If two of you agree…

By e September 5, 2020 Homilies, Jesus Stuff No Comments

If two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.

Jesus

This promise is a little odd. It even seems untrue. We know that, many times, two people, even two priests or two bishops have prayed for things that do not seem to be granted. Enemies of the faith sometimes point to this promise, and the fact that our requests seem to be unheard, as evidence that Jesus is a liar, or the scriptures are not trustworthy.

Jesus is not a liar.

The scriptures are trustworthy.

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¡No lo permita Dios, Señor!

By e September 1, 2020 Homilies, Jesus Stuff No Comments

“¡No lo permita Dios, Señor!” “¡Apártate de mí, Satanás… tu modo de pensar no es el de Dios…” Pobre Pedro – Estoy seguro de que todos los discípulos hicieron y dijeron algo incorrecto, pero de alguna manera es a él a quien podemos ver arruinando y siendo reprendido por Jesús. 

Cuando Pedro rechazó la idea de que Jesús debería sufrir y morir, también rechazó accidentalmente la resurrección. Satanás nos anima a mirar solo un lado de las cosas. Parece bastante simple: el sufrimiento es malo, por lo que debemos evitar el sufrimiento. Pero, si Jesús no sufrió y murió, no podría resucitar de entre los muertos. 

El pecado y el sufrimiento son males, pero nuestro Dios puede sacar el bien de esos males. Los santos y teólogos incluso sugieren que el pecado y el sufrimiento son de alguna manera necesarios.

San Pedro no pensaba con la mente de Cristo. Yo tampoco.

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God forbid, Lord!

By e September 1, 2020 Homilies, Jesus Stuff No Comments

“God forbid, Lord!” “Get behind me, Satan… You are not thinking as God does…” Poor Peter – I’m sure all the disciples did and said the wrong thing, but somehow he’s the one we get to see messing up and being rebuked by Jesus. 

When Peter rejected the idea that Jesus should suffer and die, he also accidentally rejected resurrection. Satan encourages us to look at only one side of things. It seems simple enough – suffering is bad, so we should avoid suffering. But, if Jesus didn’t suffer and die, he could not be raised from the dead. 

Sin and suffering are evils, but our God is able to bring good from those evils. Saints and theologians even suggest sin and suffering are somehow necessary.

Saint Peter wasn’t thinking with the mind of Christ. Neither do I.

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