HOW GOD DISTRIBUTES HIS GIFTS

Jesus promised He would not leave us orphans - John 14:18 - but would send the Holy Spirit to guide and protect us. - John 15:26 - He gave the sacraments to heal, feed, and strengthen us. The seven sacraments - baptism, the Eucharist, penance (also called reconciliation or confession), confirmation, holy orders, matrimony, and the anointing of the sick - are not just symbols. They are signs that actually convey God's grace and love.

The sacraments were foreshadowed in the Old Testament by things that did not actually convey grace but merely symbolized it (circumcision, for example, prefigured baptism, and the Passover meal prefigured the Eucharist. When Christ came, He did not do away with symbols of God's grace. He super naturalized them, energizing them with grace. He made them more than symbols.

God constantly uses material things to show his love and power. After all, matter is not evil. When He created the physical universe, everything God created was "very good" - Gen.1:31 - He takes such delight in matter that he even dignified it through his own Incarnation. - John 1:14 -

During his earthly ministry Jesus healed, fed, and strengthened people through humble elements such as mud, water, bread, oil, and wine. He could have performed His miracles directly, but He preferred to use material things to bestow His grace.

In His first public miracle Jesus turned water into wine, at the request of his mother, Mary. - John 2:1-11 - He healed a blind man by rubbing mud on his eyes. - John 9:1-7 - He multiplied a few loaves and fish into a meal for thousands. - John 6:5-13 - He changed bread and wine into his own body and blood. - Matt. 26:26-28 - Through the sacraments he continues to heal, feed, and strengthen us.

Baptism (CCC 1213-1284)
Because of original sin, we are born without grace in our souls, so there is no way for us to have fellowship with God. Jesus became man to bring us into union with his Father. He said no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of "water and the Spirit" - John 3:5 - this refer to baptism. Through baptism we are born again, but this time on a spiritual level instead of a physical level. We are washed in the bath of rebirth. - Titus 3:5 - We are baptized into Christ's death and therefore share in his Resurrection. - Rom. 6:3-7 -

Baptism cleanses us of sins and brings the Holy Spirit and His grace into our souls. - Acts 2:38, 22:16 - And the apostle Peter is perhaps the most blunt of all: "Baptism now saves you". - 1Peter 3:21 - Baptism is the gateway into the Universal Church.

Penance-also called reconciliation or confession. (CCC 1422-1498)
Sometimes on our journey toward the heavenly...

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Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -