torsdag 23. august 2012

# 12 – Why the Father, why not the living Christ in the Eucharist?


Well, in blog-post # 11 I told that none of the other religions can address God as Father. This is a very big difference. A God who is high above us and still makes himself familiar to us! I did not forget about the Eucharist. I only wanted to make it clear how much it really tells about God when we are allowed to speak to God as our Father.

When Adam and Eve fell for the trick of the Evil One (they were tricked to doubt what God had taught them) and hid in the bushes instead of confessing their sins witch God gave them the opportunity to do when he said: «Where art thou?» to Adam (Gn 3:9) and «Why hast thou done this?» to Eve (Gn 3:13).

Have you ever thought about how different it all could have been if our first parents had had the guts to stand up in front of God and begged for forgiveness?

Well, they didn't and because of that they had to face the consequences of their choice. They were thrown out of the garden. But still God loved mankind so much that he wanted to give man a new opportunity. The Father gave us a his Son who freely gave up his life in Heaven to meet us in flesh here on earth and to, after some years, pay the prize for our sins at the cross.

A lot of «things» happened between the fall of the humans and the birth of Jesus Christ. A lot of things also happened in the years between the birth of Christ and his self giving sacrifice for us on the cross. Here I will only remind you about what he said at the last supper: «And whilst they were at supper, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke: and gave to his disciples, and said: Take ye, and eat. This is my body» (Mt 26:26). He also said after taking the chalice: «And taking the chalice, he gave thanks, and gave to them, saying: Drink ye all of this. For this is my blood of the new testament (...)» (Mt 26:27-28).
In Mt 28:20 Jesus says: «and behold I am with you all days».
It is in the Eucharist that Jesus keeps the promise to be with His Church all days to the fullest. When the Catholic priest repeats the word of Christ in the Catholic Mass, Jesus becomes really present trough transubstantiation.
Can love be greater than when God (second person in the trinity) gives himself to us through his body, so that we slowly can become holy (some of us use a rather long time – but God is patient)?
This is God's love indeed!
Once (in the year 1263) there was a priest who doubted that Christ was really present in the Eucharist. When he celebrated Mass above the tomb of St. Christina (located in the church named for this martyr), something happened. The blood of Christ started to come out of the host. The priest, who had doubted the word of God about the promise of Christ to always be with us in the bread and in the wine, stopped the Mass and went to confession at the confessional of Pope Urban ban IV who stayed in the nearest city (a long way to travel in those days, but he did it).
This priest sat a good example for us. He had doubted like Adam and Eve once did. Unlike them he understood that hiding was not a good idea. Trough the Church's ministry of «God's Mercy-seat», the confessional, he got absolution (forgiveness).
So it is with us, also. The best cure for doubt is to go to the confessional. Remember that temptations don't always come from within alone. I have already (in blog-post 7, 2012) recommended you to read «The Deceiver – Our Daily Struggle With Satan» by Livio Fanzaga to get a better understanding about how this demon over all demons use our week sides to draw us away from God. From the book you can also learn how to resist this fallen spiritual creature as well. I recommend the book once more.
Back to the miracle of 1263. The miracle was investigated and found to be true. In 1264 Pope Urban IV instituted the feast of Corpus Christi.

The following link tells more about the events around the miracle:

tirsdag 21. august 2012

# 11 – Why Catholic? (continuation from # 10).

+
In Christendom we have no need to believe in reincarnation as some of  Eastern religions do. That's because Christendom can be illustrated as going from one point to another. Recycling is not a part of the Christian Faith.


Creation out of nothing ------------------------------------------------------------------> Eternity

But couldn't the Jewish faith and Islam also be illustrated this way? Probably, but if we place certain happenings on the line they would not correspond totally. The Jews will not find it important in their religious understanding to put the birth of Jesus on the line. The Muslims will, among other, put Ismael on the line were Christians will put Isaac as the son that should have been scarified if not God had stopped it.

Most important when it comes to Christendom, however, is the catholic interpretation of who God is. He is self-giving love in relationship. One God in three persons.

God the Father loves the Son. The Son loves the Father so much that He is totally obedient to the Father's will while the Holy Spirit might be seen as the person who brings the love between them. As you probably have learned at school the Trefoil ("three-leaved plant») can be used to illustrate the relationship between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. If we break off one leaf and throw it away, the plant is not total. All the three leaves have to be intact to form the unity that can be used as an illustration for the Trinity, the ONE God that we worship. I know it's difficult to understand, but try to accept it for now (while I'm trying to explain in a simple way) what this Unity, the Relationship in God means to us.

