Our Prayers Alone Are Not Enough

Have you ever stopped to consider that our paryers alone to God are not worthy enough without Christ? We, sinful people that we are, can not expect to 'dial up' God by signing ourselves with the Cross and expect to speak directly with Him.

It doesn't quite work that way. Just the same as no soul can enter Heaven unless it is pure, usually through a period of purification in Purgatory. We are not worthy to approach God on our own.

When Christ died on the Cross and His side was pierced with a spear it gushed forth Blood and Water - the mingling of the normal (water) and the Divine (Christ's Blood).

Now we can access God by being assisted by Jesus. Jesus allows us access to God that was previousely not allowed. We have an 'in,' we know someone on the inside.

Each week when we attend Mass, our prayers are joined with Christ's as our petitions are made to God the Father. This is symbolically done by the Priest adding the water to the wine prior to the words of consecration.

It is through the act of Christ's death that we receive the grace to be able to approach God. The joining together of Christ to ourselves is the greatest gift we have ever received.

Christ supporting us. Christ walking with us to the Father. Blood and Water.

Isn't it amazing?

Peace be with you

Gospel of Paul

Paul of Tarsus was an interesting fellow. He is responsible for writing over half of the New Testament (14 of 27 books) Paul was one of the most influential figures in the New Testament after Christ Himself.

Who was Paul? Paul never met Christ prior to the Resurrection. He was not one of the Twelve Disciples, yet his thinking literally defined much of Christianity.

Paul's writing was what was called 'occasional,' meaning his letters were primarily written in response to something.

Paul traveled far and wide on missionary journies starting new Churches. After he would set up a Church and move on to the next town, the people he left behind always seem to get caught up in squabbles.

Most of Paul's letters in the New Testament are responses back to the Churches who were having these pesky troubles. Paul revealed Theology through his replies to settle a matter on behalf of the Church.

Paul did not sit down and map out a full exposition of Theology like "I will explain all there is to know about Christianity in 14 books." Nothing of the sort happened.

Paul's Theology is selectively revealed in as far as it supported an explanation to a problem someone was having.

The down side, we don't know what all of Paul's thoughts and ideas were.

The plus side is that we are blessed with a lot of great scripture as a result of Paul's inspired efforts.

Peace be with you.

Lent is a Time to Check Your Premises

I have often wondered - did people who grew up in the Catholic Church make their faith choice or accept what their parents did? So called "Cradle Catholics" have been a Catholic since the beginning of their lives.

I have often thought that those adults being received into the Church as catachumens are making a rational and reasoned out choice to follow Christ and the one true church.

Enter Lent. Lent is not a time to give up alcohol and green M&Ms. Is is really a time for those that are already Catholic to examine their conscience and examine their souls. "Do I really believe this and if so why?"

Lent is a wonderful time of year. The RCIA candidates are getting ready to join the Church and the rest of us can take a closer look at why we do what we do.

Re-devote yourself to your faith and know that you are making an informed choice to follow the Way, the Truth, the Life.