Information and latest news from Catholic Campus Ministry of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Answering 8 questions about the papacy
I was challenged once by a rather fundamentalist Baptist to “prove from Scripture” eight different facts about the papacy. I don’t know if my answers satisfied him, but I certainly surprised him by not being as stumped as he expected me to be. Here, edited for brevity, are his questions and my replies.
1. Prove from scripture that the alleged authority given in Matthew 16:18-20 is given personally to Peter alone, in distinction from the rest of the Apostles and the rest of the corporate Church.
This one is easy enough to do. The verse in question reads, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
In English, we are handicapped. Our word “you” can either be plural or singular, depending upon the context. But in most other languages, including Greek, in which this was written, and Aramaic, which Jesus spoke, there are different forms of the word “you” for plural and singular.
In this instance, all of the “yous” in the phrase above are singular except for the last two. What does this mean? It means that for most of His statement, Christ was speaking to only one person, until He shifted His subject towards the end. Who is this one person? Peter, whom Christ directly addresses.
Peter alone had his name changed to "Rock." Peter alone received the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And Peter, together with the rest of the Apostles, received the power to loose and bind.
2. Prove from scripture that all the rest of the Apostles and the early church acknowledged Peter as their spiritual head.
3. Prove from scripture that Peter viewed himself as the spiritual head of the Church.
These two questions are related, and so we will address them together. But before we see if the other Apostles saw Peter as the head of the Church, let’s first demonstrate that God did.
Christ was the one who said He would build His Church upon Peter (Mt 16:18). Christ also gave Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Mt 16:19), a direct reference to Is 22:22 where the servant Eliakim is granted, via the symbol of the keys, the authority of his master to become the Prime Minister of the Davidic Kingdom. Here in Matthew we have Christ using the same language and the same symbol of the keys to grant His authority to His servant Peter, making Peter the Prime Minister of His Kingdom. Christ also prayed that Peter's faith would strengthen his brethren (Lk 22:32). Christ named Peter as the chief shepherd of His flock (Jn 21:17).
Now, did the other Apostles, and Peter himself, see him in this leadership position? The book of Acts tells us volumes. Peter headed the meeting that elected Matthias to replace Judas (Acts 1:13-26). Peter led the Apostles in preaching after Pentecost (Acts 2:14). Peter received the first converts into the Church (Acts 2:41). Peter performed the first miracle after Pentecost (Acts 3:6-7). Peter inflicted the first punishment in the Church on Ananias and Saphira (Acts 5:1-11). Peter excommunicated the first heretic, Simon (Acts 8:21). Peter received the revelation from God to admit Gentiles into the Church (Acts 10:44-46). Peter pronounces the first dogmatic decision of the Church (Acts 15:17). Looking beyond the Acts, we see in Gal 1:8 that, after his conversion, the first person Paul seeks out is Peter.
Whenever the Apostles’ names are listed, Peter’s name is always listed first (see Mt 10:1-4; Mk 3:16-19; Lk 6:14-16; Acts 1:13). Often the Apostles are simply called “Peter and his companions” as in Lk 9:32; 8:46; Mk 16:7. Peter spoke for the Apostles on many occasions (Mt 18:21; Mk 8:29; Lk 12:41; Jn 6:69). Peter’s name is mentioned in the Bible 195 times -- more than all the other Apostles added together.
Was he head of the Apostles? A fair and unbiased reading of the text would lead one to conclude so.
4. Prove from scripture that Peter was given the ability to make infallible proclamations.
What did Christ promise to the Church through the Apostles? He promised that the Holy Spirit would guide them “into all truth” (Jn 16:13). He gave the Apostles the ability to speak with His own voice (Lk 10:16). And He promised to be with us always (Mt 28:20). Furthermore the Church is said in the scriptures to be the pillar and foundation (“bulwark” in some translations) of truth (1 Tim 3:15). We therefore believe that Christ's Church is incapable of teaching error.
Now, do Peter and his successors have this infallibility in a special way? We believe yes. Where can this be found in scripture? One obvious but often overlooked place is 1 Peter and 2 Peter. Obviously Peter had the ability to make infallible statements at least twice -- when he composed these two books of the Bible, which Protestants and Catholics both accept as inerrant.
But there are other places. In Lk 22:32, Christ tells Peter Satan has demanded to have him, but that He has prayed for him “that your faith may not fail.” We have to accept that what Christ prayed for was achieved. This would lead Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, in 256 to proclaim, “Would heretics dare to come to the very seat of Peter whence apostolic faith is derived and whither no errors can come?” This extra-biblical source illustrates the idea that Christ’s promises to Peter carry on through his successors.
In fact, if these things could not be passed on from generation to generation, how would Christ fulfill His promise to be with us always? Which leads us to the next question.
5. Prove from scripture that Peter’s personal authority could be passed on through an unbroken line of successors.
We see the idea of Apostolic Succession carried out with the selection of the first successor of an Apostle, Matthias, who was chosen to succeed Judas in Acts 1:25-26. Furthermore, we read in several places of the Apostles ordaining bishops and priests to serve particular churches and carry on their ministry: 1 Tim 4:14, Acts 14:23, Titus 1:5, to name a few. They saw nothing questionable about passing their authority on to others. There are more examples of this kind if you need me to cite them all.
6. Prove from scripture that Peter used his authority to add extra-Biblical, but infallible and binding decrees upon the rest of the Church.
This is impossible to answer, for the following reason. Any teaching of Peter that is recorded in scripture would, by definition, be scriptural. Therefore it is impossible to prove anything extra-Biblical from scripture. The question is a logical fallacy. Furthermore what we know as “the Bible” did not exist in Apostolic times. They used the Hebrew Scriptures, what we call the Old Testament, but the New Testament was still being written, and would not be formally canonized until 405 AD.
