My Thoughts on Fiducia Supplicans

 Everyone is talking about it.  So here is the video I've made on the new Vatican document on blessings.

Under the Mission?

The New Testament presents us with many teachings which are difficult to accept.  Among the most difficult in our era pertains to the relationship between husbands and wives. There are four places [Col 3:18, Eph 5:22, Titus 2:5, 1Pet 3:1-6] where the New Testament states that a wife should be in submission to her husband. 

Today I wanted to look at a way folks try to obscure the difficulty of this teaching and why it doesn't work.

Re-Reading James 2:18

I was recently preparing to lead my students through James 2.  I was going through it sentence-by-sentence when I discovered something confusing in verse 18.  It reads:

"But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith." - James 2:18

Why was this confusing?  And what was the solution?

Paul's Soteriology in Thessalonians

Last evening I thought I'd do a study on both the letters to the Thessalonians.  Specifically, I wanted to see what can be gleaned from those two letters concerning Paul's soteriology.  

There wasn't a lot; only 5 passages.  But those 5 provide an interesting summary which can used as an interpretive key to Paul's larger works.

So let's dive in!

Two Places Where Jesus Talks about Purgatory

It is often said by Protestants that they cannot find Purgatory in the Bible.  It could be retorted that it is harder to see something you're not looking for - even harder when you are opposed to finding it.

The typical passage which Catholic appeal to for a description of Purgatory is 1Corinthians 3:10-15.  But today I want to look at two other passages which come from the mouth of the Lord Himself.

Can There be a Catholic Feminism?

There are many ideologies in the world.  Populism, Libertarianism, Communism, Capitalism, Anarchism, and the list goes on.  Whenever Catholics encounter one, we inevitably ask if there can be a Catholic version of it.  And so it goes with Feminism.

Today I want to ask the question... can there be a Catholic Feminism?

Silly Animal Benedictions

I'm a member of an ecumenical men's group.  Every now and again one of the men sends out a text message with a prayer to encourage us.  I like to respond with a silly benediction of my own.  Namely, I like to invent benedictions based on the silly animal stories in the Bible.  

Today I'd like to share four which I've come up with.  So let's get a mooooooove on.

Why Did the Romans 6 Question Come Up?

Years ago I made a [post] about why the Council of Trent had to reject Luther's doctrine of Faith Alone.  The issue had nothing to do with the role of "works".  But rather, a flawed concept of what was entailed in a "saving faith".  

In short, Luther's concept of "saving faith" sounds just fine until you ask the question:  

What happens if a man lives a life of grave sin - with no intention to change - but still believes firmly that Jesus is the divine savior who forgives our sins?  Is that man still saved?

While our intuitions say he shouldn't be, a close examination of the Lutheran definition of "saving faith" says otherwise.  Going by their definition, it is impossible to explain how that hypothetical fella is any less saved than Saint Stephen.  

That's the real issue.  The Protestant concept of "faith alone" (defined as it is) provides no barrier against this libertine attitude... and almost points us toward it.

I presented that thesis to an acquaintance - a Baptist pastor - and he had an interesting reply.  It went like this:

"Well, maybe that means Luther was on the right track.  Maybe the true Gospel DOES kinda tempt one toward that attitude.  Why else would Paul feel the need to say:

'Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound?  By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it?' (Romans 6:1-2) 

Why would Paul feel the need to stipulate that?  Maybe it is because his Gospel matches Luther's, but he doesn't want people to take that road."

That is what I'd like to look at today.  Why did Paul feel the need to say that?

Grace as Power for Vocation

I've been working on some Biblical projects lately.  One of these has made me look up some of the ways the word "grace" is used in the New Testament epistles. Specifically, I was looking for instances which jive with the Catholic notion of a "habitual grace".  

The Catechism (CCC 2000) defines "Habitual grace" as a permanent disposition to live and act in keeping with God's call.  As with all things called "grace", this is a gift from God.  It inheres within you, and enables you to live out your vocation.

Let's take a look.