The Misuse of God’s Name Online: When Faith Becomes a Viral Chain Letter

 

The Misuse of God’s Name Online: When Faith Becomes a Viral Chain Letter

You’ve seen them. Scrolling through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or X, a post suddenly appears:

“Type ‘Amen’ if you believe in God!  

Like if you trust Jesus to answer your prayers!  

Share if God has ever done a miracle in your life!  

If you love God, comment ‘I believe’ or something bad will happen in 7 days…”

These posts often feature dramatic images of Jesus, glowing crosses, or Bible verses. They promise blessings for engagement and subtle (or not-so-subtle) curses for ignoring them. Millions participate. Some out of genuine devotion. Others because they feel a pang of guilt. Many just roll their eyes and keep scrolling.

This is modern-day taking God’s name in vain.

 What “Taking God’s Name in Vain” Actually Means

The Third Commandment (Exodus 20:7) says:  

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.”

Most people think this only means using “God” or “Jesus” as a swear word. But the deeper meaning is misusing God’s name—using it lightly, manipulatively, or for personal gain. In ancient times, a person’s name represented their character and reputation. To invoke God’s name casually or falsely was to treat the holy as common.

Today, social media has turned God’s name into clickbait.

 How These Chain Posts Work

They exploit three powerful human emotions:

1. Guilt – “If you really loved God, you’d share this.”

2. Fear – “Ignore this and watch bad things happen.”

3. Hope – “Like and subscribe and God will bless you with [money, healing, breakthrough].”

These tactics aren’t new. Chain letters have existed for decades, but social media supercharged them. Algorithms reward high engagement, so religious manipulation spreads faster than thoughtful faith content. A heartfelt testimony about God’s grace might get 47 likes. A glowing Jesus image with “Type Amen or lose your blessing” gets 47,000.

The result? Faith gets reduced to performance. Belief becomes a public checkbox rather than a private relationship. Prayer turns into a transactional like-button ritual.

 The Real Damage

- It trivializes genuine faith. When everything is “God this” and “Jesus that” for likes, sacred things lose their weight. Young believers especially can confuse viral Christianity with real discipleship.

- It creates false guilt. Many kind, quiet believers feel condemned for not engaging. They worry they’re disappointing God by refusing to participate in what feels like spiritual spam.

- It misrepresents God. The God of the Bible doesn’t run lotteries or threaten curses based on social media activity. He’s not desperate for algorithm approval.

- It distracts from real issues. While people argue in comment sections about who loves Jesus more, actual needs—orphans, widows, the poor, the lonely—go unaddressed (James 1:27).

Jesus had strong words for religious performance:  

“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” (Matthew 15:8)

 A Better Way

If you want to honor God online, try these instead:

- Share your real testimony without conditions or threats.

- Post Scripture because it’s true and helpful, not because it might go viral.

- Pray for your friends in private rather than demanding public “Amens.”

- Use your platform to point people to Jesus, not to boost your engagement metrics.

- Like and share content that actually builds people up, even when it doesn’t have a glowing Jesus filter.

True faith doesn’t need chain letters to spread. The early church grew through costly love, bold witness, and transformed lives—not guilt trips and fear-based shares.

 Final Thought

Next time you see one of these posts, pause. Ask yourself: Is this drawing me closer to God, or is it just emotional manipulation dressed in religious language?

God doesn’t need your like. He wants your heart.

And He’s not running a celestial giveaway for the most shares.

What do you think? Have you encountered these posts? How do you respond? Drop a respectful comment below—I’d love to hear your thoughts. 

Let’s keep faith real in a very online world.

Louisiana Lighting Law: 10 Commandments in Schools

The Intersection of Education and Law: Louisiana's Ten Commandments Mandate

Louisiana has recently passed a law that has sparked a nationwide conversation on the role of historical documents and religious texts in public education. The new legislation requires that the Ten Commandments be displayed in all public school classrooms across the state, from kindergarten through state-funded universities.

This law has been met with a variety of responses, ranging from support to opposition. Proponents argue that the Ten Commandments are not only religious in nature but also hold historical significance as foundational documents of American law and governance. They believe that such displays can provide moral guidance to students and serve as a reminder of the historical underpinnings of the nation's legal system.

On the other hand, opponents of the law raise concerns about the separation of church and state, a principle enshrined in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Civil liberties groups have announced plans to challenge the law in court, arguing that it violates the constitutional promise that the government should not favor one religion over another or impose religious practices on its citizens.

The debate is not new; it echoes previous legal battles over religious symbols in public spaces. The Supreme Court of the United States has addressed similar issues in the past, balancing the historical significance of religious texts with the constitutional mandates regarding religion and government.

Louisiana's law also authorizes the display of other historical documents, such as the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence, and the Northwest Ordinance, in K-12 public schools. These documents, along with the Ten Commandments, are to be accompanied by a context statement explaining their historical relevance to American public education and governance.

As the law is set to take effect by the start of 2025, with posters funded through donations rather than state funds, the nation watches closely. The outcome of the impending legal challenges could have far-reaching implications for the interpretation of the First Amendment and the presence of religious and historical texts in public education.

The situation in Louisiana serves as a reminder of the ongoing dialogue about the role of religion in public life and the enduring question of how to honor the nation's historical heritage while upholding constitutional values. As this conversation unfolds, it will undoubtedly add to the rich tapestry of American legal and educational discourse.