7. Prove from scripture that extra-Biblical traditions would be required in order for the Church to remain pure and apostolic.
We have the same problem with this question. Any tradition named in the Bible would not be “extra-Biblical.” But, if you’ll see it, there is an answer of sorts contained in your very question. You ask if anything outside of scripture would be needed for the Church to be apostolic. “Apostolic” means “based on the Apostles.” The Church, according to the Nicene Creed, is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. It is united, it is sanctified, it is universal, and it is based on the teachings of the Apostles.
If the Nicene Fathers thought like Protestants, the Nicene Creed would identify the Church as one, holy, catholic, and scriptural. But it doesn’t. This is because the teachings of the Church are based ultimately on what Christ and the Holy Spirit revealed to the Apostles. The Scriptures are valued because their teaching is Apostolic. The Apostles are not valued because their teaching is Scriptural.
8. Prove from scripture that not one of Peter’s personal successors could ever be in error.
I can’t. But this is not Catholic theology. The Catholic Church has never taught, never suggested, that the Bishop of Rome, the successor of Peter, would never hold erroneous or even heretical views. What the Church does teach is that the successor of Peter would never teach heresy as a matter of the faith.
Why refuse to believe that God would grant the Church a special charism to prevent all of the faithful from being led astray? Surely He has performed greater miracles. Why is this one so hard to accept?
It seems to me that the anti-Catholics are preaching that the gates of hell have prevailed against the Church, and I just don’t buy it. Why? Because my Bible tells me otherwise, and I am a Bible-believing Christian!
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
From WCU: Gospel For Today
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT (C)
--
Today's gospel reading from Luke relates Christ's temptation in the wilderness. It's a familiar story to Christians. Jesus enters the desert to fast for forty days, and while there Satan tempts him. He encourages Christ (who is fasting) to turn a stone into bread. Jesus rebukes him, saying, "Man does not live by bread alone." Satan then offers to make all the kingdoms of the world Christ's if he will give him worship, and Jesus again refuses, because he will only give worship to God. Lastly Satan tells Christ that if he really is the Son of God he should leap off the highest parapet of the temple and let God's angels protect him. Christ refuses and says we should not tempt God.
As I said, it is a familiar account to most Christians, and a perfect reflection to begin our Lenten journey of forty days of fasting. Jesus was able to resist the temptations offered him by the devil because he placed his faith and trust in God first. We can, like Christ, do the same when faced with our own temptations.
But there is a sentence in this gospel passage that especially strikes me. I don't want it to go by without notice. It says, simply, "He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry."
The story of Jesus' forty days in the desert has two components. One is that he was able to resist all the temptations Satan had to offer, from a single loaf of bread, to all the kingdoms of the world. The other is that he was able to deny himself a basic good -- food. His denial of Satan is the fruit of a disciplined will and trust in God. His denial of his own hunger is the spiritual exercise that strengthens that will in the first place.
Let us not lose sight of this in our own Lenten observance. Every year around the beginning of this season I hear people encouraging others to take a different approach to what they give up for Lent. These well meaning folks say instead of giving up chocolate, or coffee, we should try giving up gossip, or anger, or jealousy, or lust, or selfishness. These things, they say, would make a true and pleasing sacrifice to the Lord. That is what the Lord truly wants of us, for us to become better, more holy people after his own heart.
And to a certain extent I agree. We should give up gossip and jealousy and selfishness and those things, to the extent that we struggle with them. We should give them up, however, because they are sinful. Giving up sinful things is something a Christian should strive to do all year round. Lent is a season of repentance and penance, yes. And if the graces of this season encourage you to let go of some of these sinful inclinations then that is a wonderful thing. But that's not quite the point of the Lenten fast.
Why did Jesus give up food for forty days? Is food sinful? Is it bad to eat? No, quite the contrary. Food is necessary for life. It is a good. That's why the abuse of food (gluttony) is a sin. And that's why giving it up can be a worthy sacrifice. After all, in order to be a true sacrifice, the thing we sacrifice must be good. Think of the ancient Israelites making animal sacrifices to God. It was an unblemished lamb that was offered, not the runt of the litter, not the lame and the sick lambs. They offered their best as a sacrifice.
Likewise, when a priest makes his vow of celibacy it is not because marriage is bad. On the contrary, it is only because marriage is such a great good that freely giving it up can be such a noble sacrifice on the part of the priest.
My wife and I, before Lent, were having a dinner table conversation with our children about what they were each going to try to give up this year. My wife reminded them, "It should be something that you will be happy to have back again at Easter." That's a good way of thinking about it. For it to be a true sacrifice for us, it ought to be something good we will miss. It should be a little hard for us to let it go. What we do when we make this kind of Lenten fast is to both offer something good to the Lord, and also discipline our own will. If we can tell ourselves "no" in small matters, then we will be able more easily to tell Satan "no" when he tempts us in greater things.
If you have decided to give up something sinful during Lent, I am not saying don't bother! That's a worthy goal and I encourage you in it. Seek out the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) and pray for God's assistance in conquering that sin. But I also encourage you to think of something good that you can also offer to God this year. By denying yourself a good thing, you will strengthen your spirit and build the discipline necessary to continue resisting the temptation to sin long after Lent is over.
God bless!
Matt
WCU Catholic Campus Ministry
Matthew Newsome, MTh, campus minister
(828)293-9374 | POB 2766, Cullowhee NC 28723
From Davidson: CCM Bulletin week of Feb 11
Thy grace shines forth, O Lord; it shines forth and gives light to our souls.
Behold, now is the accepted time: behold, now is the season of repentance.
Let us cast off the works off darkness and put on the armor of light,
That having sailed across the great seas o the Fast, we may reach, on the third day,
The resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ,
The Savior of our souls.
