Fishy Story
Saturday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
http://www.usccb.org/nab/021106.shtml
Reflection:
A number of years ago this same Gospel came up in the cycle. I remember thinking about an apologetic discussion I had with a protestant friend. We have a long standing tradition of going back and forth over doctrinal issues. He started this particular conversation over the whole biblical interpretation difference. He claimed that we (Catholics) had copped out on Holy Scripture because we “interpreted” the Bible instead of accepting it as the literal Word of God. For me that brought up the whole issue of the Canon of the Bible and how the biblical literalists accepted a canon that was adopted in the 15th century instead of the original canon from before the reformation.
Without conceding my argument he went right back to his favorite topic. He asked me if I had accepted Jesus Christ as my “Personal Savior”.
I responded, “I profess that Jesus Christ is the only Son of God and as such he came into the world for the salvation of all peoples through the forgiveness of their sins.”
He said “Yes, but have you acknowledged Him as your personal savior?”
To which I responded, “Do you believe in miracles?”
He said, “Yes.”
I said, “So do I. I believe Jesus can perform miracles and he still does.”
He chimed it, “So do I.”
I’m pretty sure I asked him at that point if he believed the miracle of the loaves had really taken place. As a biblical literalist I knew his answer and he did not disappoint me. He said “Yes, of course.”
I agreed with him and said I’d go further, I told him that I believed that in the Gospel he had transubstantiated bread and wine at the last supper and turned it into his body and blood and that he told his disciples to do that as well. I told him that I believed that each time I went to Mass, that miracle was repeated and I was able to receive the greatest gift ever given – Jesus himself.
I followed that with my final word on the subject. “You have asked me if I have accepted Jesus as my Savior. I tell you I receive him as often as I am able in the Sacrifice of the Mass. He is in me and I in Him. How much closer can we get. Pax
Saturday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
http://www.usccb.org/nab/021106.shtml
Reflection:
A number of years ago this same Gospel came up in the cycle. I remember thinking about an apologetic discussion I had with a protestant friend. We have a long standing tradition of going back and forth over doctrinal issues. He started this particular conversation over the whole biblical interpretation difference. He claimed that we (Catholics) had copped out on Holy Scripture because we “interpreted” the Bible instead of accepting it as the literal Word of God. For me that brought up the whole issue of the Canon of the Bible and how the biblical literalists accepted a canon that was adopted in the 15th century instead of the original canon from before the reformation.
Without conceding my argument he went right back to his favorite topic. He asked me if I had accepted Jesus Christ as my “Personal Savior”.
I responded, “I profess that Jesus Christ is the only Son of God and as such he came into the world for the salvation of all peoples through the forgiveness of their sins.”
He said “Yes, but have you acknowledged Him as your personal savior?”
To which I responded, “Do you believe in miracles?”
He said, “Yes.”
I said, “So do I. I believe Jesus can perform miracles and he still does.”
He chimed it, “So do I.”
I’m pretty sure I asked him at that point if he believed the miracle of the loaves had really taken place. As a biblical literalist I knew his answer and he did not disappoint me. He said “Yes, of course.”
I agreed with him and said I’d go further, I told him that I believed that in the Gospel he had transubstantiated bread and wine at the last supper and turned it into his body and blood and that he told his disciples to do that as well. I told him that I believed that each time I went to Mass, that miracle was repeated and I was able to receive the greatest gift ever given – Jesus himself.
I followed that with my final word on the subject. “You have asked me if I have accepted Jesus as my Savior. I tell you I receive him as often as I am able in the Sacrifice of the Mass. He is in me and I in Him. How much closer can we get. Pax
posted by Deacon Jim | 5:06 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home