While Jesus was on earth, He called God his Father. In Jn 17:19-21 Jesus says: «And for them do I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. And not for them only do I pray, but for them also who through their word shall believe in me; That they all may be one, as thou, Father, in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.»

From this we see that Jesus himself tells that He and the Father is one. We also see that he prays that the apostles and those who will believe in them (when they preach the the good news) also must be as one (unity of the believers) and that this unity must be one with the Father and the Son (and with the Holy Spirit which had not been sent to the believers at the moment of the prayer).

In Jn 19:25-27 we can read that Jesus gave his mother to John and John to his mother. That means as, you probably already know, that Mary is our mother. She adopted John (as he adopted her - he already had a mother). So now we have become the siblings of our Savior and as Him we also have a Father in heaven. THAT is a really important difference! None of the other religions can tell their members to address God as FATHER

It doesn't matter how your relationship  to your biological father is or have been. If it is/was good, it can serve as an example on how good it can be to acknowledge your relationship to your heavenly Father (much better). Was it or is it complicated and hurtful? Well then you still have a perfect Father in heaven!

The argument about that there are so many religions that one cannot chose, is not valid when one becomes aware of the uniqueness of the Christian faith. We have a Father that loves us dearly, a brother and Saviour that paid the prize for the sin of Adam, so that we as heirs of Eve and Adam can be able to live for all eternity if we want to do that. We have the Holy Spirit to enlighten us through the Church and personally when we need guidance. Think about it! Were do you find a religion that is so complex and where God is so caring and familiar?

I have already recommended you to read «Catholic for a Reason: Scripture and the Mystery of the Family of God» by Scott Hahn and Leon J. Suprenant (in a former input). I recommend it once more for a better understanding of the relationship between the persons in the one God and for a better understanding of our relationship to God.

If you also want to learn more or to repeat your knowledge about Virgin Mary as our mother and about how we become connected to God through the Eucharist in the Mass I also recommend from Scott Hahn:

«Hail, Holy Queen: The Mother of God in the Word of God»  by Scott Hahn.

«The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth» by Scott Hahn.

As far as I can understand Scott Hahn is very good to explain things, so what you never understood before you will probably understand while reading some of his books. I have heard others say the same, so I think I can stand for the recommendations. If you want to know about his education, among other Amazon, US, has a Scott Hahn page were you can read about his qualifications.

May God bless you and enlighten you!

# 10 - Is it difficult to believe because there are so many religions and you don't know what to believe anymore?

I promised to talk about the questions I asked you to write down and think about in input # 3 (2012) at the blog (if you wanted to...):

If I never had heard about Jesus, I think that to become a Sikh would become very attractive to me. The Sikhs value all people and look away from casts. It is not important if you are a man or a woman. You are just as much valued as a woman as a man. All people are to be treated with respect wherever they come from and the Sikhs believe in trying to live happily, work hard and help others regardless of what religion they belong to. God, the Creator, is highly respected and one is supposed to set apart daily time for reflection on God and his name. There is more to it, but I think this is enough to explain the willingness to not only believe in God but to live in a way that might suit God also.

I think a lot of people in the western world today are seeking for something more than to live in a superficial way and try to pick a view of life that they find attractive. Some chose this religion, others that religion. By that way they stop to reflect about Christendom and cling to the new path they have chosen."The grass is always greener on the other side." Or is it really?

Just as the Sikhs I also respect people of all religions, but I'm a catholic. According to the catholic faith God has created us all human beings in His image and given us a free will. So we are to respect the Muslims, the Jews, the Sikhs, the Hindus, the Buddhists and more ... as human beings that have the same needs as ourselves (because they are created by God).

I have deep respect for the rituals in other religions (because it shows the love they have for God the way they know him), the Ramadan of the Muslims (and the Id), the Rosh Hashanah (New Year celebration) ten days before Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) of the Jews , the «Obon» practiced as a Japanese Buddhist-Confucian custom to remember and feel united to their dead ones ... and much more, but I am not a part of these religions. To respect someones religious customs is not the same as to believe in them. One can even share a meal with people of other religions on their festivals if one has a friend or two who belong(-s) to this or that none-Christian religion, as a way of showing respect for the friend's religious belonging. In such cases, however, your friend(-)s have to know that you are Catholic (Christian) in your services to God. If your faith is week, don't go! Cooperation between members of different religions is important to create world peace.