~ Byzantine Vespers for Lent
Fasting:
Currently in the Catholic Church we have only two formal fast days, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. On these days, we limit ourselves to one proper meal, two small meals and no snacking. We also abstain from meat on those two days, and on all the Fridays of Lent. We fast for different reasons: as a form of penance; to develop self-control and self-discipline; to be in solidarity with those who are hungry and suffering; to better understand what controls us and what we’re ‘addicted’ to; to become more perfect.
We traditionally also “give up” something for Lent. It’s the rare Catholic who didn’t give up chocolate as a kid! But when choosing what to give up, you should ask yourself why you’re choosing what you choose. Are you giving up chocolate just because it’s what you’ve always done? Because it makes you suffer? Or are you giving it up because you’re addicted to it? Perhaps you could give up a bad habit that’s potentially destructive human relationships, like gossiping. Or maybe give up sleeping late, and use some of that time for regular prayer. Maybe you could fast from texting, and push yourself to spend more face-to-face time with your friends, or even write a letter to someone who’s too far away to join you on a coffee date. Or maybe you give up fast food and focus on eating locally grown food instead.
Your fasting is never just for yourself—it should always be outward directed, toward your neighbor or toward God. What is it that keeps you from being a good friend? What is it that keeps you distant from God? What is it that contributes to the on-going suffering in the world? What prevents you from being a good steward of creation?
Almsgiving:
Alms traditionally consist of monetary donations, but they can also include giving your time and your talent and your focused attention. Maybe you can schedule yourself to do a little extra service work during Lent. Or write your Great-Aunt Matilda a letter, or visit someone in the Pines. I once read about a first-grader who gave up ice cream, and then donated that money to a fund in her school cafeteria that will allow kids who can’t afford to buy ice cream enjoy the treat.
The key here is that your giving doesn’t come out of what’s left-over. Like the poor widow in the gospel, our giving comes from all that we start with (money, time, talent)—not what’s left after we’ve spent it all on other more necessary or pleasurable things.
Prayer:
Prayer ultimately is about being in mutual communication with God. You take your concerns, your thanksgivings, your sorrows, your joys to God—and you sit back in silence so that God’s concerns, sorrows, joys, and thanksgivings can fill you. Making time and embracing silence are difficult to do. That’s why prayer is a discipline. There are a multitude of opportunities on campus to help you with this, from Mass to walking the labyrinth to Taize services to bible studies to Thursday Night Worship to walking (iPod-free) on the cross-country trails.
___________________________
Karen Soos
Associate Chaplain and Catholic Campus Minister
Davidson College
Campus Box 7196
Davidson NC 28035
704. 894. 2423
Associate Chaplain and Catholic Campus Minister
Davidson College
Campus Box 7196
Davidson NC 28035
704. 894. 2423
Monday, February 11, 2013
Special Weekly Update from CCM
Good morning, students.
I'm sending out this update a day earlier than usual in light of the news from the Vatican this morning. For those of you who have not yet heard, this morning Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation, effective Feb. 28. You can read his announcement in full on the Vatican web site. It's very brief.
His stated reason, in so many words, is advanced age. He was already 78 years old when he was elected pope in 2005. Now he is in his late 80s. "After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God," he states, "I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry."
Many of you will be asking, "Can he do that?" No pope in our modern experience has ever resigned. But it can happen. The last time a pope resigned was in the fifteenth century, so it does not happen often. But Church law allows for it, so long as the resignation is made freely (which is why Benedict uses the phrase, "with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, etc." in his statement).
My initial reaction upon hearing the news this morning was shock. It certainly was not expected. I remember seeing his predecessor, John Paul II, endure in his reign despite his debilitating Parkinson's disease, which was getting worse by the day. Many said he should resign. But he did not. He suffered and weakened in the public eye, never abandoning his post, never ceasing his ministry of servant of the servants of God. In fact, his suffering was one of the great aspects of that ministry. The final weeks and days of Bl. John Paul II's reign were a great witness to the power of redemptive suffering and the dignity of all human life, no matter its stage or age.
After taking time to reflect, I believe that Benedict XVI's resignation is another powerful witness for our age. It takes great humility to hand over the See of Peter. And the virtue of humility is sorely needed in our age. What other powerful leader in our world today would freely hand over his position without violence, protest, or even a referendum demanding his ouster? I can't think of one. But Papa Benedict does it freely, and surprises us all. It takes great humility to admit that one cannot do something, and to admit that with dignity and contentment.
I honestly do not think that Joseph Ratzinger ever wanted the job of pope. When he was elected in 2005, he was already 78, as I said, and looking forward to a quiet retirement. Well, surprise, surprise, the Holy Spirit had other plans for him. And as Benedict XVI, he worked with the Holy Spirit to fulfill his God-given role to the best of his ability. I believe the greatest leaders are often the ones who do not desire power, who do not want the job but do it anyway. Benedict's reign was longer and more fruitful than any would have expected it to be. He wrote three encyclicals, including Deus Caritas Est (God is Love), which is sure to be read for centuries. He issued Summorum Pontificum, the motu proprio that allowed what is now known as the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite of the Mass to be celebrated with great freedom. More recently he issued Anglicanorum Coetibus, making it easier than ever before for Anglicans to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church. He is a great man who has accomplished more in his short time in the chair of Peter than any of us could have imagined. And now he is vacating that seat gracefully.
The last time a new pope was elected it was after the death of John Paul II. The Church was in mourning, so the atmosphere was a bit different then than it is now. I had only been Catholic for a few years at that time, and John Paul II was the only pope I had ever known. I remember noting a marked difference in the reactions of my Catholic vs. my non-Catholic friends. The Catholics I knew were mourning the loss of a great pope, yes. And there was some excitement and anticipation over who the next pontiff was going to be. But people were relaxed about it. No one was really worrying much.
