELF TO THE BISHOPS FALLS ON DEAF EARS WHO ARE VERY BUSY WITH POLITICS.  

HOWEVER, JESUS WILL JUDGE BISHOPS AND PRIESTS WITH THE STICK OF HIS MANDATE TO TEACH CATECHISM:

“teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

18)-TO FORSAKE THE FLOCK OF THE LORD FOR OTHER PREOCUPATIONS IS FATAL TO EACH BISHOP AND PRIEST.

JOHN PAUL II, IN CATECHESI TRADENDAE #13,  BEGS BISHOPS AND PRIESTS NOT TO GIVE PRIORITY TO OTHER PREOCUPATIONS. 

HOWEVER, NO SEMINARY STUDIES CATECHESI TRADENDAE.  PRIORITY  IS BY FAR GIVEN TO PSYCHOLOGISTS; MUSLOV OVER THE POPE.   

SAINT PAUL REVEALS TO HIS BISHOP TIMOTHY THAT WILL JUDGE US IN THE LAST HOUR.  

May we read saint Paul in his own words to bishop Timothy in 2 Tim 4:1-5:

Preach the Word

“ I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:  preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.  For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,  and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.   As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

19)-BISHOPS AND PRIESTS MUST WORK THEIR OWN SALVATION.  

FROM THE LIPS OF A DYING PRIEST I RECEIVED THIS CONFESSION:  

“I HAD FORGOTTEN THAT I WAS A PRIEST.”  

I HEARD THIS VERY UPSETTING CONFESSION MANY TIMES IN MY LIFE.  WHAT A TRAGEDY!   WAITING FOR THE LAST MOMENT OF LIFE TO REALIZE I AM COMING BEFORE THE JUDGE WITH EMPTY HANDS!  HOW AWFUL!

20)-ABSOLUTELY, GOD,  IN HIS PLAN FOR SALVATION, SHOWS HIMSELF THE PROVIDER. 

GOD HIMSELF URGES HIS PRIESTS AND BISHOPS TO TEACH HIS TEACHINGS TO EVERY MAN AND WOMAN.

21)-GOD IN HIS DIVINE LOVE DOES NOT ABANDON US IN OUR STRENOUS BATTLES AGAINST SATAN, THE FLESH AND THE CORRUPT WORLD.

GOD DOES NOT ABANDON US IN THE PERILS OF THIS LIFE.  OUR STREETS ARE FILLED WITH PREDATORY PREACHERS POSING AS PROPHETS AND GOD-SENT ANGELS OF LIGHT TO GUIDE US TO HEAVEN.  

ALSO MANY PREACHERS TAKE ON THE BIBLE ROAD JUST FOR THE SAKE OF MONEY MAKING!  CORRUPTION IN PEOPLE IS AS OLD AS ADAM AND EVE. 

THUS, GOD LOOKS AFTER US WITH KINDNESS.  HE KNOWS OUR HUMAN FRAILTY AND THE WEAKNESSES OF OUR REASONING POWER.  WE MEET PREACHERS IN GOOD FAITH WITH ERRONEOUS DOCTRINES WITHOUT KNOWING IT.

22)-SAINT PAUL, IN HIS LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS, WARNS US OF THE DANGER TO BELIEVE SOMEONE ELSE.  

May we read saint Paul in his own words in 1 Cor 15:1-2:

“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,  and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—otherwise  you will have believed in vain.”

23)-ST PAUL SAYS IT IS POSSIBLE TO BELIEVE IN VAIN.   

SAINT PAUL REVEALS TO EACH ONE OF US THE POSSIBLITY TO BELIEVE IN VAIN.

IN HIS LETTER TO THE GALATIANS, SAINT PAUL, WITH THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL,  BEGS  HIS FAITHFUL NOT TO FOLLOW FALSE  PREACHERS.  IF THEY DO SO,  THEY WILL HAVE BELIEVE IN VAIN.  TO BELIEVE IN VAIN IS TO FOLLOW A PATH LEADING OUT OF HEAVEN.

May we read saint Paul in his own words to his Galatians 1:6-9:

“No Other Gospel

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—  not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.   But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.   As we have said before, so now I say again:  If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”

24)-MY PREACHER WHO TEACHES ME IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN MY LIFE.

JESUS PERFECTLY ORGANIZED HIS CHURCH.  EVERYTHING IS ORIENTED IN THE CHURCH TO PROMOTE SALVATION TO ALL.  