This new law is tricky. While separation of Church and State is NOT found in the Constitution and derives from a letter by Jefferson to a Baptist minister, this law does seem to present a conflict to the idea.  The US Constitution does state that it cannot endorse an official religion.  However, is the display of the 10 Commandments endorsing any religion?  

Law is based on Judeo-Christian principles and philosophies.  There is no denying this. In fact, many courthouses around the United States have images of the Commandments and even Moses. Are they torn down or presented in lawsuits? The answer is no.  These images are allowed to remain as reminders of the origin of the legal system.  

The display of the Commandments in school is a bit different because normally children do not learn the law in public schools. I took paralegal in high school, but this was a special program at the school at the time.  It is no longer offered today to younger students.  That being stated, is it appropriate to display the Commandments in schools?  Some argue that the laws present a sense of morality to students. However, this is difficult to ascertain due to the fact that not every student subscribes to the Commandments of the faiths behind them, namely Judaism and Christianity.  

What about atheist students or Muslims?  What about Buddhists or Pagans?  This is a big problem in a pluralistic society. Moreover, what if some teachers proselytize students into adopting their faith?  This is what led the Knights of Columbus to sue the school system to stop Bible studies. Catholic students in public schools were being proselytized by being taught Protestant heretical biblical views.  

In any event, the motto of the nation is "In God We Trust" and despite many lawsuits, the courts have defended its use. It does not promote religion or faith in God and the "God" in the words can be any deity an American worships.  So this is why the issue is tricky.  Nevertheless, we cannot deny the importance of the Ten Commandments in a historical sense and how it led to the development of the legal system.  As long as this is the intention for the display in schools, then we do not see any issue. However, if school officials use it to preach their personal theologies to students, then that is a problem. 

: [New law requires all Louisiana public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments](https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/us/new-law-requires-all-louisiana-public-school-classrooms-to-display-the-ten-commandments/ar-BB1owTsA)

: [Trump, late night hosts weigh in on Louisiana putting Ten Commandments in schools](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-late-night-hosts-weigh-in-on-louisiana-putting-ten-commandments-in-schools/ar-BB1oF3V9)

: [Louisiana lawmaker behind Ten Commandments bill is eyeing more culture war wins](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/louisiana-lawmaker-behind-ten-commandments-bill-is-eyeing-more-culture-war-wins/ar-BB1oBwlr)

: [Louisiana law requires the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every public school classroom](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/louisiana-law-requires-ten-commandments-displayed-every-public-school-rcna157949)

Do Catholics Worship Idols/Statues?

Many people wonder why Catholics have statues in their churches and homes, and whether they worship them as idols. The answer is simple: Catholics do not worship statues, but they use them as reminders of the holy persons they represent. Statues are like pictures of our family and friends: they help us remember them and feel closer to them. Statues also inspire us to imitate the virtues of those who followed Christ faithfully.

Human beings need visual cues and overall sensual cues to understand the world around them. This is why as children, humans love to draw, play with blocks, sort out things, touch everything, and so on.  Before humans can learn the alphabet or numbers, they have to see the alphabet and numbers. They have to memorize the shape and structure of the alphabet and numbers. Without this, they will not be able to learn. Similarly, without sounds, the human brain cannot learn how to structure its own organized sound or speech.  All humans are limited by the five senses. This is why images and statues help the human brain process what and who they represent. Many Protestants are under the false impression that statues or images are bad, evil, or idols. This is far from the truth and poor scholarship of Sacred Scripture. 

The Bible does not forbid making statues or images for religious purposes. In fact, God himself commanded the Israelites to make statues of angels for the Ark of the Covenant (Ex 25:18-20) and a bronze serpent for healing (Num 21:8-9). God only forbade the worship of statues or images as gods, which is idolatry. Idolatry is giving to a creature the honor and worship that belongs to God alone. Nothing in Catholic doctrine or teaching requests this or even mentions this as a basic tenet of the faith.

Catholics do not worship statues as gods, but they venerate them as symbols of God and his saints. To venerate means to honor or respect someone or something. Catholics venerate statues by praying before them, kissing them, bowing to them, or lighting candles near them. These gestures are not acts of worship, but expressions of love and reverence. In human societies, some groups use bows, and other gestures to show honor and respect to others.  These are not worship. They are just social customs used to convey respect to others.  Catholics direct their prayers and devotion to God and his saints, not to the statues themselves.

The Catholic Church teaches that "the honor paid to sacred images is a 'respectful veneration,' not the adoration due to God alone" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2132). The Church also teaches that "by becoming incarnate, the Son of God introduced a new 'economy' of images" (CCC, 2131). This means that by taking on a human nature and a visible body, Jesus Christ made it possible for us to depict him in art and to use his image as a way of drawing closer to him.

The same principle applies to the images of Mary and the saints. They are not idols, but icons: windows that open our eyes to the reality of heaven. They show us what it means to be holy and how to follow Christ in different states of life. They also intercede for us before God and help us with their prayers.