By contrast, my non-Catholic friends were filled with anxiety. Who would be the new pope? It could be anybody? What if it was someone awful? What if he changed everything John Paul II had worked so hard for? Or what if he didn't? They expressed sympathy for me and other Catholics, because after all, it must be nerve wracking! Anything could happen! Was this the end?!
Of course it is not the end. And my Catholic friends all knew that, which is why the excitement we all felt at the prospect of a new Bishop of Rome was different from the anxiety our non-Catholic friends thought we must be feeling. The Church has been around for 2000 years. We have had 266 popes in that time span. Some have been saints. Some have been scandalous. Most fell somewhere in between. But the Church and the Faith have endured. Christ promised Peter, the first Pope, "Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it." We know this, with the certainty of faith.
Sure, some things may change with a new pope, because whomever is elected in the coming conclave will not be Benedict XVI. And he won't be John Paul II. He'll be who he is, and that will bring with it his own style and personality, and God's grace will work through him according to His will. But the faith will go on. The Church will go on. Because we know it is not the job of the Pope to invent the faith. His role is to safeguard it and present it to us in our present day and age. He is a custodian.
When my wife woke up this morning and I greeted her with, "Good morning, sweetheart. The pope resigned," her first reaction was a quizzical, "What?"
Then she picked up the phone and called our dentist's office to confirm the appointments we have for our children later today. Life goes on.
Pray for Benedict XVI for a long, happy and restful retirement. Pray for the Cardinals who will be meeting soon to elect the newest successor of St. Peter. Pray for the man whom the Spirit selects to take on that role. May he be as humble as his predecessor.
LENT
I had planned to write more about the start of Lent this week, but Benedict's resignation has taken precedence! I'll only remind you in this space that Lent is a penitential season. Every Friday in Lent is a day of abstinence. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting and abstinence. What do we mean by those terms? Abstinence means refraining from the eating of meat. Fish is ok, as are meat based broths and gravies. For those who are vegetarian, it is suggested you select another food item to refrain from eating, in the spirit of penance.
Fasting means taking only one full meal during the day. It is also permitted to eat up to two small snacks which together do not add up to one meal. Drinking liquids does not break the fast. Those who are ill, pregnant, or whose work requires greater nourishment are excused from the requirement to fast, as are those over 65.
I'll be posting more about Ash Wednesday and Lent on our Facebook group, as well as updated information about Benedict XVI's resignation and the upcoming Papal Conclave as it is available.
God bless, and have a great week!
Matt
--
WCU Catholic Campus Ministry
Matthew Newsome, MTh, campus minister
(828)293-9374 | POB 2766, Cullowhee NC 28723
From WCU: Gospel for Today
FIFTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (C)
--
This Sunday we hear three different accounts of three different people who all accomplished great things despite their personal feelings of unworthiness. Each tale is distinct, but the parallels are apparent.
In the first reading from Isaiah, the prophet sees a vision of God seated on a mighty throne, surrounded by Seraphim (the highest of the angels). Isaiah cries, "Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips..." We like to imagine God as a warm, cuddly, bearded father-figure, benign and somewhat toothless. But Isaiah's reaction tells us otherwise. Faced with the power and majesty of the Almighty, the prophet trembled and despaired. For it is only in the light of perfect holiness that we are able to see just how unholy we are by comparison.
I heard the Chicago priest Fr. Robert Barron say once that the soul is like the windshield of a car. It may look clean until we point the car towards the sun. Suddenly, when the light hits the glass, we can see every streak, smudge and squashed bug, and we realize just how dirty our windshield is. Isaiah, standing in the light of God and His angels, realized just how unclean he was, unworthy to be in God's presence.
Admitting his unworthiness for having unclean lips, one of the seraphim came to Isaiah and touched a burning ember to his lips. The angel said, "Now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed, your sin purged." (There is an allusion to purgatory here. The word "purgatory" means "a purging," where we are cleansed from any lingering attachment we have to our sins before we enter the presence of God in heaven).
Having thus been cleansed, the prophet is ready to respond bravely to God's mission for him. "Whom shall I send?" "Here I am."
The gospel reading today tells of a similar encounter with the Almighty. In Luke 5:1-11 we read of Jesus coming to Peter (then still called Simon) on the shore of Lake Gennesaret. Jesus draws a crowd, preaches to them from one of the fishing boats out on the water, and then commands Simon to row out and lower the nets. Now they had been fishing all day and caught nothing. But they did as Jesus asked and hauled in so many fish they had to call out a second boat to hold them all. Knowing that he had just witnessed a miracle and was in the presence of divine power, Simon falls on his knees before Jesus and says, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man."
Like Isaiah, Simon Peter recognized his own imperfection in the shining light of the perfect God. Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid," (a message He would often repeat), "from now on you will be catching men." Simon left everything of his old life behind that day and began to follow Christ. Of course we know how the story ends. Simon the fisherman becomes Peter, the head of the Apostles, first Pope and Vicar of Christ, the Rock upon which Jesus builds the Church.
What is the message here? That God can do great things through weak men? Certainly, that is part of it. That God can heal us of our sins and shortcomings, cleanse what is unclean in our souls? Certainly, that is true, as well. But Isaiah and Peter were two great men in the history of the faith. They were special cases, right? What about people like us, just regular ordinary people?
Or you may be thinking, Isaiah and Peter were imperfect, sure, but how bad were they really? I've done some pretty rotten things; there is no way God can be calling me to do His work. I've worked too hard against Him for too long to do Him any good now.