THE PARENTS ARE THE MOST DEAR TO THE CHILD.  THE CHILD IS OPEN TO RECEIVE ALL THE TEACHINGS HIS PARENTS WILL OFFER.  

BLESSED IS THE CHILD WITH PARENTS CONSCIENTIOUS OF THEIR SACRED DUTIES TO EDUCATE THEIR CHILDREN IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD.   PARENTS AND CHILDREN JOURNEY TOGETHER IN HOLINESS TO THEIR HEAVENLY HOME.  Please meditate on Genesis 18:19.

25)-THE CHURCH ALSO GIVES TO THE YOUNG HIS BISHOPS AND PRIESTS.

BISHOPS AND PRIESTS ARE  PERSONS WITH MORE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD’S TEACHINGS TO TEACH THEIR FAITHFUL THE WAYS OF THE LORD.

THE EVANGELIZING MISSION OF THE CHURCH IS TO MAKE SURE NOBODY WILL BELIEVE IN VAIN ON THE JOURNEY TO THE LAST DAY.

May the good Lord bless us in our studies of the commitments Jesus entrusted to Peter and his Successors to guide us to heaven.  The professor.

TO BELIEVE IS TO ACEPT SOMEONE’S WORDS AS TRUTHFUL.

REMEMBER YOU ARE DUST AND INTO DUST YOU SHALL RETURN (Genesis 3:19).

1)-THE LITURGY OF ASH WEDNESDAY IS AMONG THE MOST MAJESTIC AND BEAUTIFUL IN THE CALENDAR OF THE CHURCH.

UNDOUBTEDLY, THE ASH WEDNESDAY LITURGY OF THE CHURCH IS MAJESTIC AND MAGNIFICENT IN ITS PRESENTATION OF  A  DOCTRINE NOBODY WANTS TO HEAR. DEATH COMES TO ALL OF US NOT BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, AS I HEARD FROM MANY BISHOPS.  ONE BISHOP IN PARTICULAR TOLD ME “WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER.”  THIS IS NOT THE REASON WHY WE ALL DIE.

2)-DEATH COMES TO EACH ONE OF US AS A PUNISHMENT.  OUR FIRST PARENTS, IN THEIR CONFRONTATION WITH GOD IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN, CHOSE TO DEFY HIS COMMANDMENT TO WORSHIP HIS ETERNAL SOVEREIGNTY.  THEY BELIEVED SATAN’S LIE TO DISOBEY GOD THEY WOULD BECOME THEIR OWN GODS.  May we read satan’s words to our mother Eve in Genesis 3:4-5:

“But the serpent said to the woman:  You certainly will not die!  No, God knows well that the moment you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods who know what is good and what is bad.”

3)-DEATH COMES TO US AS A PUSNISHMENT. 

WE ARE THE HEIRS TO OUR FIRST PARENTS’ SIN AGAINST GOD.  WE ARE HEIRS TO THE FOUR PUNISHMENTS GOD PRONOUNCED AGAINST ADAM AND EVE AND THE WHOLE OF MANKIND.  DEATH IS THE FOURTH PUNISHMENT.

4)-ASH WEDNESDAY, ONCE A YEAR, BRINGS TO US A PROFOUND MEDITATION ON THE LOST OF OUR HEAVENLY CALLING THROUGH ADAM AND EVE’S SIN.

ASH WEDNESDAY OPENS UP FOR THE CHRISTIAN WORLD A VERY SPECIAL TIME MOST PROPITIOUS  FOR PENANCE,  MEDITATION AND REPENTANCE:  IT OPENS TO US ALSO THE GRACEFUL TIME OF LENT.   

5)-ASH WEDNESDAY IS ALL ABOUT THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.  OUR SINS AGAINST THE NEIGHBOURS ALWAYS GO UNNOTICED.

THE APOSTLE SAINT JAMES HELPS US TO MEDITATE ON THIS VERY SPECIAL SIN DURING LENT,  THE SINS OF THE TONGUE.  THE SINS OF THE TONGUE  ARE VERY GRAVE SINS THAT WE MAY COMMIT AND VERY OFTEN WITHOUT THINKING OF THE GRAVITY OF SUCH SINS.  HOW OFTEN WE HAVE DESTROYED REPUTATIONS, WE HAVE CONDEMNED PEOPLE TO POVERTY, SPIRITUAL AND MATERIAL, CONDEMNED TO DEATH!    MAY WE READ WITH PROFOUND ATTENTION THE DIVINE REVELATION ON THE GRAVE SINS OF THE TONGUE ST JAMES GIVES US IN JAMES 3:1-12.  May we read ST JAMES in his own words:  James 3:1-12:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            “So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet  it boasts of great things.   See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.  For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race.  But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.   With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;  from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.  Does a fountain send out from the same opening both  fresh and bitter water?  Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.”         James 3:1-12                   

6)-THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS IN THE EARLY CHURCH.