To mix religions on the other hand (the one faith is just as good as the other) might be dangerous, because the message of the savior, Jesus Christ, might be lost in all the adjustments!

CCC 842 – 843 proclaims «The Church's bond with non-Christian religions is in the first place the common origin and end of the human race: All nations form but one community. This is so because all stem from the one stock which God created to people the entire earth, and also because all share a common destiny, namely God. His providence, evident goodness, and saving designs extend to all against the day when the elect are gathered together in the holy city. 843 - The Catholic Church recognizes in other religions that search, among shadows and images, for the God who is unknown yet near since he gives life and breath and all things and wants all men to be saved. Thus, the Church considers all goodness and truth found in these religions as "a preparation for the Gospel and given by him who enlightens all men that they may at length have life.»

This doesn't mean that you are free to chose whatever religion you want if you already are baptized or have known enough about Jesus to understand who He is. CCC 848 says: (...) «Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church. He himself explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and Baptism, and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through Baptism as through a door. Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it». It continues in CCC 849: « This affirmation is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ and his Church (...).»

Of course if you are a doubting or fallen away Catholic, you are free to reject God as Catholics see Him, but if so, your choice will have consequences for you if you have not repented before you die.

When it comes to the people of other religions, it is not up to us to judge who understands the Gospel or not and who forsakes it for belonging to a fellowship in an other religion. Only God knows. In my thoughts it seems as a solution to this «problem» that God shows Himself to those from other religions in the moment they die, if they sought Him at earth, but never found Him fully. They will then have the free will to say the necessary yes or no ....

With that said, nobody can of course guarantee others a path to heaven. Only God know their true hearts!

In blogpost # 11 I will talk about what is so special about the Catholic faith that it would be wise to continue to stick to it or to come back to it.






onsdag 15. august 2012

# 9 – The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Today, the 15. of August, is the day for celebration of the assumption of our Blessed Virgin Mary, the one who said yes to be the mother of God (the second person of the triune God).

If you have forgotten how to pray the Rosary, may be this is the day to try again? It's enough with one decade if you feel for it. God is merciful and patient. He never force you to go quicker than you want to!

Just in case (but please remember you don't have too):








# 8 – What is the most beautiful about you?

We have had two inputs about the devil an how dangerous he is. I hope you did understand that I did not want  scare you. The devil is only dangerous to those who deny him. It is them that it is most easy to lead away form God. He is very silent when they declare their none-belief in God and happiness without God. There is no more need to to disturb them. If they, however, in some way or other start thinking about that perhaps it was wrong to leave God, he will throw out his poisoned arrows again. Many get hit by the first arrows and pack down their «childish thoughts about an almighty God» and Satan can leave them to intensify his attack on somebody else. Others are not so easy to attack. They want to think it all over again and in that process they don't want to let themselves be disturbed by a lot of contradicting thoughts.

I think that we ought to know that we are not so rational as we like to believe. If the supernatural world exists as I do believe, than one ought to be aware that one's doubt can be continued and made bigger and more intense by the devil.

No one can say that the devil made them do this or that, because he has no power to force you! You and you alone have to be responsible for what you decide.

It is wise to be aware of ones weak points, because it is trough them the devil will attack, but never forget to be aware of your good sides/good talents.

What beautiful, wonderful, lovable traits do you have that the devil wants to destroy? May be it's time to write a list of all your good traits and think about how you will protect these valuable treasures in yourself ..., and please don't forget that you have your own good guardian angel, only for you to protect you. He is God's gift to you!


+Dear Angel, in His goodness
God gave you to me to guide, protect, and enlighten me,
and to bring me back to the right way when I go astray.

Encourage me when I am disheartened,
and instruct me when I err in judgment.

Help me to become more Christlike,
and so some day to be accepted
into the company of Angels and Saints in heaven. + Amen.



tirsdag 14. august 2012

# 7 – Our daily struggle with Satan.

Yes, you are reading right. The heading says daily struggle! The title is from a book written by Rev. Livio Fanzaga. The full title is: «The Deceiver – Our Daily Struggle With Satan». The picture I have photographed is from  the cover of the book.

I had been catholic for a couple of years when I stumbled upon the book in a catholic online bookstore. The word «daily» made me curious and I bought it. I received it in my post box at a day when I was going to a party with other Catholics who were in the same Bible study as me. Since I always seem to  get some sort of problems with my concentration if there are too many hours between meals, I always eat something light before going out. So I did that day too! I ran from the post box to my home and put on the stove to heat a little meal. I was curious about the book and unpacked it immediately in front of the stove in the kitchen. It caught my attention so completely that I forgot the stove. Suddenly, as if it was taken out of a fictional movie, there came smoke out of the stove and it passed right beside my book avout the devil and hit me in my face. Guess who was quick to turn the stove off?