Statues in churches serve as reminders. They do not replace God.  They are not idols. God Himself commanded the construction of an image in Exodus 25:10-22.  Not only did God command the construction of the ark with the two golden statues of angels (cherubs), but the people also knelt down and prostrated themselves before it to pray.  Look at Joshua 7:6 "Then Joshua tore his clothes and prostrated himself with his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD until evening, he and elders of Israel; and they cast dust on their heads."  Why would God allow the Hebrews to bow before and prostrate themselves before a box with two gold statues of angels on top if He condemned images in Exodus 20?  Here are some more passages about statues and images used by the Hebrews and commanded by God to be used:

1 Kings 6:25-27: Cherubs are carved onto the walls and ceiling of the temple, indicating the Lord’s devotedness and guidance to His servants.

Ezekiel 10:14: “And each one had four faces. The first face was the face of a cherub, the second face was the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.” 

Exodus 37:7-9: Describes the depiction of cherubim in the Tabernacle.

1 Kings 6:29: “On all the walls around the temple, inside and out, he carved cherubs, palm trees, and flowers in bloom.” 

These passages highlight the artistic representations of cherubim in sacred spaces, including the temple. Cherubim were often carved or depicted as part of the temple’s ornamentation, symbolizing God’s presence and protection.  

The reason is clear; they are not idols and God wanted them.  God allows things that bring attention to Him. Images of God, angels, and saints do not take away from this. They bring the human mind and senses to praise God and bring human beings to honor the people represented just like we honor our deceased loved ones in photos. 

Today, we even have 3D printers that print statue images of loved ones. There are even companies out there that scan you in a booth and produce a 3D image of you. My nephew made one a few years ago in Manhattan.  Moreover, human beings are made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27). So as long as the images are made to honor God, they are okay. However, if someone believes that the actual image or statue is God or a god, then it is idolatry.  

The idols mentioned in other parts of the Bible are not Catholic statues. These idols are of the gods of the Canaanites: Baal, Asherah, and Astarte. These do not bring attention to the One True God. This is why they are idols.  

It is interesting to note that Protestant sects love to collect money. They claim God will perform miracles if they give donations. Well, what are these donations? They are dollar bills with images of dead white men.  If we take the interpretation of Protestants, then these are idols as well.  So Protestants who request donations from their people are idol worshiping!  Ironic, right?!

If you want to learn more about why Catholics have statues and how they use them, you can check out these sources:

- Do Catholics Worship Statues? | Catholic Answers Tract 

- Do Catholics Worship Statues? - The Catholic Company 

- Do Catholics worship religious idols? - Catholic Courier 

- Why Do Catholics Bow and Pray before Statues? - Catholic Answers

- Introduction to the Catholic Church - Book by Sacerdotus

What do you think? Post your comment below on Disqus and be sure to follow the rules so your comment is allowed.  

6th Sunday of Easter - Love Of Neighbor

Today's readings remind us of God's commandments and love.

Readings: Sixth Sunday of Easter | USCCB

In the first reading, we read of Peter taking his leadership role of the Church as the first Pope. He speaks of God as showing no partiality. God does not have any favorites (Romans 2:11, Colossians 3:25). He treats everyone equally and does not judge anyone based on appearance, only what is in the heart (1 Samuel 16:7, Jeremiah 17:10). This is important especially in today's world where the word "equality" is being thrown around a lot.

Instead of picking favorites, God looks at those people who fear Him or respect Him and who are righteous (Proverbs 15:9, 1 Timothy 6:11). Now, this does not mean that God only pays attention to the good people because remember,  all have sinned and this includes the good and the ones who persist in sin (Romans 3:23). Rather, God pays close attention to those who while still in sin, try their best to be righteous and holy.  He still does pay attention to those in sin waiting for them to turn around (Isaiah 30:18, Romans 11:32).  No one is going to become a saint overnight. It is a process that entails God's grace and a response to that grace with faith and good works (James 2:14-26, Romans 3:24, CCC Article 2 Grace & Justification). This grace is open and free to all peoples, both the Jews and Gentiles. This is why the circumcised believers or the Jews were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out onto the Gentiles. God wants all to be saved because all humanity are His children (1 Timothy 2:4, Hebrews 2:14). This is why Baptism should not be denied to anyone.  The closing of churches around the world is a great travesty. Many were denied the Sacraments even as they died of Covid-19 Coronavirus!  Peter clearly states that water for baptizing these people should not be withheld. It is in baptism that we die in Christ to then rise in Him (Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12). In Baptism, God's power removes original sin and prepares the soul for spiritual growth as we read in the responsorial Psalm.

In the responsorial Psalm, we read of God's saving power being revealed to the nations. God has always willed that all be saved starting with Abraham who became the father of many nations (Genesis 17:5). God has worked wonders with Israel in order to prepare the rest of the world for Christ (Isaiah 40, John 20:31, Acts 13:29, Matthew 26:56). Christ would come to redeem the world and open the doors to heaven for all peoples (Titus 2:14, Galatians 3:13). In order to be part of this salvation from Christ, we must follow His commandments. Loving one another is one of these commandments and what the second reading tells us about.

The second reading beings with "let us love one another because God is love." As Catholics, we must love one another. This does not mean fellow Catholics only, but everyone, including those who hate us (Matthew 5:44). Christ wants us to love one another as we love ourselves (John 13:34-35). We cannot be the true image of God if we hate one another because God is love and we cannot reflect something that is contrary to God. This can be extremely difficult since there are some people in our lives that we sometimes want to push down the stairs or under a bus. However, this is our fallen human nature thriving on concupiscence. We must ignore these impulses and offer them to Christ on the Cross. It is not easy getting along with others since each person is an ego with different views, experiences, understanding, temperament, and so forth. However, we must ask God for the grace to understand other people and be patient and forgiving with them (Ephesians 4:2, Colossians 3:13). If we love one another, we truly show that we are of God and know God. This theme continues in today's Gospel.