IN THE FIRST CENTURIES OF THE CHURCH,  PERSONS,  WHO WANTED TO RECEIVE THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION ON HOLY THURSDAY,  DURING  LENT PRESENTED THEMSELVES TO THE PUBLIC COVERED WITH ASHES.  THEY WERE TO PRESENT THEMSELVES AT THE DOORS OF CHURCHES WITH THEIR PENITENTIAL CLOTHING.  THIS ATTITUDE OF REPENTANCE WAS A PROOF OF THEIR WILLINGNESS TO CONVERT TO JESUS CHRIST.  

7)-IN YEAR 384 YEAR OF THE LORD,

POPE SAINT  SIRICIUS (384-399)  GAVE THE CHURCH A FORCEFUL PAPACY.  WITH THE HELP OF SAINT AMBROSE, BISHOP OF MILAN, HE ENFORCED DISCIPLINE IN THE CHURCH, EASTER AND PENTECOST, THE CLERICAL CONTINENCE AND CELIBACY WITH A PENITENTIAL DISCIPLINE.

THUS, WITH POPE SAINT SIRICIUS,  LENT BECAME A TIMEOF PENANCE FOR ALL CHRISTIANS.  LENT BECAME GENERALLY ACCEPTED AS A VERY SPECIAL PENITENTIAL TIME FOR ALL CHRISTIANS.  IN THE XI CENTURY, THE CHURCH OF ROME, KNOWN AS THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, ADOPTED THE IMPOSITION OF ASHES ON FAITHFUL AS A PUBLIC SIGN TO MARK THE BEGINNING OF THE 40 DAYS OF  CONVERSION TO GOD.         

8)-THE CHURCH FIXED THE LENTEN RULES.

LENT (LATIN: QUADRAGESIMA, "FORTIETH" IS THE CHRISTIAN OBSERVANCE OF THE LITURGICAL YEAR FROM ASH WEDNESDAY TO EASTER SUNDAY.

THE TRADITIONAL PURPOSE OF LENT IS THE PENITENTIAL PREPARATION OF THE BELIEVER—THROUGH PRAYER, PENANCE, REPENTANCE, ALMSGIVING, AND SELF-DENIAL. ITS INSTITUTIONAL PURPOSE IS HEIGHTENED IN THE ANNUAL COMMEMORATION OF HOLY WEEK, MARKING THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS, WHICH RECALLS THE EVENTS OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST ON GOOD FRIDAY, WHICH THEN CULMINATES IN THE CELEBRATION ON EASTER SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.

9)-LENT A PROPITIOUS TIME TO MEDITATE ON THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN.

DURING LENT, MANY OF THE FAITHFUL COMMIT TO FASTING OR GIVING UP CERTAIN TYPES OF LUXURY AS A FORM OF PENITENCE. THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS, A DEVOTIONAL COMMEMORATION OF CHRIST'S CARRYING THE CROSS AND OF HIS EXECUTION, ARE OFTEN OBSERVED.

10)-THE LITURGY OF THE CHURCH IS ADAPTED TO THE LENTEN PENITENTIAL OBSERVANCE.

MANY ROMAN CATHOLIC AND SOME PROTESTANT CHURCHES BARE THEIR ALTARS OF CANDLES, FLOWERS, AND OTHER DEVOTIONAL OFFERINGS, WHILE CRUCIFIXES, RELIGIOUS STATUES, AND OTHER ELABORATE RELIGIOUS PARAPHERNALIA ARE OFTEN VEILED IN VIOLET FABRICS IN OBSERVANCE OF THIS EVENT. IN CERTAIN PIOUS CATHOLIC COUNTRIES, GRAND PROCESSIONS AND CULTURAL CUSTOMS ARE OBSERVED, AND THE FAITHFUL ATTEMPT TO VISIT SEVEN CHURCHES DURING HOLY WEEK IN HONOR OF JESUS CHRIST HEADING TO MOUNT CALVARY.

11)-THE GOSPEL NARRATIVES SET THE RULES FOR THE LENTEN DURATION.