Later on that evening, I told the person sitting next to me at the table at the party, about the book and the episode about the stove and the smoke. He seemed a little bit scared and didn't seem interested to hear about the devil. Who wants too, at a party ...? Still I have never forgotten that he seemed a little scared before we changed the topic to speak about.

I wonder if all the jokes we can hear about the devil, is because deep inside people are afraid of the big demon. May be they feel better if they pretend that he is a joke?

If so, they are wrong! Father Fanzaga tells in his book that nothing suits the devil better than that people try to tell themselves that he doesn't exist. This is because the more people think that the devil is of no danger to them, the more easy it is to deceive them. Let us look at a common example wich I know happens to some people: If a person goes out with some business-partners, get too much to drink and have forgotten the idea about the temptations of the devil, than he will be much more easy to deceive into being unfaithful to his wife than if he in his despair remember the fallen angel.

May be you wonder if I have bought Father Fanzaga's ideas to easy? If a man (or woman) deceives the one he (she) is married to, doesn't that come from himself? Why does he need the devil to do evil? Yes, you are right. He (she) doesn't need the devil to deceive him (her). He (she) is capable to do evil on his own.

Let me try to explain where the devil fits in. If a person is living as a Christian who take his (her) faith seriously, that person will be aware of his (her) inner weaknesses and try to protect himself (herself ) against these weak sides. In the case about the business dinner the person who feels that he is drunk, will stop drinking immediately and say no to all sort of temptations if he is aware of the existence of the devil. He will know that now that he has become drunk by an accident he has to guard himself. Maybe he folds his hands beneath the table and asks for Gods protection.

When I talk about temptation, I think of all kind of sins, not only sexual sins. The example above is just an example for illustration. As soon as the person starts to practice his (her) faith with lesser intensity, some of his (her) inner defense will fall. Let us imagine that a person likes to sleep so long that he (she) will miss Sunday Mass if he (she) doesn't force himself (herself) to get out of bed. Some day the person says: «I'm too tired today. To miss Mass only once cannot be such a big failure». He (she) stays in bed and miss the grace of the Eucharist. Afterward the person regrets and wants to go to confession, but in some way manage to forget that. The Sunday thereafter the same happens and the next and the next. The will to chose between good and evil is weakened. The person stops to go to Mass and tell his (her) family that he (she) loves God, but God is everywhere so why bother to get out of bed when he (she) can have a much needed rest instead. It is Sunday and he (she) rests in bed. No offense is done he (she) tells himself (herself).

This about missing Mass for no valid reason (being sick, have to stay home with sick children/parents etc) is just an example. For some people the Mass becomes a habit that one doesn't think about other times in the week. It is something one do out of habit and not because of a hunger to meet Jesus in the Eucharist. Only one hour with a habitual meeting with God  without thinking so much about what is really happening ... During the week there are no prayers, no reading in the Bible, no thoughts about God ... That person is just as much at deep water as the person who never goes to Mass.

May be you are curious about where the devil comes in, how I explain it? After all, everything I have said so far can be explained through the psychological learning theories. There is no need to drag the devil into it to explain it. Yes, I agree with that if we presume that there exists no supernatural world. If we, however, are willing to accept the doctrine that there is a supernatural world that we cannot see, then there is a place for the devil in our understanding of the total reality. After all we say in the creed: «I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all that is, seen and unseen

In his book Father Fanzaga explains that the devil's pattern after his fall has been the same as we have read about in the Genesis in the Bible. Satan twists things around for Eve. He asks his questions in such a way that Eve starts to doubt what God really said. After starting to doubt she suddenly experience the lust to taste the fruit. It's no accident that the devil is portrayed as a snake in the Bible. A snake lurks around his prey until he find the best moment to suddenly bite.

That's how the devil use our weaknesses to deceive us in the moments we are most weak and not prepared to be in a battle with evil forces. According to Father Fanzaga that will also happen at our deathbed. We have to be prepared for the last battle also if it comes. I know about people that died smiling, safe and in the belief that Jesus was around the next corner.

Whenever we lower our inner defense against the devil, the more easy we become his prey. I'm not talking about possession. One don't have to be possessed to get tricked by the devil. One only has to lower ones inner defense. 