In the Gospel, Jesus tells the disciples to love one another as the Father loves Him. In other words, this love must be genuine and perfect, without ulterior motives. This is done by following the Father's commandments and not our own desires which often seek to trump the will and lives of others. Jesus then tells His disciples what true love is and that it entails the laying down of one's life for his friends. He was referring to Himself on the Cross. This does not mean that we have to die just to show our friends that we love them. However, it does mean that the love of others should not be selfish (Philippians 2:3). 

In 2015, New York City's Police Department buried one of its finest. Young police officer Brian Moore only 25 years old was shot and later died of his wounds doing his job: to serve and protect. Detective Moore (he was promoted posthumously) paid the ultimate price for the job he always wanted; to be a police officer. While his loss of life is not exactly the "laying down of one's life" as Jesus described, nevertheless, it similar in that as a police officer he had a job to serve and protect his community.  Similarly, many have sacrificed themselves to help others, such as doctors, nurses, and teachers.  This week we celebrate them.  They put themselves on the front lines during this Covid-19 Coronavirus alleged pandemic.  

Furthermore, Jesus tells His disciples that they are no longer slaves, but His friends. By using the word slave, Jesus means servants since He is King and royals often have servants (John 12:15, 1 Timothy 6:15, Revelation 17:14). This statement is a powerful one indeed. Can you imagine being the friend of a King!? This friendship also applies to us who are baptized in Christ and are given grace freely. In turn, we must respond with genuine faith and good works which comprise loving one another. May Jesus Christ be praised forever!


NOTE*  In light of today's readings on loving your neighbor as yourself, please consider helping me expand this work by donating at www.gofundme.com/sacerdotus.  With your donation, I can expand this work and help spread God's love and the Church's teachings to a wider audience.  

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6th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Follow God's Law

Today's readings remind us that we must follow God's law. In other words, we must follow the rules set in place by God. The first reading tells us, "If you choose you can keep the commandments," this tells that that it is up to us. God does not force us.  We have to freely choose. God gives us fire and water, life and death.  We have to make a choice. These are the choices set before us. Regardless of what choice we make, God has predetermined rules without our being. This is the Natural Law. It guides our conscience to seek the good and just; to surpass our animalistic tendencies. God has set these rules in us, as well as, the rules of how nature must operate. Science calls this the "Laws of Physics." Everything was predetermined before the ages via God's wisdom. Jesus reminds us that He did not come to remove the law, but to fulfill it. This means that the law will always be in place, but He came to show how they are supposed to be followed. Human beings love to distort things. They have a tendency to over legislate.

This includes those in the Church. We make rules and then add rules on top of those rules and on top of those etc.  In the end, we have an entanglement of law that stifle progress and serve no purpose. We see this in the Scripture where the Pharisees took the law and made up all kinds of interpretations that forced them to be trapped in a mechanic display of religion that never internalized.  Today, we see in the Catholic faith those who call themselves "Traditionalists" or "Radical Traditionalists" who live just to criticize others and do not interpret the laws and rubrics of the Church via their intended purposes. We then have quarrels about receiving Holy Communion only on the tongue or the sanctuary only having males present and no females. The Gospel is lost in all of this. These individuals turn into rabid gossips who are bitter instead of Christians full of love, faith, hope and joy. This is why following the law must be accompanied by a spiritual life. 



Readings:

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/021620.cfm

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Follow the Law

Today's readings are on using our free will to follow God's law. The first reading reminds us that we have a choice. We can choose to keep the commandments or reject them.  God presents to us "fire and water," "life and death," "good and evil." He lets us choose which one we want.  Whatever our choice is, that is what we will receive. Atheists often ask, "If God is good, why is there evil?" God is definitely good (Psalm 136:1).  He is absolute and immutable (Numbers 23:19, 1 Samuel 15:29, Psalm 102:26-27). Evil is the absence of good. It "exists" to us because we choose it to exist via our actions, or lack of them. Evil in the world has no bearing on God's existence or attributes. Again, we choose. We choose to defend human life or let a culture or death take over our laws and culture.  We choose to defend the sanctity of marriage or let relativism take over and distort it. The evils in this world are on us, not God. We cannot blame Him. Pope St. Pius V said, “All the evil in the world is due to lukewarm Catholics.” Jesus Himself is not very fond of lukewarm Catholics. He "spits them out" (Revelation 3:15-17). God expects us to do the right thing. He does not order anyone to sin or act unjustly, we are told in the reading.  I find it odd when some people living in sin say it is "God's will." No, it is not! I have heard people say having an abortion is a just and moral act or that being actively gay is a "blessing." These are lies of Satan, the father of lies who uses sophism to deceive man (John 8:44). 

We must follow God's law, as the responsorial Psalm describes. If we do so, we will be blessed.  We will be blameless before others. Our free will must not be abused. We must do what ought to be done, not what we want to do. Human beings are fragile (Matthew 26:41). We need God to help us with discernment and how to follow His statutes. Wisdom from God is necessary. This wisdom is mature and not the immature wisdom of the world. God's wisdom is above the learned; above science, philosophy and all man's knowledge (1 Corinthians 1:25). It is mysterious and hidden, yet near and close to those who humbly ask for it. If we truly understood God's wisdom, we would rush to follow each Commandment.  The rulers during the time of Christ would not have crucified Him.  However, we see things through a veil (Hebrews 6:19). We rely on faith to help us see what is beyond the senses.  This Holy Spirit is our guide. The Spirit of God who is God and knows God completely. No eye or ear has perceived what God has prepared for those of us who follow Him sincerely.  