ACCORDING TO THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS OF MATTHEW, MARK AND LUKE, JESUS SPENT FORTY DAYS FASTING IN THE DESERT BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY, WHERE HE ENDURED TEMPTATION BY SATAN.    THUS, LENT IS DESCRIBED AS BEING FORTY DAYS LONG, THOUGH DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS CALCULATE THE FORTY DAYS DIFFERENTLY.   IN MANY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES, LENT IS REGARDED AS BEING FORTY DAYS LONG, BUT THE SUNDAYS BETWEEN SHROVE TUESDAY AND EASTER SUNDAY ARE NOT TYPICALLY REGARDED AS BEING PART OF LENT; THUS, THE DATE OF SHROVE TUESDAY WILL TYPICALLY BE SLIGHTLY MORE THAN FORTY DAYS BEFORE EASTER SUNDAY.

12)-LENTEN OBSERVANCE IN THE MAINSTREAMS OF CHRISTIANITY.

LENT, ALONG WITH ITS PIOUS CUSTOMS ARE OBSERVED BY ROMAN CATHOLICS, LUTHERANS, METHODISTS, PRESBYTERIANS, ANGLICANS AND SOME BAPTISTS.   LENT IS INCREASINGLY BEING OBSERVED BY OTHER DENOMINATIONS AS WELL, EVEN SUCH GROUPS THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY IGNORED LENT, SUCH AS SOME BAPTISTS AND MENNONITES.      

ALL SUCH SPECIAL BEHAVIORS ARE NECESSARY FOR THE FAITHFUL IN PROFESSING THEIR FAITH OPENLY.  WE ARE CREATURES OF HABITS,   LIVING WITH SIGNS AND SYMBOLS WHICH HELP US TO MAINTAIN OUR HUMAN AND SPIRITUAL EQUILIBRIUM.  THE NUMBER FORTY HAS MANY BIBLICAL REFERENCES: THE FORTY DAYS MOSES SPENT ON MOUNT SINAI WITH GOD (EXODUS 24:18); THE FORTY DAYS AND NIGHTS ELIJAH SPENT WALKING TO MOUNT HOREB (1 KINGS 19:8); THE FORTY DAYS AND NIGHTS GOD SENT RAIN IN THE GREAT FLOOD OF NOAH (GENESIS 7:4); THE FORTY YEARS THE HEBREW PEOPLE WANDERED IN THE DESERT WHILE TRAVELING TO THE PROMISED LAND (NUMBERS 14:33); THE FORTY DAYS JONAH IN HIS PROPHECY OF JUDGMENT GAVE THE CITY OF NINEVEH IN WHICH TO REPENT (JONAH 3:4).

13)-JESUS HIMSELF TAKES FORTY DAYS TO PREPARE HIMSELF FOR HIS PRIESTLY MINISTRY.

JESUS RETREATED INTO THE WILDERNESS, WHERE HE FASTED FOR FORTY DAYS, AND WAS TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL (MATTHEW 4:1–2, MARK 1:12–13, LUKE 4:1–12).   HE OVERCAME ALL THREE OF SATAN'S TEMPTATIONS BY CITING SCRIPTURE TO THE DEVIL. 

14)-SATAN’S DECLARATION IN THE SECOND TEMPTATION REVEALS TO US ADAM’S SIN  SOLD MANKIND TO SATAN.

 THE SECOND TEMPTATION IS VERY SPECIAL TO US SINCE THE DEVIL TAKES JESUS UP TO A HIGH MOUNTAIN AND THERE HE SHOWED JESUS ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD.  THEN SATAN SAYS THIS TO JESUS:   “I SHALL GIVE TO YOU ALL THIS POWER AND THEIR GLORY; FOR IT HAS BEEN  HANDED OVER TO ME, AND I MAY GIVE IT TO WHOMEVER I WISH.”  SATAN SHOWS JESUS ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD; WHO IS THERE?  YOU AND I,  WE ARE ALL THERE, AND SATAN SAYS THAT WE ALL BELONG TO HIM.

15)-JESUS ACCEPTS SATAN’S DECLARATION THAT WE BELONG TO HIM. 

