The Gospel in a Nutshell

Jesus came to earth as the second Adam. By placing Himself under limitations, He modeled God’s original intent for Adam. Jesus, the Son of Man, would have complete faith in the Father and the Holy Spirit. The power of Jesus’ life and ministry rested upon His faith in the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus did not come to earth with His own agenda; He came to fulfill the will of the Father.

  God would display everything He desired for humanity through the life and ministry of Jesus. The Bible leaves us a clear record. Jesus, as the second Adam, lived and fultilled all God had planned for the first Adam. Jesus lived a completely sinless life. Completely governed by the voice of God, he overcame every temptation of the devil. He was a living and breathing expression of the Father’s heart to humanity. He came preaching and demonstrating the Good News.

  Jesus healed all manner of sickness and disease because it was never God’s intention for those evils to be part of man’s existence in the first place. God’s passion to redeem humanity and the earth consumed Jesus; this was His divine mission. As the second Adam, He succeeded in reestablishing God’s original plan so we could be free in Him. Preaching and demonstrating the Kingdom of God were essential to Jesus’ mission, but God’s plan could not find fulfillment without His death and resurrection. Only through this divine purpose could God’s full desire for humanity be realized.

  For humanity to become born again, God Himself would give them the key that would unlock the door into a new identity and a new way of living. He used this new way of living as a reintroduction of what He desired at the beginning of time:  a people who lived as citizens of His Kingdom, representing His interests in the earth. Jesus taught, modeled and fully demonstrated this kingdom (God’s rule and reign) in His life on earth.

  God’s revelation of Himself underlies our faith in Him. A believer and citizen of the Kingdom of God is one who responds by faith to God through trusting God’s revelation of Himself found in Scripture as the basis of his or her existence. Jesus revealed Himself to all humanity as the way, the truth and the life. God’s love, His standards and all His attributes are found in His Word and in the person of Jesus Christ.

  When the Good News of the gospel is presented, individuals receive a choice between life and death. Adam and Eve also received a choice, and God continues to honor people’s choices today. He entrusts us all with a measure of faith in the gospel message, and He gives each of us the ability to respond to Him. But we must decide to say yes.

  God gave humanity the gift of faith to release His ability to work on our behalf. We can only receive faith through surrender and trust.

  St. Paul writes:   “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”  Ephesians 2:8 

Who's Raising the Children?

 

The culture of the family in the United States has been changing dramatically since the Second World War. Before that time, in families, the father was considered the one who worked to support the family. The mother’s job was to care for the home and the children. It was a system established since families began and was based on the fact that women carried and gave birth to the children. Because of their physical and psychological design they were better suited for the tasks of nurturing the young and all the tasks that go into maintaining a home and family. Men, because of their physical and psychological design, were better suited to working to provide for their home and family. There were, of course, exceptions to this design all throughout history, often by necessity; but the pattern remained for the general populace. 

  During the Second World War many American women went to work to take the places of the men who were fighting overseas. Those who were not pregnant or nursing made arrangements for grandparents or other family members to care for their homes and children. When the war was over, the men who returned went back to their jobs and most of the women returned to their work in the home and raising their children. 

  But there were some who decided they liked working outside the home. Because of many socio-economic factors some women stayed in the workforce. There are advantages and disadvantages of working outside the home, just as there are advantages and disadvantages of working in the home. Just as some men think it’s easier to manage a household and raise children, some women began to think it was easier to work outside the home (the grass is always greener on the other side). 

  Then came the modern feminist movement. Although the feminist movement began in the mid-19 century, the most radical feminist movement began in 1963. This was when the work of managing a household and raising children began to be belittled. Having a career and working outside the home were considered the better, less demeaning, choice. Women were told that they could do it all—marry, have a home and family and a career as well. It was as if all the work that women have done throughout the centuries was worthless. Only that work done outside the home had worth. That was the beginning of the breakdown of the family. And as the title of this says, “Who’s raising the children?”  For children don’t raise themselves; someone has to do it. 