In the Gospel, Jesus repeats the importance of following God's law. He reminds the people that He did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it.  He does this because He is God directly communicating to man. God's law trumps man's law. Jesus reminds us of this by recalling the law Moses made regarding divorce. Moses allowed it, but God never ordained it.  This is why Jesus says that anyone even looks at another with lust has committed adultery. We must also be truthful and sincere. Our "yes" must be "yes" and our "no" must be "no." There is no in between. This is true when we decide to follow Jesus. We must say "yes" and mean it. We must not put Jesus on hold or second guess Him. Let us commit ourselves to the Lord by following His Commandments. Let us use our free will to do good and battle the evil in this world that derives from the spirtual forces behind the scenes who influence our choices.  May Jesus Christ be praised!  

Readings:  http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/021217.cfm

Please help this ministry by donating via PayPal or Www.gofundme.com/Sacerdotus.  Your gift will help me continue this work and expand it.

You can also help by purchasing my books. My latest book, "Introduction to the Catholic Church" will truly benefit Catholics and others curious of the Catholic faith. You can purchase it in paperback for $12 or Kindle Ebook for $9.99.
see: http://www.sacerdotus.com/2017/02/new-book-introduction-to-catholic.html













Here are some writings from holy writers: 

But the "one dot" [smallest letter] is not only the iota of the Greeks but also that which among the Hebrews is called the yod. And the "one iota" or "one dot" can symbolically be said to be Jesus, since the beginning of his name is written not only by Greeks with an iota but also by Hebrews with a yod. So Jesus will be the one dot, the Word of God in the law which does not pass from the law until all is accomplished.
But the iota might also be (as he himself says) the Ten Commandments of the law, for everything else passes away, but these do not pass away. But neither does Jesus pass away; if he "falls to the ground" he does so willingly, in order to bear much fruit. Again, the "one iota" or "one dot" has mastery over things both in heaven and on earth.
— Origen
(185 - 254)


Source: "Fragment 99," quoted in Manlio Simonetti, ed., Matthew 1–13, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001), 97.

He did not say, "If you have anything against your brother" but "If your brother has anything against you," so that a greater need for reconciliation is imposed on you. As long as we are unable to make peace with our brother, I do not know whether we may offer our gifts to God.
— St. Jerome
(347 - 320)


Source: "Commentary on Matthew, 1.5.23," quoted in Manlio Simonetti, ed., Matthew 1–13, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001), 104.

As the degree of innocence increases, faith becomes more advanced. For we are advised to be free not only from our own particular faults but also from those things that affect us outwardly. For is it not because of sin that the bodily members were condemned in the first place?
The right eye is no less sinister than the left. It is pointless to chastise a foot that is unaware of lust and thus involves no grounds for punishment. But our members indeed do differ from each other while we are all one body.
We are here being advised to pluck out inordinate loves or friendships if they are the occasion that leads us further into wrongdoing. We would do well to not even have the benefit of a member, like an eye or a foot, if it furnishes the avenue by which one is drawn by excessive affections into a partnership with hell. Even the cutting away of a member might be beneficial if the heart (figuratively speaking) were also able to be cut away. But if the impulse of the heart is left unchanged, the cutting away of a member would be pointless.

— St. Hilary of Poitiers
(315 - 367)


Source: "On Matthew 4.10," quoted in Manlio Simonetti, ed., Matthew 1–13, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001), 92.

6th Sunday of Easter - Love One Another

Today's readings remind us of God's commandments and love.

Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/051015.cfm

In the first reading, we read of Peter taking his leadership role of the Church as the first Pope. He speaks of God as showing no partiality. God does not have any favorites (Romans 2:11, Colossians 3:25). He treats everyone equally and does not judge anyone based on appearance, only what is in the heart (1 Samuel 16:7, Jeremiah 17:10). This is important especially in today's world where the word "equality" is being thrown around a lot.

Instead of picking favorites, God looks at those people who fear Him or respect Him and who are righteous (Proverbs 15:9, 1 Timothy 6:11). Now this does not mean that God only pays attention to the good people because remember,  all have sinned and this includes the good and the ones who persist in sin (Romans 3:23). Rather, God pays close attention to those who while still in sin, try their best to be righteous and holy.  He still does pay attention to those in sin waiting for them to turn around (Isaiah 30:18, Romans 11:32).  No one is going to become a saint overnight. It is a process that entails God's grace and a response to that grace with faith and good works (James 2:14-26, Romans 3:24, CCC Article 2 Grace & Justification). This grace is open and free to all peoples, both the Jews and Gentiles. This is why the circumcised believers or the Jews were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out onto the Gentiles. God wants all to be saved because all humanity are His children (1 Timothy 2:4, Hebrews 2:14). This is why Baptism should not be denied to anyone. Peter clearly states that water for baptizing these people should not be withheld. It is in baptism that we die in Christ to then rise in Him (Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12). In Baptism, God's power removes original sin and prepares the soul for spiritual growth as we read in the responsorial Psalm.

In the responsorial Psalm, we read of God's saving power being revealed to the nations. God has always willed that all be saved starting with Abraham who became the father of many nations (Genesis 17:5). God has worked wonders with Israel in order to prepare the rest of the world for Christ (Isaiah 40, John 20:31, Acts 13:29, Matthew 26:56). Christ would come to redeem the world and open the doors to heaven for all peoples (Titus 2:14, Galatians 3:13). In order to be part of this salvation from Christ, we must follow His commandments. Loving one another is one of these commandments and what the second reading tells us about.

The second reading beings with "let us love one another because God is love." As Catholics, we must love one another. This does not mean fellow Catholics only, but everyone, including those who hate us (Matthew 5:44). Christ wants us to love one another as we love ourselves (John 13:34-35). We cannot be the true image of God if we hate one another because God is love and we cannot reflect something that is contrary to God. This can be extremely difficult since there are some people in our lives that we sometimes want to push down the stairs or under a bus. However, this is our fallen human nature thriving on concupiscence. We must ignore these impulses and offer them to Christ on the Cross. It is not easy getting along with others since each person is an ego with different views, experiences, understanding, temperament and so forth. However, we must ask God for the grace to understand other people and be patient and forgiving with them (Ephesians 4:2, Colossians 3:13). If we love one another, we truly show that we are of God and know God. This theme continues in today's Gospel.

In the Gospel, Jesus tells the disciples to love one another as the Father loves Him. In other words, this love must be genuine and perfect, without ulterior motives. This is done by following the Father's commandments and not our own desires which often seeks to trump the will and lives of others. Jesus then tells His disciples what true love is and that it entails the laying down of one's life for his friends. He was referring to Himself on the Cross. This does not mean that we have to die just to show our friends that we love them. However, it does mean that love of others should not be selfish (Philippians 2:3). This week New York City's Police Department buried one of its finest. Young police officer Brian Moore only 25 years old was shot and later died of his wounds doing his job: to serve and protect. Detective Moore (he was promoted posthumously) paid the ultimate price for the job he always wanted; to be a police officer. While his loss of life is not exactly the "laying down of one's life" as Jesus described, nevertheless, it similar in that as a police officer he had a job to serve and protect his community. Furthermore, Jesus tells His disciples that they are no longer slaves, but His friends. By using the word slave, Jesus means servants since He is King and royals often have servants (John 12:15, 1 Timothy 6:15, Revelation 17:14). This statement is a powerful one indeed. Can you imagine being the friend of a King!? This friendship also applies to us who are baptized in Christ and are given grace freely. In turn, we must respond with genuine faith and good works which comprise of loving one another. May Jesus Christ be praised forever!


NOTE*  In light of today's readings on loving your neighbor as yourself, please consider helping me expand this work by donating at www.gofundme.com/sacerdotus.  With your donation, I can expand this work and help spread God's love and the Church's teachings to a wider audience.  Thank you. 

Love God & Neighbor - 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Today's readings call us to love God and our neighbors.

In the first reading from Exodus, we read how God tells the Israelites to be welcoming and caring of others who are not of their own culture. "You shall not molest or oppress an alien, for you were once aliens yourself in the land of Egypt."  In other words, you shall not harass others who come as strangers to your land because you too were strangers in the land of Egypt. This passage reminds the Israelites and us that we must be welcoming of others.  We must never cheat them, charge them interest on loans, take from them. In a word; we must be charitable.

In American society, some political parties worry much about children crossing the borders as well as others. They even block buses carrying these children and call for their return. Ironically, these protesters call themselves "Bible Christians." This first reading reminds us that this is now what we are supposed to do.  While nations have a right and duty to protect its interests, including its borders; this does not mean they cannot help those in distress or the aliens who cross into their territory looking for help.  If we truly believe in God and are Christians, then we must not "molest or oppress an alien; we must not wrong any widow or orphan, no charge interest against them or take their cloaks," so to speak. We must welcome them and try our best to help them.  As Americans, our ancestors most likely came from other lands and were not part of this land that makes up 50 states. The original dwellers of this land in many cases welcomed our European ancestors and showed them how to grow crops and so forth.  We all know the story of the Pilgrims and Native Americans and how the natives helped the Europeans. Unfortunately, the land was taken from them and claimed for the many crowns of European societies.  Not all land was acquired in this way, some actually bought it fair and square.  Nevertheless, we must remember that our ancestors were strangers in this land as well and we should be more compassionate towards those who come into this nation seeking help. God will hear their cries as well. The reading repeats this twice showing how serious God is.  He reminds the Israelites that others who are not of this culture are still His children and He hears their prayers. God is the God of all.  

In the responsorial Psalm, we read how God is our strength. We love Him because of this.  The Psalm tells us how God is our rock, our hero, our King and the one who cares for us.  God is indeed these and more.  He cares for us because we are His creation. God loves each one of us and wants nothing more than for us to be happy and fulfill the potential He has ordained for us. God is indeed our savior and the one who protects us and our interests.