I'm not talking about the sins that we seem to not gain control over and confess again and again and again. Our willingness to go to confession is the proof that we don't want to be a slave of this or that sin. God is always merciful to the sinner that never stops to repent, who always is willing to receive His grace and mercy. This is one of the «things» we mean when we talk about free will. We might fall into sin, but we are free to chose to go where we know that we will receive the mercy of God. We are also free to decide if we don't want that mercy. If the devil had hands, he would have clapped them when he saw us decide to not receive God's mercy, - when he saw us decide to slip away from God, just one tiny bit at a time. According to Father Fanzaga the devil's aim is to draw us away from God, so that we will chose the same destiny as himself, to be outside of God's mercy. In that way he thinks he is hurting God who lose so many of his loved ones to this traitor and deceiver.

How do we get outside of God's mercy? By hardening our hearts and make decisions that are not good according to the will of God. (See the ten commandments and the commandment about loving one's neighbor as oneself).

God is willing to be merciful toward us as long as we are on this side of life (that means in our bodies before body and spirit departs when we die). God doesn't force us to accept his mercy. We have to be willing to receive it. The more we harden our hearts, the less willing we will become.

The lesson is to understand that to believe in God as a catholic is that we take the whole packet about the Church's teachings, not only parts of it.

To me it has been a blessing (as I have already told in blog-post #6) that I found the book written about the devils techniques that Father Fanzaga once wrote. And so it will be to you if you take the time to read and to try to really understand what is in that book or a similar one.

When we know the deceiver's techniques, it's more easy to remember to put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-19); prayers, holy water, crucifix, read in the Bible, use 20 minutes daily to pray the Rosary (Virgin Mary is one of the devils worst enemies because she said yes to let God share in her flesh).

One of the most interesting topics in the book is about how the devil can use people to destroy other people. Let's say that a person you like has a trait that is difficult to live with for you. Since there is so much about the person you like, you do the best to overlook the trait you could have been without in the other person. One day, however, you feel that now the person shows too much of that trait that you don't like. Suddenly you find yourself talking behind back about that person and as a coincidence the person you are talking to feel it the same way. Both of you start to demonstrate your irritation (without a word when the other person is around so he (she) feels it and starts to feel unsure). As if that isn't enough, one of you, or both, start(s) being hen(s) that loose your feathers here and there ..., like poisoned bombs you don't have to take responsibility for.

Father Fanzaga says that when a group, a family, a school class who were at peace with each other suddenly starts being angry at each other, there is one or more people in the group that the devil wants to destroy. It could be wise to stop up and think about what is so important about this group that the devil wants to destroy it? Is it worth to give in to the devils temptation to try to break down the once really well functioning group? Since family is one of the most important pillars in the society, how much wouldn't it «gladden the devils heart» to see it destroyed? Think about it.

I highly recommend Father Fanzaga's book about the deceiver and our daily struggles with him. I think it's out of print now, but that it still can be bought used by some book sellers online. If you cannot find it, I would advice you to seek for a book about the same topic in a catholic bookstore. It's well worth to learn about the strategies of the evil one, how to recognize him and how to protect oneself when temptation comes. Remember he can do nothing to you when you fight him with God at your side. God has already thrown him out if Heaven. For you God is preparing a place in Heaven if you want to have that place.

Remember Satan and his demons have no power to place thoughts or desires in your mind that weren't there from before. What he might do, however, is to "help you" to use your bad traits (sinful sides) more and more: "Did God really say that? The Bible is about 2000 years old, so everything in it cannot be valid today .... ".

Please remember that it is not necessary to  go around thinking about the devil all day long! If you do that I presume that it will not take long before you have turned yourself into a paranoid type. It is important to have the knowledge about him stored in your memory for use when you need it (when you feel that you are about to give into temptation), but not to use too much of  the time God has given you to fear the fallen angel. God should be your center, not the devil.

Back to the reason that perhaps keeps you reading here. I'm sure you didn't expect to find stuff about the fallen angel and his demons. Well, as said in former writings, I believe that people who are doubting and curious enough to try to find out if their doubt is valid, will not give up reading ...The same goes for them who want to help others to not fall away from Church.

In my next inputs, I will try to say some words about the the questions I recommended you to write down your personal answers to.


# 6 – Shall we jump into it?

In my last post I promised to come back and tell you how it has helped me to take the devil seriously. You might wonder why someone can benefit from the knowledge of such a ridiculous figure? Well he might seem to be ridiculous, but that doesn't mean that he isn't dangerous. What is the most dangerous point is to act as he doesn't exist, because that is exactly what he wants. Do you really believe that Eve would have eaten of the forbidden fruit if she knew who he was when he tempted her?

I don't believe that!

Before I say anything more, let us take a quick look upon the Church's teaching: God created the angels before he created humans. As I hope you know they were created pure spirits without bodies. They were created with a level of intelligence that is much higher than ours. Since they don't have a body, they cannot speak to each other the same way as we do (no tongue, no muscles in the trout, no mouth, no lips). When they want to speak they just think it and their utterance is received by the others. There is a hierarchy of angels.

One day one of the most beautiful angels, high in rank, refused to be obedient to God. They were put to some sort of a test. Some say that God had informed the angels about His plan to create man whom the angels in some ways were to serve as messengers. The angel that had the high rank, did not want to serve either God nor human. His sin was pride and envy. A sin that also is to be found often in humans.

One doesn't rebel against God, the Creator, unpunished. Satan, as his name came to be, was thrown out of Heaven at once. As we know: Humans will be given many more chances when failing while being tested. A human being that has fallen can, by the the ministry of the Church Jesus Christ instituted, be forgiven and reconciled to God in the confessional. The highly intelligent angels, however, had only one chance! When they refused to obey it was OUT of Heaven for Satan and his demons (his followers among the angels). There is no place for sin in Heaven. With their choice they became evil, at once, and was no longer good as they were created to be from the beginning. Luckily all the angels did not made the evil choice. The archangel Michael and all the angels that chose to be original good as they were created to be, started at once to fight for the good case, Gods Kingdom. «And there was a great battle in heaven, Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels» (Rev 12:7).

This war among the evil and good angels is still going on and will not end until the last day of the earth the way we know it. «And I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth was gone, and the sea is now no more» (Rev 21:1).

To deny that this war between good and evil is going on, is like trying to hide under the bed when there is a fire in the house and believe that nothing will happen to you if you only lie still under the bed.

How can I say that? I have referred to the Church's teaching about that there broke out a war in Heaven (CCC 391 – 395). The Church has never taken back the teachings about the devil and never will do so, even if many people these days act as if they have never heard about these teachings.

Back to me: How could it happen that I came to see the Church's teachings about Satan and his demons as a jewel given to me? In short; if you and me are to go out in a big forest and there are some animals who could be expected to attack us, we would surely be glad to have a map of were these dangerous animals are expected to be found and some guidance about how to behave if we in spite of trying to avoid the most dangerous places still meet them.

The Church's teaching about these matters is that map and that guidance! Sometimes I wonder if I would ever have parked God for some years in my life, if I had been taught properly about how the evil spirits work. Luckily. Now I know and that is exactly what I want you to know too! Knowledge may sometimes be seen as jewels!

When I was a little child I remember that I thought of the devil like a person in black ready to snatch me into hell if he caught me. Since I was safe with mom and dad the most of the year or with my grandparents, uncles and ants in the summertime, he didn't seem so very dangerous to me. All my knowledge about him I had from other children, not from the grown ups. As far as I can remember, later on when we were taught more about Christendom in school, I think I saw the devil as a distant person far away that perhaps would try to snatch me away from God at my deathbed 80 years into the future. In daily life he was no real danger. Well I was wrong about that. Satan is a daily danger to us! I was right about the danger at the deathbed, however. He will be there ... Be sure of that!

I will try to explain in my next input how that can be.

Until then, be well!

fredag 10. august 2012

# 5 - Why bother spending time on you?





Well here we are, you and me, you reading, me writing. So why are we doing this? I suppose you have your private reasons. But me, why am I at the computer instead of using my time on other things. I could have gone to the theater, a cinema, go out swimming or whatever ... Instead I'm here... Why? Well, I have thought of it for a long time that the Western world are in so many ways opposed to God, that it probably will be more and more difficult for people growing up these days to not be tempted to give up their faith or to reduce it to something far from what it really is, mix their own religion etc. Catechesis might vary from church to church all over the world, so it might also happen that you don't know your faith. What one doesn't know well, is not difficult to leave.


I think that's the devils influence upon people in the world is increasing. I will not talk about this fallen angel, yet, only remind you, for the moment, that he is not the joke that so many people think he is. (See about the Church's teaching in CCC 391 – 395). Later on I will come back and tell you how it has helped me to take seriously this creature who chose to turn into a monster. Yes, you are reading right: It has helped me to learn more about the devil than to do as many do: They act as this fallen creature doesn't exist.

