Sacrament of Matrimony — Fireproof?
Hey all!
Hope everyone enjoyed the movie and is looking forward to finding out how it ends. Given the one-week lull in between, here are some quotes to help you remember what happened in the first part:
Michael Simmons: I realised that it wasn’t my marriage that was broken. I just didn’t know how to make it work.
Caleb Holt: Marriage isn’t fireproof.
Michael Simmons: Fireproof doesn’t mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it.
Michael Simmons: The sad part about it is, when most people promise for better or for worse, they really only mean for the better.
John Holt: But this is not based on feelings. It’s a decision.
John Holt: Has she thanked you for anything you’ve done the last 20 days?
Caleb Holt: No! And you’d think after I washed the car, I’ve changed the oil, do the dishes, cleaned the house, that she would try to show me a little bit of gratitude. But she doesn’t! In fact, when I come home, she makes me like I’m – like I’m an enemy! I’m not even welcome in my own home, Dad. That is what really ticks me off! Dad, for the last three weeks, I have bent over backwards for her. I have tried to demonstrate that I still care about this relationship. I bought her flowers, which she threw away. I have taken her insults and her sarcasm, but last night was it. I made dinner for her. I did everything I could to demonstrate that I care about her, to show value for her, and she spat in my face! She does not deserve this, Dad. I’m not doing it anymore! How am I supposed to show love to somebody over and over and over who constantly rejects me?
John Holt: [touches, then leans against cross] That’s a good question.
Now that that has reminded you of the movie, here are the instructions for your journal entry (for those who haven’t gotten around to doing it yet):
1. Name 3 “ingredients” that you think are essential to make a marriage work and the reasons for your choice.
2. Lift up in prayer, a married couple that you know and write your prayer petition or thanksgiving to Jesus.
See you on Saturday! And have a wonderful week =)
In Christ,
Stephanie
Journal Entry – Sacrament of Holy Communion
Hello dear brothers and sisters in Christ!
Here’s a mid-week reminder to do your journal reflection! This past weekend (25 July), we discussed the sacrament of Holy Communion in which we receive the Eucharist. As mentioned at the end of class (it was a packed lesson, and I don’t suppose you remember!), your journal activity should consist of two parts:
- Read John 6:26-66 in silence. Contemplate the meaning of this passage. Ask yourself: What is Jesus saying in these passages in the Gospel? Why did many of his disciples leave him?
- Write an entry responding to the question: “What does the Eucharist mean to me?”
I hope you all remember the key points of this lesson as you journal. Bear in mind that in receiving the Eucharist, we receive the real Body and Blood of Christ. Remember the concept of ‘transubstantiation‘ which refers to the transformation (changing) of the substance (nature) of the bread and wine. (As opposed to the transformation of the form (appearance), a la Transformers 
)
Refer to those other Biblical passages about the Eucharist if that will help you with your reflection. And I hope that this activity and lesson will help you appreciate the Mass even more!
In Christ,
Stephanie
Miracles
Hi all!
For those who didn’t attend class, today’s lesson was on the Miracles of Jesus. At the start of the lesson, we discussed certain Bible passages such as the Feeding of the Five Thousand, and the Wedding at Cana; and talked about the differences between miracles and magic.
I think the gist of the lesson is best summed up in this passage from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
Jesus accompanies his words with many ‘mighty works and wonders and signs’, which manifest that the kingdom is present in him and attest that he was the promised Messiah.
The signs worked by Jesus attest that the Father has sent him. They invite belief in him. To those who turn to him in faith, he grants what they ask. So miracles strengthen faith in the One who does his Father’s works; they bear witness that he is the Son of God. But his miracles can also be occasions for ‘offence’; they are not intended to satisfy people’s curiosity or desire for magic. Despite his evident miracles some people reject Jesus; he is even accused of acting by the power of demons (see Jn 11:47-48; Mk 3:22).
By freeing some individuals from the earthly evils of hunger, injustice, illness and death, Jesus performed messianic signs. Nevertheless he did not come to abolish all evils here below, but free men from the gravest slavery, sin, which thwarts them in their vocation as God’s sons and causes all forms of human bondage (see Jn 8:34-36).