BORN WITH THE ORIGINAL SIN, IN THE VERY FIRST MOMENT OF OUR EXISTENCE, WE ARE SLAVES TO SIN IN THE DEVIL’S CLAWS.  JESUS DOES NOT CALL SATAN A LIAR; HE DOES NOT RETORT TO SATAN THAT THE WORLD BELONGS TO GOD.  HE ACCEPTS THE DECLARATION OF SATAN THAT THE WORLD BELONGS TO SATAN, YOU AND I ARE IN THERE!  JESUS PATIENTLY GIVES SATAN THE RIGHT ANSWER , WHICH ANSWER ADAM AND EVE  REFUSED TO GIVE TO ALMIGHTY GOD: “IT IS WRITTEN YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD, YOUR GOD, AND HIM ALONE SHALL YOU SERVE,”       AT WHICH POINT THE DEVIL LEFT HIM,

16)-JESUS’ TEMPTATIONS IN THE DESERT REVEAL  THE INTRINSIC MAKE-UP OF OUR EARTHLY JOURNEY TO HEAVEN.

ANGELS MINISTERED TO JESUS, AND HE BEGAN HIS MINISTRY.  AND JESUS CONTINUES WITH HIS MINISTRY FURTHER SAYING  THAT HIS DISCIPLES SHOULD FAST "WHEN THE BRIDEGROOM SHALL BE TAKEN FROM THEM" (MATTHEW 9:15), A REFERENCE TO HIS PASSION. SINCE, PRESUMABLY, THE APOSTLES FASTED AS THEY MOURNED THE DEATH OF JESUS, CHRISTIANS HAVE TRADITIONALLY FASTED DURING THE ANNUAL COMMEMORATION OF HIS BURIAL.

17)-ASH WEDNESDAY WEAVES THE TRADITIONAL FABRIC OF OUR LIVES.

IT IS THE TRADITIONAL BELIEF THAT JESUS LAY FOR FORTY HOURS IN THE TOMB[8] WHICH LED TO THE FORTY HOURS OF TOTAL FAST THAT PRECEDED THE EASTER CELEBRATION IN THE EARLY CHURCH[9] (THE BIBLICAL REFERENCE TO 'THREE DAYS IN THE TOMB' IS UNDERSTOOD AS SPANNING THREE DAYS, FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON TO EARLY SUNDAY MORNING, RATHER THAN THREE 24 HOUR PERIODS OF TIME). ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CEREMONIES AT EASTER WAS THE BAPTISM OF THE INITIATES ON EASTER EVE. THE FAST WAS INITIALLY UNDERTAKEN BY THE CATECHUMENS TO PREPARE THEM FOR THE RECEPTION OF THIS SACRAMENT. LATER, THE PERIOD OF FASTING FROM GOOD FRIDAY UNTIL EASTER DAY WAS EXTENDED TO SIX DAYS, TO CORRESPOND WITH THE SIX WEEKS OF TRAINING, NECESSARY TO GIVE THE FINAL INSTRUCTION TO THOSE CONVERTS WHO WERE TO BE BAPTIZED.

18)-THE INFLUENCE OF THE EARLY CHURCH CONTINUES TO SHAPE OUR LENTEN DEVOTIONS.

CONVERTS TO CHRISTIANITY FOLLOWED A STRICT CATECHUMENATE OR PERIOD OF INSTRUCTION AND DISCIPLINE PRIOR TO BAPTISM. IN JERUSALEM NEAR THE CLOSE OF THE FOURTH CENTURY, CLASSES WERE HELD THROUGHOUT LENT FOR THREE HOURS EACH DAY. WITH THE LEGALIZATION OF CHRISTIANITY (BY THE EDICT OF MILAN) AND ITS LATER IMPOSITION AS THE STATE RELIGION OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE, ITS CHARACTER WAS ENDANGERED BY THE GREAT INFLUX OF NEW MEMBERS. IN RESPONSE, THE LENTEN FAST AND PRACTICES OF SELF-RENUNCIATION WERE REQUIRED ANNUALLY OF ALL CHRISTIANS, BOTH TO SHOW SOLIDARITY WITH THE CATECHUMENS, AND FOR THEIR OWN SPIRITUAL BENEFIT.  MAY THIS ASH WEDNESDAY  MARKING THE BEGINNING OF LENT BE FOR EACH ONE OF US BE THE GREAT BLESSING JESUS WANTS TO BESTOW ON OUR FAMILIES, OUR HOMES AND OUR WORKS.   LET US EMPTY OURSELVES OF ALL THAT IS NOT CHRISTIAN TO BECOME NEW FRIENDS OF JESUS LEADING US TO THE RESURRECTION.  MAY THE GOOD LORD BLESS YOU ALL. 

May the good Lord bless us during our Lenten devotions with a prosperous time of renewal in the grace of our Almighty God and Father of us all. The professor.