Back to why I'm writing: It's not to point my finger at you and say «do this and do that». I don't think that works anyway. But in my professional life I have met all kinds of people, also young people, varying from feeling sad because their boy- or girlfriend had left them to people who wanted to learn to stop to do criminal acts. From the youth and young adults I have learned that they love honesty and that they don't need the rough things packed into soft paper.

It was an American priest who worked in my home-church some years ago that recommended me to start bogging. This priest knew me very well, knew my values and so on and also that I liked to write.

At first I didn't respond to his specific suggestion. To write a book seemed far more to prefer.

At the Sunday the 10. of June, this year, we had the Corpus Christi procession in my hometown. Afterward some of us went to a restaurant to have dinner. At the dinner table I mentioned for the first time my plans about the book I wanted to write. The same afternoon, we got the sad message that a beloved Norwegian priest, Father Arnfinn Haram, had died suddenly. Father Arnfinn was really good to preach faith and now he was gone on this beautiful day were catholic churches in some of the Norwegian cities had «marched» in a long procession after The Holy Eucharist in the Monstrance. To do that in Norway who is the land of protestants and atheists (more and more atheists every year) is very special! Father Arnfinn's death was a shock ... When it had sunk in, it was clear to me that if I wanted to write the book, I would have to do it soon, because I could never know when my day would come. It could be in 30 years, but it could also be to morrow ...

My health is not the best, so I wondered when I would have enough energy to write the book. I let it stay in my head to mature ...

This summer, I have visited Krakow with my family. As always, when I'm in Krakow, I spent some time in the Church of Virgin Mary to give thanks to God (See my input # 1 in the blog). Home again it suddenly was clear to me what to do; drop the book and start bogging instead, as I first was advised.

So this is what my motivation is about: I feel so much for the young (and for the youth inside the more older people – believe me their youth is there if you are willing to take the time to look for it behind their grown up facades). To spend time helping to clear out «this or that» for people who struggles to find their place in relationship to God in this God opposed world is a pleasure. I might write things that you like and also things that you wished I never talked about. However, I know the strength of the youth and older people who have not closed themselves from their «inner youth or inner child»: If you really want to be helped to not lose faith, you will continue reading!

Thanks, and God bless you for reading!

tirsdag 7. august 2012

# 4 - About me, about you or about God?

?


A little funny «thing» has happened to my blog. It came up in Norwegian with the «Om meg». That means «About me». When I saw the Norwegian expression, I thought that seeking people outside of Norway, wouldn't understand that and I wrote «About me» as a heading for the «Om meg – section». I recently noticed that while doing so every input on my blog is signed as written by «About me». He, he ...., really a big joke, because I, Benthe, want this blog to be about God.

I could change it, couldn't I? I don't want to. Why? Well, I'll try to explain: God is, as we say in the Creed, one God in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is not three gods, but one God consisting of three persons in relationship with each other. God is infinite. That means that we cannot set three gods aside of each other and say that here is our God in thee persons. If this could be done than God wouldn't be infinite because infinite means that He is TOTAL. If we have one god + another god + still another, none of them could be infinite. God is infinite, like a family joined tight together! Jesus himself explains it this way: «If you had known me, you would without doubt have known my Father also: and from henceforth you shall know him, and you have seen him» (Jn 14:7).

For a deeper explanation of the relationship between Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the one infinite God, it might be wise to start reading: «Catholic for a Reason: Scripture and the Mystery of the Family of God» by Scott Hahn and Leon J. Suprenant.

The infinite God in three persons is the perfect example of perfect united self-giving relationship.

I suppose that you are reading this blog either because you are looking for some advice to a person that is about to fall away from the catholic faith, - because you yourself is at the border of falling away or perhaps you already have fallen away, but feel some strange longing for something that you cannot define, - or may be you are not satisfied with your place in a protestant church ...

Here comes the little blunder about the posts signed «About me» into the picture. To find God and to develop a close relationship to Him, is about us. Of course it's about Gods grace, Gods invitation, but it all end up with if we are willing to give a total YES to the invitation to be in relationship with God or not. If we say "yes", our relationship whit Him will not be perfect because we are not perfect. Only God is perfect, but our YES will be the beginning of a relationship that one day will  lead us to the gate of Heaven and will end in Perfect Holiness, if we are willing to stay in the relationship with God whatever happen to us.

Next time you find a text written by «About me», please don't think about Benthe, but upon yourself.

Ask yourself questions about what is it about me that is either holding me back or helping me to a closer relationship with God?