  The answer was of course--the government. That was the beginning of the diabolical plan to keep children away from the influence of their parents as much as possible. What began with grandparents or aunts caring for the children graduated to other women caring for them in their homes then to daycare centers which parents paid to care for their children.  Currently the plan is to provide free state-sponsored daycare to make it even easier for both parents to go out to work. 

  Children are molded and shaped by those with whom they spend the most time. Strong, lasting families are not formed between the hours of six and eight PM and on weekends and holidays. They are formed by the daily day to day presence of loving parents—teaching them, loving them, being there for them; forming and molding them into good people with good values and morals. 

  If children are raised primarily by schools, day-care centers or non-family members, they will be formed by the values, morals and worldview of those who are caring for them. Also, no one loves a child as fully and unconditionally as his or her parents. 

  This is not meant to cause guilt to divorced or single parents who have no choice but to have others care for their children. Every situation in life is not ideal. It’s written to help the reader be aware of the plan underlying the path our culture has been led on in the past 70 or so years. It’s also written to cause the reader to understand clearly the ramifications to children and the welfare of the family of the choices made in life, and in society as a whole.

Using the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

 The gifts of the Spirit

  are like tools in a toolshed.

If you don't know they are there,

  you can't use them.

If you know they are there

  but don't know how to use them

They are of no value to you

  or anyone else.

See Isaiah 11:2-3, Romans 12:4-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 for a listing of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus - The Good Shepherd

 

I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand … catches sight of the wolf coming and runs away, leaving the sheep to be snatched and scattered by the wolf…. I know my sheep and my sheep know me in the same way that the Father knows me and I know my Father; for these sheep I will give my life.  John 10:11-12, 14-15

In biblical times, shepherding was often delegated to the youngest child, who had to lead the sheep to food and water, name and count them, separate them, find them when they strayed, help them with difficult deliveries, and protect them from predators. Jesus says He is the Good Shepherd. He not only gave His life for us, but He continues to shepherd us today.

A shepherd was responsible for keeping his sheep safe; not just from predators, but from wandering off or getting lost. During the day, the sheep grazed in the pastures. But when nightfall came, the sheep were gathered into a pen, if available; or if not, into a tight gathering with the other sheep. Jesus allows us the freewill to go out into the world, but is always looking after us to be sure we don’t go too far or get lost. He instructs us to be a part of a Christian community which keeps us from going astray. It’s the sheep who wanders off by him or herself that is more vulnerable to attack or to getting lost.

The good shepherd leads his sheep to food and water; he cares for their physical needs. Our Good Shepherd provides food for our bodies as well as food for our souls. He provides for all of our needs, as he knows we are mortal as well as spiritual beings.

The good shepherd names and counts his sheep. Our Good Shepherd knows each of us by name; we are never just one face in the crowd. Our name makes us special and individual. He counts each of his sheep, as each one is a valuable part of His flock.

The good shepherd separates his sheep. He pairs the weak with the strong so the strong will look after the weak and help them along. Our Good Shepherd leads us to people and groups who will help us to grow and develop into the person we were meant to be.

The good shepherd goes after every stray sheep and leads them back to the flock. Our Good Shepherd pursues us relentlessly if we wander away from His Church or His teachings. He is never very far from any of those who are part of His flock. He does not give up until they return.

The good shepherd helps his sheep with difficult deliveries. Our Good Shepherd helps us in the many and varied tasks we are called to do. He gives us all the gifts we need and the grace to carry out all our work and responsibilities. There is no assignment given to us that He does not equip us to accomplish.

So let us thank Jesus for being our Good Shepherd and remember that He is always watching over us.

On Immigration

 

My grandmother was an unaccompanied minor who came to this country in 1906 on a ship from Poland. She was part of the great influx of immigrants from Eastern Europe who came here at the turn of the century to escape poverty and oppression and seek freedom and a better life.