St. Paul in the second readings tells us how the Thessalonians imitated him and his company in regards to how to be Christians. They received the Word of God in affliction due to its unpopularity, but were joyous upon receiving it because it comes from the Holy Spirit. St. Paul called the Thessalonians to be models for all other believers taking what they had learn from him and spreading it around.  This passage reminds us that how we behave preaches more the Gospel of Christ than mere words. St. Francis of Assisi is quoted as saying, "Preach the Gospel and if necessary, use words." He got this idea from this passage where St. Paul says, "For from you the Word of the Lord has sounded forth... but in every place your faith in God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything." Our image and behavior brings others to Christ or away from Him. When we behave like Christians, others will see that our faith has merit, it works.  It is not just collection of rules, but a way of life that brings peace, love and stability in one's life.  People want this in their own lives and will want to know "your secret," so to speak.  Our "secret" is no secret.  We are joyous because of Jesus Christ!  This is why it is extremely important that we behave as Christians. We must be welcoming of others, even those who hate us. We must be nice to people, even those who are rude to us.  Being nice does not mean that we are weak or "liberals."  We must not be the "Church of Nice" nor the "Church of Mean;" instead, we must be the Catholic Church of Christ.  However, we must be careful that our display of Christianity is genuine and meant to preach the Gospel and not to bring adulation to ourselves (Matthew 6:5).

Finally, in the Gospel Jesus is once again tested by the teachers of the law.  They ask Him, "Which commandment in the law is the greatest?" The Jews not only follow the 10 commandments but also 613 other laws in the first five books of the Old Testament. Jesus was asked which commandment was the greatest in an attempt to trick Him into preaching heresy or going against Jewish teaching.  As expected, Jesus answers the question in a way that does not sound heretical and is to the point. He answers, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the greatest and the first commandment.  The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."

Here Jesus makes it clear that all the commandments, including the 613 are summed up in these two commandments to love God with one's whole being and our neighbor as ourselves.  These words tie into the first reading where God called the Israelites to be loving and welcoming of others, reminding them that He too listens to those who are not Israelites.  Unfortunately many times we get caught up in laws and rituals like the Pharisees and Sadducees.  We become prisoners of our own rules and become rigid even to the point of criticizing the Pope, bishops and any attempt to present the teachings of the Church in a more welcoming and positive light.  This is why Pope Francis has been stressing that we must not become this way. Not everyone is going to be a practicing Catholic.  Let us be realistic.  We live in a world with all kinds of people with all kinds of different lives. Many of them will refuse to turn away from those lives.  Our Catholic faith does not call us to shun these people or ostracize them.  Like in the first reading, we must be welcoming of the alien. Laws, rubrics, canons and teachings were made to serve us not us serve them (Mark 2:27).  As Pope Francis said, we must be open to the "God of surprises."

In his statement to the recent synod, the Pope said it extremely well. We can see the Holy Spirit was truly speaking through him.  He wrote:

"  - One, a temptation to hostile inflexibility, that is, wanting to close oneself within the written word, (the letter) and not allowing oneself to be surprised by God, by the God of surprises, (the spirit); within the law, within the certitude of what we know and not of what we still need to learn and to achieve. From the time of Christ, it is the temptation of the zealous, of the scrupulous, of the solicitous and of the so-called – today – “traditionalists” and also of the intellectuals. 

  - The temptation to a destructive tendency to goodness [it. buonismo], that in the name of a deceptive mercy binds the wounds without first curing them and treating them; that treats the symptoms and not the causes and the roots. It is the temptation of the “do-gooders,” of the fearful, and also of the so-called “progressives and liberals.”
  - The temptation to transform stones into bread to break the long, heavy, and painful fast (cf. Lk 4:1-4); and also to transform the bread into a stone and cast it against the sinners, the weak, and the sick (cf Jn 8:7), that is, to transform it into unbearable burdens (Lk 11:46). 

  - The temptation to come down off the Cross, to please the people, and not stay there, in order to fulfil the will of the Father; to bow down to a worldly spirit instead of purifying it and bending it to the Spirit of God. 

  - The temptation to neglect the “depositum fidei” [the deposit of faith], not thinking of themselves as guardians but as owners or masters [of it]; or, on the other hand, the temptation to neglect reality, making use of meticulous language and a language of smoothing to say so many things and to say nothing! They call them “byzantinisms,” I think, these things…"

We must not be tempted into becoming rigid and closed within our own beliefs.  Instead we must welcome the alien and care for him or her.  This care must not be a pseudo form of mercy that disregards our faith and the teachings of the Church. It must be merciful but also careful to attend to the wounds in the person which is caused by sin. We must not use our bread as stone to smash the heads of others. In other words, we must not use our faith, the teachings of the Church, especially the Sacraments as tools to oppress or shame others, especially those in deep sin.  We must also never be so welcoming that we do not address the sin of those we welcome.  Like Christ, we must not condemn those addicted to sin, but must remind them to "sin no more" (John 8:11).

Above all, we must love God with all of our being. This means that every second, every breath we have must be in honor and glory of God. We exist because of God. We owe all to God. God is so awesome that He gives us the free will to love Him or hate Him.  He does not force anyone to love Him like some manic lover seeking attention. Loving God allows us to love others as ourselves because we are all made in God's image (Genesis 1:27).  Let us love God and one another.







Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/102614.cfm   

Brother's Keeper: Love & Forgiveness - 23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

Today's readings are about admonishing the sinner and forgiveness.

The first reading is from Ezekiel and tells us of the mission of the prophet as one who judges what is good and evil and must convince the people to stay away from the latter.  He must be a "watchman" and guide, warning the people so that they hopefully will turn away from evil.

"With great power comes great responsibility"

You may be wondering, "Why is he quoting from Stan Lee who said that in the 'Spiderman' movie?"  Well first of all, this quote comes from the philosopher Voltaire, not Stan Lee. I mention this quote because it's related to the first reading. The Lord says,

“O wicked one, you shall surely die, ”
and you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way,
the wicked shall die for his guilt,
but I will hold you responsible for his death.
But if you warn the wicked,
trying to turn him from his way,
and he refuses to turn from his way,
he shall die for his guilt,
but you shall save yourself."

Here, God is reminding the prophet that if he doesn't speak out to "dissuade the wicked" then the wicked will be punished, but the prophet will be responsible for that punishment which is in this case death.  This is important because we all are our brother's keeper. Cain disagreed with this important duty of ours, but God expects us to care for one another (Genesis 4:9). Unfortunately many times, we Catholics don't want to get involved. We let our family, friends and strangers fall into sin and leave them be. This is especially true regarding gay people we might know.  Instead of encouraging them to live as God does, we sometimes just let them live as if their lifestyle is justified in the eyes of God.

The same can be said in regards to abortion or helping others in general. We don't want to get Romans 15:14). If not, then the person will be punished for his or her sin (if he/she didn't change) and we will be responsible for not intervening. However, God says that if we do try to turn our friends away from wickedness and they refuse, then we will not be responsible because we tried and they didn't want to hear it. The key word here is TRIED.  Not everyone is going to listen to us, but the fact that we tried means a lot.

The responsorial Psalm replies to the first reading with the call to not harden our hearts if we hear His voice.  The Psalm recalls how God has always been there and that we should be grateful and not become stubborn and hard headed like the Hebrews at Massah who began to question and doubt God despite seeing the miracles He performed that wowed Egypt. This Psalm is important because how many times we hear God's voice, we go to Mass but still continue to sin.  Mass becomes a mere "obligation" and not a way of life. It becomes something we do on a weekend that we have to get over with quickly and then storm out of church and sin like there's no tomorrow.  This is not how it's supposed to be.

The second reading  reminds us that we owe nothing to anyone except that we have to love them. St. Paul even makes it clear that all the laws of God are summed into loving our neighbors as ourselves. If we love others, we will not disrespect our parents and those in authority, we will not disrespect or sin against our lovers, we will not steal from others, kill others, desire the goods or lovers of others. This make a lot of sense even in a secular sense.  If everyone on Earth loved each other, we would not need laws or punishments. There would be no need for courts, police, armies and all that stuff.

Finally in the Gospel, we read about how Jesus instructs His disciples on what to do when a brother sins against them.  These instructions apply to us as well.  We must tell our brother or the offender of his or her sin and work it out.  If he or she listens, then all is well.  However, if he or she does not want to hear it, then we must get others to join in and mediate the situation. If that does not work, we must even get the church involved.  However, if the church does not work, then this person must be left aside or excommunicated.  However, this does not mean he or she must be treated like trash or shunned like the Amish do who misinterpret the Scriptures.  Jesus then reminds the disciples of the authority they have to bind and unbind things.  In other words, they have the power to forgive sins. This Gospel tells us a lot about how the Church operates. The Church tries to reconcile people and when it does not work, she excommunicates them (2 Thessalonians 3:15). However, reconciliation is always on the table and the offender is always welcomed to come back, granted he or she changes his or her ways (Luke 17:3).

I understand there are some people who we just cannot stand. We want to push them down a flight or stairs or throw something at them; however, we must set aside those impulses and forgive.  We must love them as ourselves.  This doesn't mean we have to like them of what they do. Remember, God will reward you as the first reading tells us if we love one another and warn others of their wickedness even if they refuse to listen.  The problem will be their's not ours when they have to face God and account of their action or lack of action.  




Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/090714.cfm

Daughter Sues Parents

"I brought you into this world and I can take you out!"

How many times have we heard parents - maybe our own - say this in an attempt to reinforce their authority?

At one point in time this would often settle an argument. However, the times have changed.  Children are being raised by the "village" instead of parents.  Their egos are inflated to the point that they feel entitled.

Psychologists often describe the generation of youth today as the "me" generation.  They are self-centered, egotistical, materialistic, reckless, socio-pathic; the list goes on.

A New Jersey teenager is suing her parents claiming that her parents stopped making her high school tuition payments, kicker her out of their home at 18 and refused to fund her college.  Rachel Canning, the plaintiff is suing to get the court to force her parents Sean and Elizabeth Canning to pay up and care for her needs.

Seriously?

The parents who are the defendants clarified that they set rules to be followed by Rachel which she refused to abide by.  These rules were to do chores, get rid of a boyfriend who was leading her down a wrong path as well as other typical parental rules. Rachel refused and was "emancipated" by her own choice and due to the fact that she turned 18.

The judge in the court during the hearing refused her request which asked for $624 a week for child support, $5,300 for tuition for her Catholic high school, $13,000 legal fees and access to her college fund.  The judge made the right choice.  Rachel has no right to make these silly demands especially how she refused to obey her parents and is of legal age.  Times are changing.  Our youth are stray far and far.  The Fourth Commandment which calls us to 'honor our father and mother' is being pushed aside.







Source:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/daughter-18-sues-parents-for-support/2014/03/06/75beb836-a49e-11e3-84d4-e59b1709222c_story.html

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=157&sid=28957925