Such a question is the most appropriate question you can ask because it places the responsibility were it ought to be: at you! Only you can use the will that God has given you to chose Him or something or somebody else...

PS. 17. of August 2012, I have decided to use my name, Benthe, intead of the "About me", as you probably have noticed already. It became too difficult for the readers with the "About me" only. Have to make it easy for the readers you know. DS.

 



mandag 6. august 2012

# 3 - What is your problem with faith?





I don't know you. You can be my neighbor next door, - sit in an American home, - sit at the street begging in Spain, - sit at a luxurious restaurant in Germany or preparing for a pub in Ireland, ... You might be 16, 19, 28, 48, 50 or older. You might belong to those who are touched by the big economic crises in some parts of the western world (or elsewhere) or you may have so much work to do that you don't know how to overcome it all.


It's not so important were you are or what you are. What is really important is why you eventually doubt in God. Here are some questions for you:

  1. Is it difficult to believe because there are so many religions and you don't know what to believe anymore?
  2. Is it because others have pointed out to you that they don't like the «cruel god» in the OT?
  3. Is it because you feel ashamed of being a believer among atheists (No valid proof)?
  4. Is it because of all the scandals in the Church that have been uncovered in the last years?
  5. Do you feel that the Bible is outdated and was written for people of another time?
  6. You don't believe in authority?
  7. Are you angry at God because He took something from you (your friend, your job or something else)?
  8. Private reasons? 

These questions are only some of all the questions people who have a period of doubting ask themselves. The most important is that you are very clear about why you are doubting. Write it down so you don't lose your own points. What everybody else think is not important here. It's your eventually problems with the faith that is important to you!

When you have written it down, please try to think about what has changed since you were a strong believer as a child (if you were that. It might also happen that nobody thought you to believe and that your problem is if it's worth trying to believe in God).

Are you a closet catholic?

I'm not here to tell you what to do. I only want to help you to find safe ground under your feet if you are in a state of «long-doubting».That's why I suggest that you invest in some work with writing points down and to try to remember how it was before your faith was covered with clouds.



# 2 - «Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven» (Mt 18:3).









This is a picture of me and my little brother, taken when I was 7 ½ years old. (I use a picture of myself because I don't want to «steal» someone else's). At that time I trusted God completely. I prayed every day. In the schoolyard I had found a quiet place were it was possible to pray undisturbed. I used that little prayer corner often. I also told some close friends of mine about it, so they could use it also. So natural, without shyness ... God was God!

Now I want you to find a picture of yourself from a period when you were a child and had no doubt about Him. If you don't have one, please try to create a mental imagery of yourself as a child who loved God. How did it feel to love God by all your heart?

Think about it!


(This blogpost was meant for those who have fallen away or who have come into a period of doubting. If you never was thought to believe you can still think back trying to remember some episodes in your life with complete trust in someone. It is how it feels to trust I want you to reflect on, not on good or bad consequences of your trust).



onsdag 1. august 2012

# 1 - God's ways can be mysterious.





This picture shows the Church of Virgin Mary in Krakow, Poland. I'm showing you this because 12 years ago something happened to me in this Church. I was on a bus trip around to different places in Poland. Among other we visited the concentration camp, Auswitz, outside of Krakow. In this camp many people, especially Jews, were gassed to death at WWII. As you probably understand, I didn't feel very well after the visit to the camp were so many children and adults had been murdered and were Dr. Mengele had tried out his horrific experiments on children.

In despair I left my travel company and went right to the Church of Virgin Mary in Krakow. I was still a protestant and only wanted to pray. I didn't know that I had placed myself right in front of the Tabernacle. There in front of what I didn't know what was, I suddenly experienced feelings of calmness and I felt comforted, like as some day there would be hope and no more terror. The cruel sides of people wouldn’t last forever. After a while I left the Church and joined the others for dinner.

Some years later, then a catholic, I got a strange feeling about that God wanted to show me something in the Church of Virgin Mary in Krakow. I bought a ticket for a plane and off I went some weeks later. Guess what happened? As a catholic I recognized the red lamp that signalized the presence of Christ in the Tabernacle right in front of were I had felt so comforted after visiting the concentration camp. I had been close to Christ in the Eucharist without knowing it while the peace fell upon me on that terrible day.

So this was God's message to me: God is with us in whatever situation we happen to be. I was extra happy to participate in the Eucharistic meal that day and very grateful because God had called me home to the Roman Catholic Church!

God's roads are really mysterious, aren't they?

(I will not have time to write regularly, so please show patience while you wait for the next blog-post. Look back now and then).