The coming of God’s kingdom means the defeat of Satan’s: ‘If it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.’ (Matt 12:26, 28 ) Jesus’ exorcisms free some individuals from the domination of demons. They anticipate Jesus’ great victory over ‘the ruler of this world’ (Jn 12:31; Lk 8:26-39). The kingdom of God will be definitively established through Christ’s cross: ‘God reigned from the wood.’
[CCC 547-550]
One important thing to note about miracles, however, is this: the importance of faith. Consider the passage in the Gospel of Matthew where Jesus heals the centurion’s (Roman officer) servant (also see Lk 7:1-10, Jn 4:46-53) — The centurion was so sure that as long as Jesus “[gave] the word… [his] servant will be cured”, and Jesus was surprised. He remarked to his followers: “I tell you solemnly, nowhere in Israel have I found faith like this.”. Most importantly, look at what he finally said to the centurion: “Go back, then; you have believed, so let this be done for you.” And the servant was cured without even having met Jesus in person.
And so, it is our hope this week that you will perform a minor miracle in someone else’s life. Through one simple action (anything that you deem doable), “bear witness that [Jesus] is the Son of God” and in doing so, help someone else “strengthen faith in the One who does his Father’s works”
Have a wonderful week ahead! And see you the week after National Day =)
- Stephanie
the athanasian creed
Hi all, in light of the discussion we had this past catechism on the divinity and humanity of Jesus, as well as a brief look at our theological understanding of the Holy Trinity, here’s another creed that the Church recognises — the Athanasian Creed.
Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith. Which Faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. And the Catholic Faith is this, that we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity. Neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Ghost is all One, the Glory Equal, the Majesty Co-Eternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father Uncreate, the Son Uncreate, and the Holy Ghost Uncreate. The Father Incomprehensible, the Son Incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost Incomprehensible. The Father Eternal, the Son Eternal, and the Holy Ghost Etneral and yet they are not Three Eternals but One Eternal. As also there are not Three Uncreated, nor Three Incomprehensibles, but One Uncreated, and One Uncomprehensible. So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not Three Almighties but One Almighty.
So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not Three Gods, but One God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not Three Lords but One Lord. For, like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by Himself to be God and Lord, so are we forbidden by the Catholic Religion to say, there be Three Gods or Three Lords. The Father is made of none, neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father, and of the Son neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.
So there is One Father, not Three Fathers; One Son, not Three Sons; One Holy Ghost, not Three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is afore or after Other, None is greater or less than Another, but the whole Three Persons are Co-eternal together, and Co-equal. So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity is Trinity, and the Trinity is Unity is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved, must thus think of the Trinity.
Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting Salvation, that he also believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess, that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man.
God, of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and Man, of the substance of His mother, born into the world. Perfect God and Perfect Man, of a reasonable Soul and human Flesh subsisting. Equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, and inferior to the Father as touching His Manhood. Who, although He be God and Man, yet He is not two, but One Christ. One, not by conversion of the Godhead into Flesh, but by taking of the Manhood into God. One altogether, not by confusion of substance, but by Unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one Man, so God and Man is one Christ.
Who suffered for our salvation, descended into Hell, rose again the third day from the dead. He ascended into Heaven, He sitteth on the righthand of the Father, God Almighty, from whence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies, and shall give account for their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting, and they that have done evil into everlasting fire. This is the Catholic Faith, which except a man believe faithfully and firmly, he cannot be saved.
It sums up what we believe about the nature of the Trinity quite well. Note that this creed is ecumenical and remember that “catholic” = “universal” =)
Creeds such as the Athanasian Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Apostles Creed, are professions of our faith.
That the teachings of Christianity were to be cast in some definite form is evidently implied in the commission given the Apostles ( Matthew 28:19-20 ). Since they were to teach all nations to observe whatsoever Christ had commanded, and since this teaching was to carry the weight of authority, not merely of opinion, it was necessary to formulate at last the essential doctrines. Such formulation was all the more needful because Christianity was destined for all men and for all ages. To preserve unity of belief itself was quite clearly stated. The creed, therefore, is fundamentally an authoritative declaration of the truths that are to be believed. [from here]
Oftentimes, these creeds were formed so as to state the fundamental truths of Christian belief in contradistinction to heretical doctrines (e.g. Arianism). Perhaps if I have time, I’ll do a little post on heresy. Haha. Or maybe I won’t. We’ll see.
- Stephanie