St. Paul would say otherwise. Our second reading today is from 1 Corinthians, where St. Paul calls himself, "the least of the Apostles, not fit to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God." Now you need to know some history of Paul to appreciate this. Paul (or Saul as he was called then), was a Pharisee. In fact, he was the most pharisaic of the Pharisees, the most zealous in persecuting Christians, whom he viewed as heretics and blasphemers. He was out to destroy the Church, travelling from synagogue to synagogue encouraging the Jewish people to punish anyone who accepted Jesus as the Messiah. Paul was personally involved in imprisoning many Christians. He was involved in their torture, trying to get them to renounce their faith in Christ. And when St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was being stoned to death, Paul was there holding the coats of those casting the stones. So when Paul says he was unworthy to be called an Apostle, he meant it.
So what happened? Did Paul just change his mind, suddenly becoming a good guy?
No. Christ happened.
"I have toiled harder than all of them," Paul says. But then he continues, "Not I, however, but the grace of God that is in me." And that's the key. Paul, the sinner, would be completely incapable of doing God's work on his own. Any of us would be. But because Christ now dwells within Paul, it is Christ who works through him.
If you are a baptized Christian, then you have been united to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christ dwells within you, too, just as He dwells within Paul. And you are just as capable of accomplishing what God wills for your life as Paul was. That does not necessarily mean you are going to be an apostle, or a prophet. As we heard in last Sunday's readings, some are apostles, some are teachers, some are prophets, some work mighty deeds, etc. We all have different tasks.
You are not Isaiah. You are not Peter. You are not Paul. You are you, a unique person made in the image of God, with your own perfection before you. God wants the same thing, ultimately, for all of us. Holiness. But holiness looks just a bit different on each of us, for we are different people. What is God calling you to become? If you don't know, have you asked Him? Whatever it is, you can take comfort in Christ's words to Peter. "Do not be afraid." He's not calling you to do anything that He's not ready to help you accomplish. For He lives within you, and works through you, if you only allow Him to do so.
God bless, and have a great week!
Matt
WCU Catholic Campus Ministry
Matthew Newsome, MTh, campus minister
(828)293-9374 | POB 2766, Cullowhee NC 28723
From Davidson: CCM Bulletin week of February 4
Jospehine Bakhita was born in the Darfur region of Sudan in 1869. She was kidnapped and sold into slavery at age seven and given the name Bakhita. (According to her autobiography, the trauma of her enslavement—a forced march of 600 miles, beatings, scarification, frequent change of owners—caused her to forget her birth name.) When she was fourteen, she was bought by an Italian diplomat stationed in Sudan, and brought to Italy where she was passed on to a new family and became their babysitter. She accompanied her young charge to classes taught by Catholic sisters and was drawn to the Church. In 1890 she was baptized and took the name Josephine. When the family who owned her decided to return to Africa, she refused to go and took her case to court. The judge ruled that, since slavery was illegal in Italy (and had actually been banned in the Sudan before she was born), she wasn’t technically a slave. Josephine then joined the Canossian sisters who had catechized her, and ministered with them as a seamstress and porter, gaining the admiration of the local community for her kindness and sanctity. She died in 1947, was beatified in 1992 and canonized in 2000. Her feast day is February 8th.
__________
Karen Soos
Associate Chaplain and Catholic Campus Minister
Davidson College
Campus Box 7196
Davidson NC 28035
704. 894. 2423
Associate Chaplain and Catholic Campus Minister
Davidson College
Campus Box 7196
Davidson NC 28035
704. 894. 2423
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
From WCU: Weekly Update from CCM
Good afternoon, students!
--
Many of you are members of our Facebook Group (and if you are not, you should join). Many students are my personal friends on Facebook, as well. (My policy is that I don't send any student a friend request, though I will happily accept a student who sends a request to me). I don't mind any student friending me if you want to get a glimpse into your campus minister's life (yes, it is just as exciting as you think it is). Of course, this means I get a glimpse into my students' lives, as well. And usually that's a pretty good, reaffirming thing. Sure, every now and then a student will use some language in a post that I'd rather not see them using, but that's pretty rare overall.
What I do see on occasion, and it always makes me cringe, is the acronym "FML." I don't have to tell you what it means, but the last two letters stand for "my life," and the first letter doesn't stand for "festoon." People use it to express frustration, maybe because they just broke up with their boyfriend/girlfriend (which is always painful), or because they have roommate issues (who doesn't at least once in college?), or maybe feeling overwhelmed with schoolwork. Sometimes people just use it in a lighthearted way because something silly or embarrassing happened to them. I discovered a whole FML web site in which people are asked to post their embarrassing stories. One example was a young man who was partnered with a girl in his art class. They were asked to sketch each other, and he thought he was doing a pretty good job until he showed her his sketch and she said, "That's ok, I can't draw very well, either." To him, that was a FML moment.
But I hate to see anyone use this phrase, for any reason. Your life is a gift to you from God. God created us, each one of us, as a sheer act of love. He didn't have to make you, or me, but He did because He wants to share His life with us. God, the Almighty Creator, the Great "I Am" who is existence itself, is sustaining you in being at this very moment. If He ever stopped loving you, you would cease to be. The very fact that you have existence at all means you are sharing in God's life, which means you have your being within Him. Everything you have, you have from God. (And, might I point out, every student I have ever met has led a life far better than 99% of the human population that has ever been born).
So when I see a student post "FML," it feels like they are giving the finger to God. They are taking this precious gift of His and tossing it back in His face, not even saying, "Thank you," but "F*** you."
Now, before I hear from anyone saying, "But that's not how we mean it!" let me say I know that. I know that's not how you mean it. And that's my point. If you don't mean it, don't say it. Words are important. Don't believe me?
"No foul language should come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for needed edification, that it may impart grace to those who hear." Eph. 4:29"I tell you, on the day of judgment people will render an account for every careless word they speak." Matt. 12:36
These days we don't just need to worry about the words coming from our mouths, but also from our fingers, as we tweet, text, and type. In many ways these words are more enduring, as they don't fade away after we speak them. All I'm saying is words are powerful things. They are a tool we possess to convey truth and goodness, but they can also be used in pernicious ways. Use yours for uplifting one another, and giving thanks to God.