  Her passage was paid for by relatives. Each immigrant had to have a sponsor in this country who agreed to house and support them until they learned the English language, got a job and were able to support themselves. There was no welfare, no food stamps, and no free health care.

  When they arrived at Ellis Island or another port of entry, they were interrogated and given a health exam. If they were found to be sick or carrying a communicable disease, they were sent back to their home country on the next ship. Those who were admitted had the name and address of their sponsor and were put on trains to the destination of their sponsor.

  So when you hear how valuable the contributions of immigrants to our country have been, remember they are not talking about illegal immigrants who storm our borders and then expect to be taken care of. If you don’t believe me, then you need to visit Ellis Island to see the records and hear their stories.

On Suffering

 I think the Lenten Season is a good time to reflect on the mystery of suffering—ours and Jesus.

  God does not will suffering. He permits it in some cases to achieve a greater good, as we can see in the Passion and death of Jesus Christ. He also promises to bring good out the sufferings of those of us who love Him.

 We know that God makes all things work together for the good of those who have been called according to his decree. Romans 8:28

 Throughout Christian history there have always been those who thought suffering was sent by God to discipline or punish us; or who thought that all suffering was a “cross” we just had to bear. There even have been some (including some saints) who inflicted suffering upon themselves as a sacrifice to God.

Jesus said we all have a cross to carry. “If a man wishes to come after me, he must deny his very self, take up his cross, and begin to follow in my footsteps.”  Matthew 16:24

But let us not carry crosses that God has not ordained. We all have many types of “crosses” that come into our lives, but I don’t think we should always assume that God wants us to carry them all.

  I just heard someone on the radio this week praying for those who suffer from chronic pain. Instead of praying for healing for them, she prayed that they should thank God that they have been called to suffer! I tried to imagine how I would feel if I had chronic pain and someone said that to me. I just don’t think that’s would Jesus would say.

  For instance—regarding mental or physical healing, I have not found one place in the New Testament where someone came to Jesus in faith asking for healing and Jesus said “No; you must carry this cross.”

   There may be times we are called by God to suffer for a particular reason, as was Jesus. This can only be discerned through prayer as Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemani. Even Jesus asked to be spared from suffering if it was not God’s Will. (Luke 22:41-42)

  We must always remember that accidents, illnesses and injuries can be an attack of the devil to block or keep us from doing God’s Will. That’s why we must always first pray against any evil influence and then pray for healing. Only then, sometimes, after we have suffered our “Agony in the Garden” can we discern that we have been asked to accept a “cup of suffering” as Jesus did for a greater good.

   For me and my family, my daily prayer is, “Lord, please protect me and my family from all suffering, except that which is necessary for our lives or for the lives of others.”  In other words, I pray that God would remove all suffering from our lives that does not help us to grow in holiness or does not help others in some way.

A Call to Prayer

 

  I recently felt that the Holy Spirit was saying,

   “In this time of darkness, you who love Me, you who follow Me; pray for my children who live in darkness.  As the evil in this world increases, your prayers for the world must increase.”

 And then several areas that especially need prayer came to me.

   Pray that many will come to repentance for their sins.

  Pray more fervently for my children who are lost, who are deceived by the spirits of this age.

Pray that the hearts of mothers would be turned to the children growing within them and let them live.

  Pray for deliverance for those who are oppressed by perverse spirits; those with same-sex attraction; those with gender identity problems.

  Pray for an end to the sexual exploitation of children and young adults.

  Pray for young people, that they would see through the lies taught to them and come to know the truth.

  Pray for love and unity in marriages and family life.

  Pray that young people will choose to marry and establish families and not cohabit.

  Pray for conversion throughout the land.

  Pray that people will return to their churches, to worship and praise the God who made them.

 After I wrote them down, I noticed that there were ten intentions, just enough for one decade of the rosary.

And so I invite you to also to pray for these intentions. If you like, you can pray one decade of your daily rosary for them.