Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Matthew Jesus makes a statement which many may “gloss over”…Why? - Because obedience to legitimate authority is something human nature rejects….”Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness”…….Because Jesus rose from the dead and is God, that should logically imply that everything he said must be true - Right?!?…Jesus did not write a book, the Bible was complied by the Catholic Church around 400 AD - Jesus established a Church upon twelve men….And today St Matthew tells us Jesus gave these men authority…Why is that so important?…..Because Jesus is God!….And what these twelve men proclaim to be true - Is true…Again - Why? - Because God gave them authority!….This authority given to the Catholic Church remains to this very day…The Pope is not just some “guy” - He is the Vicar of Christ, which means he is given a special grace….When the Pope makes a proclamation or writes a papal encyclical, the Catholic world should pay very close attention…..While the Pope is subject to sin, like everyone else - God’s grace rest with him in a very special way to guide the Catholic faithful around the world…..For that reason, every Catholic should be obedient to the Pope….Bishops and Cardinals too have authority….That means we owe them respect and obedience as well….There are times (both in the past and in the present) that Bishops and Cardinals have made “questionable statements” - When this happens - We as Catholic can always use the Catechism of the Catholic Church as our guide…The beauty of being Catholic is - Everything is written down!…All we have to do is read the words on the page!.....If a Bishop or a Cardinal does or says a “questionable” thing - Be at peace - God will “right the wrong” in time……In the mean time - Respect legitimate authority and be obedient - And remember this - The collective “we” (You and I) do not establish that authority - God does and so does the Church!
“Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”
Being that I co-host of a Catholic radio show in the New York City metropolitan area, I am very aware of the many Catholic voices on social media….For a Church that is very clear when it comes to its teachings - Its rather odd that so many people have “problems” with the Church……..While all people are subject to sin - Trust me, I “get it” - If I was to be blunt and honest, many of these ”problems” that people have with the Catholic Church are not “problems” with the Church itself - They are examples of a lack of obedience to legitimate authority…….As a Lay-Catholic, I have NO AUTHORITY…That means if I want to receive the Blessed Sacrament at Mass, I must “bend my knee” to EVERYTHING the Church professes to be true…..I can not “pick and choose” what to believe…That is why at Mass we profess publicly the Nicene Creed before we receive the Eucharist….In doing so, we publicly profess our obedience to everything the Church teaches…And if we have a “problem” with something the Church proclaims to be true - We should not receive Holy Communion…However, we should continue to go to Mass, pray daily, fast weekly to enable the Holy Spirit to “address” what our “problem” is all about….We can even seek good spiritual direction from a Holy Priest…If we do that, in time, the Holy Spirit will enlighten our minds and hearts - And my bet is - Our “problem” will no longer be a “problem”…….The Catholic Church belongs to Jesus Christ - We are just members of HIS Church - Only Jesus has authority, which he gave to the twelve apostles and is now passed down to the Bishops of today through what is called apostolic succession…Allow me to make it even more clear……God makes the rules - We do not!….Everything is written down very clearly in the Catechism of the Catholic Church - All we have do is follow along - Easy Right?!?….Seems clear to me
“The Kingdom of God is at hand: repent and believe in the Gospel”
Today we are told by Jesus in the Gospel that he gave authority to the early Church…Think about that - God gave the Church his authority!…….Today the world “authority” is a “bad word”…People like to do what they want to do….That is not the path to heaven!….The path to heaven is one of obedience to God and to the one and only Church he founded….That is why the road to heaven is “narrow”….We as Lay-Catholics have NO AUTHORITY - Its our job to be obedient to legitimate authority, which rest in the Church…..Ponder this for a moment - Jesus Christ subjected himself perfectly to St Joseph and Our Lady for thirty years…Jesus was God! - Yet he was obedient to his parents…What should that example tells us?…..What it tells me is - I need to be obedient - I do not “make the rules” - Its my job simply to follow the “rules”…..For those who read this reflection and have a “problem” with what I just wrote…I will leave you with the words of Jesus Christ…..“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light”………Jesus came to give us life and give it abundantly - God never takes - He only gives!!!……Authentic Joy and Peace is only found in our obedience…..Its all about ”Thy will be done” - Not - My will be done……..JMJ
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