Holy Week Reflection: It is Finished, Therefore...

A while ago I wrote about something I call a “Swiss Army verse”.  These are verses of Scripture which seem significant, but whose implications are not fully spelled out in the sacred text.  For that reason, it is not uncommon for folks to use those passages to support whatever personal theological fixation they desire.

Today we are going to take a look at another one; John 19:128-30.  It reads:

“After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (to fulfill the scripture), ‘I am thirsty.’  

A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth.  When Jesus had received the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’ Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

What does that phrase mean?  What does it NOT mean?

Holy Week Reflection: Did Judas Receive Communion?

Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians has two sections which affect the way we receive communion today.  One is in the 11th chapter, where Paul warns his readers that receiving communion is a dangerous affair.  He says:

“Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.  Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  For all who eat and drink without discerning the body, eat and drink judgment against themselves.  For this reason many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.” – 1 Corinthians 11:27-30

The other is in the 5th chapter, where Paul chastises them for maintaining fellowship with a man in a public incestuous relationship.  Did they want outsiders to think the Church approved of that kind of nonsense?

This has led the Catholic Church to two conclusions.  First, a person who knows he’s guilty of mortal sin should personally abstain from receiving communion.  This is found in the Code of Canon Law section 916.

“A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the body of the Lord without sacramental confession.”  

The second conclusion is that if a person publicly persists in grave sin, that person should be refused communion.  In other words, it goes beyond a person examining himself and deciding not to receive. folks are obliged to say “no” when such a person presents himself for Communion.  This is found in Canon 915.

“Those who are obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to Holy Communion.”  

One of the most common objections to this practice centers on Judas’ presence at the Last Supper.  It goes like this:

“If Jesus would give Communion to Judas, what right does the Church have to deny it to me?”

That’s what I want to look at today.

Holy Week Reflection: Ecclesiastes and the Cross

As we enter into Holy Week, I wanted to call your attention to one of the strangest books of the Bible: Ecclesiastes.

The book is a lament of the seeming futility of earthly life written by King Solomon. As you read the text, try to imagine Solomon nearing the end of his days, wondering what it was all for.  He purports to bring his vast wisdom to the task of evaluating the ultimate value of worldly things.

Today I wanted to review a couple key passages and ask:

What light can Ecclesiastes shed on Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross?

Examining Three Questions about the Devil

There’s something fascinating about the villains.  People want to know what makes them tick.  So today I wanted to look at three common questions about the Adversary and give my theories.

Why Not Confess Straight to God?

One of the most common questions asked of Catholics concerns the Sacrament of Confession.  It goes like this:

Why do you have to confess your sins to a priest - why can't you go straight to God?

Now, the Catholic Church does hold that you can have your sins forgiven outside the sacrament of Confession.  However, it does teach that the ordinary way which Christ intended to  bestow the forgiveness of sins was through the ministry of the priest.  So it's an objection which is worth answering.

Today I want to give my take on it by examining three assumptions standing behind the question.  Let's dive in.

The Messianic Secret - Jewish vs Gentile Territories

Throughout the Gospels we see Jesus performing various signs to indicate His divine origin and mission.  Yet, confusingly, Jesus often instructed the recipients of these signs to keep their mouths shut about it.

This is called "The Messianic Secret" and it's one of the odder features of Jesus' preaching.  That's what we'll be exploring today.