God bless!
Matt
WCU Catholic Campus Ministry
Matthew Newsome, MTh, campus minister
(828)293-9374 | POB 2766, Cullowhee NC 28723
Gospel For Today
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (C)
--
Anyone who has ever been to a Catholic wedding will recognize today's second reading, from 1 Corinthians. It is full of some of the most quotable lines of St. Paul's writings.
"If I speak in human and angelic tongues, but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.""If I have all faith so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.""Love is patient, love is kind... It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.""So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
If you'll forgive the pun, what St. Paul does here is get to the heart of the matter. Our best actions, our most eloquent words, our noblest deeds, our strongest faith -- all of these things can be spoiled by a lack of love. If I had to summarize in one sentence what God wants from us, I would have to say, "He wants our hearts." He wants us to love.
This helps to explain what Christ meant when He said He did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it (Mat 5:17). Think about these things. The Commandments say to not commit adultery. But Jesus says, "everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Mat 5:28). Likewise the Commandments say not to kill. But Jesus tells us to not even to be angry with our brothers (Mat 5:22).
The Commandments say "Thou shalt have no gods before me." But Jesus says, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind..." (Lk 10:27).
You see how Jesus' teachings do not contradict or do away with the Commandments, but rather get to the heart of their meaning. Christ goes on to say in the same passage from Luke that you should "love your neighbor as yourself." It follows if you love your neighbor, you will not desire to lie to him, steal from him, kill him, seduce his wife, or covet his possessions, etc. Just as if you love God with all your heart, you will not take His name in vain, disobey His commands, or worship false gods (by treating other things as if they are more important than God is).
This is why St. Augustine could summarize the whole of the moral law in one sentence. "Love God; then do as you will." He did not mean this in a modern day, relativist sense. Some mistakenly interpret Augustine today to mean we have permission to do whatever we wish, so long as we love God. This is not true. There are some things which we may never do because they are contrary to our nature, contrary to the way God made us. We call these mortal sins. They are beneath our dignity and actually cause us spiritual damage when we do them; things such as murder, adultery, fornication, blasphemy, dishonesty, theft, and the like (things which violate the Ten Commandments). What St. Augustine means is that if we truly love God, we will have no desire to do these things. In fact, the thought of them abhors us. So if you truly have love of God in your heart, you are free to do what you will, because you will only desire to do what is pleasing to God.
So how do we increase our love for God and neighbor? We decide to love. Today.
Think about this: Jesus commands us to love. This means that love is an action, an act of the will, something we can make up our minds to do. It is more than just a human emotion. If love were simply an emotion, Jesus could not have commanded it of us. You cannot command someone to feel an emotion. Telling someone who is sad to "feel happy," is ineffectual. If we could choose to feel happy, no one would ever feel sorrow! You cannot choose to feel frightened, or joyous, or frustrated. These are things that happen to you, not things you can choose.
But love is different. You can choose to love. God would never command us to do something impossible. Love is an act of the will. And it is like anything else we do -- it is a skill we can practice and improve over time. When one first begins to love it can be shaky, haphazard, and require great effort. But over time, with practice, it can become effortless and graceful. The great practitioners of love do so with marvelous achievement! (Think of the saints as our "Lovers Hall of Fame").
One final -- and essential -- fact about love. God is love (1 Jn 4:8). This is the crux of St. Paul's teaching. We can perform mighty deeds and achieve all that is great in the eyes of man. But if we do it all without love, we do it without God.
God bless!
Matt
WCU Catholic Campus Ministry
Matthew Newsome, MTh, campus minister
(828)293-9374 | POB 2766, Cullowhee NC 28723
From Davidson: CCM Bulletin week of January 28
Saturday, February 2 is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, which commemorates when the infant Jesus was brought to the Temple for his parents to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving; he was recognized there by Simeon and by Anna as the light of salvation for all people. On this day it is customary to bless candles at mass (and so the day was referred to as Candlemas). Here is a prayer for insight on this feast of light and eyes opened.
May the Lord Jesus touch our eyes,
as he did those of the blind.
Then we shall begin to see in visible things
those which are invisible.
May he open our eyes to gaze, not on present realities,
but on blessings to come.
May he open the eyes of our heart
to contemplate God in Spirit,
Through Christ Jesus the Lord,
to whom belongs power and glory
through all eternity.
~Origen, 300 CE
___________________________
Karen Soos
Associate Chaplain and Catholic Campus Minister
Davidson College
Campus Box 7196
Davidson NC 28035
704. 894. 2423
Associate Chaplain and Catholic Campus Minister
Davidson College
Campus Box 7196
Davidson NC 28035
704. 894. 2423
From WCU: Weekly Update from CCM
Good afternoon, students!
If any of you are still interested in going to Give Your Heart Away on Feb. 15-17 in Hickory, there is still time! The deadline for registration was this past Friday, but there is a possibility of adding some last minute names, so let me know ASAP. It's a wonderful weekend of Christian service, fellowship with other Catholic students from across the Diocese, prayer and growth. We'll be leaving campus after classes on Friday and coming back around lunch time on Sunday. Get more information at:
Got questions? We've got answers! If you have questions about the Catholic Church, her teachings, dogmas, doctrines the like, are struggling with moral issues, or just want to learn more about the faith, I'm here for you. Some of my best experiences as campus minister are sitting in the student center living room, and chatting over tea or coffee with students who just drop by to explore our rich faith with me. I'm not saying I have all the answers; but I can offer to help find them with you. I'm generally in my office during the week, though I am occasionally pulled away for a meeting or other obligation. I'm easy to reach by phone or text message (828-508-0789), email or on Facebook. I'd love to talk with you!
God bless, and have a great week,
Matt
--
WCU Catholic Campus Ministry
Matthew Newsome, MTh, campus minister
(828)293-9374 | POB 2766, Cullowhee NC 28723
From WCU: Gospel For Today
THIRD SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (C)
--
In today's first reading from Nehemiah Ezra reads the Law of God to the people of Israel. We are told that "he read out of the book from daybreak till midday, in the presence of the men, the women, and those children old enough to understand; and all the people listened attentively to the book of the law."
What struck me as I read this passage was the reaction of the people upon hearing God's word proclaimed by Ezra. "Then they bowed down and prostrated themselves before the LORD, their faces to the ground."
As I read of their reaction, I could not help but contrast it in my mind to the response that millions of Catholic faithful will give upon hearing the word of God proclaimed to them at Mass today; that is, a half-mumbled and rather apathetic sounding, "Thanks be to God." Ho-hum.
We are taught that the Scriptures are the word of God, divinely inspired by our Almighty Creator for our instruction and sanctification. A gift from the Maker of the Universe. Do we realize how precious this gift is? Or have we allowed it to become pedestrian and uninteresting to us? Do we take it for granted? Is there truly any gratitude, wonder and awe in our "Thanks be to God?"
I confess, I don't hear it at Mass from those around me in the pews. And I often don't feel it myself. We need to be better.
Those who heard Ezra proclaim the law to them fell to their faces, all because their God had spoken to them through this holy writ. We have that same gift with us today; but we have so much more. Today's Gospel makes that clear. Jesus stands before the synagogue and reads from the prophet Isaiah. "Today," he tells the assembly, "this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing." Jesus is the Word of God. He is the perfect Image of the Father. God was no longer communicating with His people simply by inspiring prophets and scribes; He took on flesh and blood to come among them and speak with them directly.
If hearing God's law proclaimed is reason to fall prostrate, what do you do when you encounter that God face to face?
I was told a story once by a priest that has stuck with me for years. He was talking with a Muslim student at a school this priest was assigned to as chaplain. The priest was talking about the Eucharist being the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. The young Muslim man listened and then waved him off, saying, "That is what you teach, but you don't really believe that."
The priest was taken aback, and asked the young man how he could make such a statement. The answer was simple. "You claim that the bread and wine become the body and blood of your God. But I see you all at Mass go up to receive Communion. You shuffle forward like you are waiting in line at the bus station. If I truly believed that was God on the altar, I would not be able to get up off my knees."
The priest was humbled. We should be, too. The young man has a point.
Am I saying we need to all fall prostrate on the church floor when we hear the Scriptures read at Mass? No, that is not what the Church asks us to do. But we ought to ask ourselves honestly if our attitude, our posture, our expressions truly reflect what we believe in our minds and hearts. Wen we say, "Thanks be to God," when we hear the Word proclaimed, are we truly thankful? Is their gratitude in our hearts and in our voices at the gift of God's word in the scriptures?
When we kneel down before the Blessed Sacrament, are we kneeling in homage to our very God, to whom we give worship? Or are we kneeling because.... well, that's what you do at this point in the Mass?
When the priest asks us to lift our hearts to the Lord, and we respond, "It is right and just," are we just saying the words, or do we take that opportunity to actually raise our hearts to God?
When we say "Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy," are we just repeating what the priest or the cantor says, or are we asking our Savior to have mercy on our souls?
My point is only this. Let our words and our actions mean something. When we participate at Mass, let us truly participate in our prayers, our words, our postures. We are given an amazing and earth-shattering opportunity to come into the very presence of the One who made us and give Him worship. Even more amazingly, He offers to us forgiveness and healing, should we ask it. And even more amazingly, scandalously so, He offers to us Himself, to be taken and consumed into our very bodies so that He may live in us, and we in Him.
That Muslim student had a point. How can we get up off our knees? I don't know who he was or where he is. But I like to think he's a Catholic now. We could use more people like him in the Body of Christ.
God bless!
Matt
WCU Catholic Campus Ministry
Matthew Newsome, MTh, campus minister
(828)293-9374 | POB 2766, Cullowhee NC 28723
From Davidson: CCM Bulletin for week of January 21
In honor of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and all those who have worked tirelessly for a more just society, here are some quotes from the Catholic social teaching tradition on racism. They are taken from the 1979 document, Brothers and Sisters to Us: U.S. Catholic Bishops Pastoral Letter on Racism. The full text of this letter can be found at: http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/cultural-diversity/african-american/brothers-and-sisters-to-us.cfm.
Racism is a sin; a sin that divides the human family, blots out the image of God among specific members of that family, and violates the fundamental human dignity of those called to be children of the same Father. Racism is the sin that says some human beings are inherently superior and others essentially inferior because of races. It is the sin that makes racial characteristics the determining factor for the exercise of human rights. It mocks the words of Jesus: "Treat others the way you would have them treat you." Indeed, racism is more than a disregard for the words of Jesus; it is a denial of the truth of the dignity of each human being revealed by the mystery of the Incarnation.
| ||
|
___________________________
Karen Soos
Associate Chaplain and Catholic Campus Minister
Davidson College
Campus Box 7196
Davidson NC 28035
704. 894. 2423
Associate Chaplain and Catholic Campus Minister
Davidson College
Campus Box 7196
Davidson NC 28035
704. 894. 2423
From WCU: Weekly Update from CCM
GIVE YOUR HEART AWAY
--
Our annual service retreat is Feb. 15-17 in Hickory (about 2.5 hours from campus). Things get underway Friday evening at 8pm and will wrap up Sunday at 11am (so you'll be back to campus in the early afternoon). Registration is $50 and needs to be in with me by this Friday. You can find more information, download a brochure and a registration form, from this website:
Have a great week, everyone!
Pax Christi,
Matt
WCU Catholic Campus Ministry
Matthew Newsome, MTh, campus minister
(828)293-9374 | POB 2766, Cullowhee NC 28723
From WCU: Gospel For Today
SECOND SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (C)
In today's first reading from Isaiah, the prophet consoles Jerusalem by assuring her that she will be taken as a bride by the Lord.
Jerusalem is the City of God, the capital of Israel, God's chosen people, and so symbolic of the entire nation. Since the coming of Christ, with his new and eternal covenant, God's covenant has been expanded to the entire human race, and so Jerusalem is now symbolic of the universal Church. If the Lord has made Jerusalem his spouse, then the Church is the Bride of Christ, which is in fact one of her traditional titles.For the LORD delights in youand makes your land his spouse.As a young man marries a virgin,your Builder shall marry you;and as a bridegroom rejoices in his brideso shall your God rejoice in you.
Very often God's relationship with the Church is described using the metaphor of marriage. It is a rich metaphor, one that tells us much about how God views the Church, and how we should view God. For example, like marriage (in God's plan for marriage at least), it is indissoluble. There is no "divorce" option between God and His Church. God will never abandon the Church, and likewise the Church will never abandon God. Though some of her individual members may fall away, the Church herself will remain ever faithful. As Christ promised, "the powers of death shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18), and he will be with the Church always, "to the close of the age" (Matt. 28:20).
Like a marriage, our relationship with God should be fruitful. We should be open to the seeds God plants within us, and eager to nourish them until they bear fruit. This is how our Christian family and our Catholic faith grows. And we need to spend time building our relationship with God. When I prepare people for Confirmation I always tell them that it is like a marriage. They should not get so caught up in preparing for the day of the sacrament (the "wedding") that they neglect to prepare for the rest of their lives as a Confirmed Christians (the "marriage"). That's when the real work starts. For example, are you prepared to spend time each day praying; both talking to God and listening to Him? What kind of marriage would you have if, after the wedding, you never spent any time with your spouse? Are you ready to cultivate a real relationship with God?
If the marriage metaphor tells us much about the relationship between God and the Church, it also has much to tell us about marriage itself. A favorite reading at weddings is from the last part of Ephesians chapter 5.
People over the years have somehow managed to read this beautiful passage and focused solely on the wife being subject to her husband. But this misses so much! The very first sentence in this passage tells us to "be subject to one another." That alone tells us so much about the Christian life, in a nutshell! It is a life that is willing to be of service to other people, out of love. To give of its own time, talent, spirit, and heart for the good of others. Why? "Out of reverence for Christ." That is where it starts. In a solid Christian marriage, husband and wife both begin with a deep reverence for Christ, and because of that are subject to one another. It is a mutual subjection out of love.Be subject to one another our of reverence for Christ. Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church... Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he may sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself in splendor... that she may be holy and without blemish. Even so husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no man ever hates his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ does the church... (Eph. 5:21-29).
The wife is subject to her husband in the way that the Church is subject to Christ. And the husband is called to love his wife in the way that Christ loved the Church. And how did Christ love the Church? He sacrificed himself for her, so that she may be pure and holy. This is the role of the husband, to sacrifice himself completely for the good of his wife. Does this mean taking a bullet for her? Well, yes, if such a situation arises. But more than that, it means sacrificing himself every day, continually, by giving himself completely to the good of his wife. Those who read this passage from Ephesians and think the husband is getting off easy need to read it again.
One final note, shifting gears before I end this reflection. Today's gospel from John puts us at a wedding. Jesus and his mother are at a wedding feast in Cana and the host runs out of wine. Mary points this fact out to her son, and he replies, "Woman, how does your concern affect me?" (A caution, we should not read Jesus's addressing his mother as "woman" as being disrespectful in any way. In that time, it was a title of honor and respect, much like we might say "Madam" or "Ma'am").
Mary calls a servant over and tells him, simply, "Do whatever he tells you." And you know the rest of the story. Jesus tells the servant to fill six jars with water, which they did, and it miraculously turned to wine. This tells us a few things. First, Jesus liked a celebration, and thought a wedding something worth celebrating! Second, just as his baptism in the Jordan revealed Jesus as the Son of God, the wedding at Cana reveals him as the Son of Mary. Jesus was not planning on performing his first public miracle that day, but did so out of deference for his mother.
For this reason, Catholics today continue to seek her intercession. And Mary continues in her same role that she manifested for us in this Gospel reading. She points us to her son and says, "Do whatever he tells you."
Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.
God bless!
Matt
--
WCU Catholic Campus Ministry
Matthew Newsome, MTh, campus minister
(828)293-9374 | POB 2766, Cullowhee NC 28723
From Davidson: CCM Bulletin Week of January 14
When the song of the angel is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When shepherds are back with their flocks,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost, to heal the broken,
To feed the hungry, to release the prisoners,
To rebuild the nations, to bring peace among all,
To make music in the heart.
~Howard Thurman
GYHA (Give Your Heart Away):
Every year the diocese sponsors a weekend of service, reflection and prayer in Hickory, NC. This year’s “Give Your Heart Away” weekend will be February 15-17th. More information is available in the attached flyer. Registration fees are due on the 25th. See me if you can’t pay the $50 fee; we can make a deal. Previous CCMers who have been include Stephanie Pineda (’14), Ali Gomez (’14), and Mary Murphy (’14)—they can tell you more about the weekend too.
DIOCESAN ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK:
Not sure if spaces are still available. The info sheet is attached. Contact Sr. Eileen ASAP if you’re interested (her info is on the sheet).
___________________________
Karen Soos
Associate Chaplain and Catholic Campus Minister
Davidson College
Campus Box 7196
Davidson NC 28035
704. 894. 2423
Associate Chaplain and Catholic Campus Minister
Davidson College
Campus Box 7196
Davidson NC 28035
704. 894. 2423
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)