What Jesus said about ... (series)

 

What Jesus said about ... Heaven.

"In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?" John 14:2

Jesus mentions Heaven several times in His teachings but there is only one description of the place as quoted above. He describes Heaven as a place with many rooms. This is because it was the only imagery that the people of the time could understand. They had seen many mansions and palaces so to describe Heaven in such terms would engender an image and a place that they would all long for. Certainly better than the place with acrid smell and burning flesh and gnashing of teeth which He describes graphically on many occasions.

If you were to die today, are you sure you will go to Heaven? And what do you expect to find when you get there?

God, Jesus, The Holy Spirits and the Saints and Angels are spirits. They exist in an invisible world. We are immortal spirits too, (souls), inhabiting a temporary body which in time will decay and turn to dust. The implications here are that when we go to Heaven we will not need a physical place with many rooms and hot and cold running water and a mini-fridge with drinks and chocolates.  

Some Christians also believe that at some stage our souls will re-unite with our bodies and we will live for eternity in these new bodies without blemish, illness or whatever disabilities we may have. I have often asked why will we be re-united with our bodies; and as yet got no satisfactory answer. But that aside, one would ask, if we are to have a body will we need a physical place like a mansion to live in?

Another reference to Heaven by Jesus deals with the immediacy of getting there. 

"And He said to him, (the thief crucified beside Him),  “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43.

He did not say you'll be with me at Judgement Day, or after spending some time in Purgatory, or at any other future date. He said: today.

Other references to Heaven deal with our attitude towards it and how to get there. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21.

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like this. A man happens to find a treasure hidden in a field. He covers it up again, and is so happy that he goes and sells everything he has, and then goes back and buys that field. Also, the Kingdom of Heaven is like this. A man is looking for fine pearls, and when he finds one that is unusually fine, he goes and sells everything he has, and buys that pearl. Also, the Kingdom of Heaven is like this. Some fishermen throw their net out in the lake and catch all kinds of fish. When the net is full, they pull it to shore and sit down to divide the fish: the good ones go into the buckets, the worthless ones are thrown away. It will be like this at the end of the age: the angels will go out and gather up the evil people from among the good and will throw them into the fiery furnace, where they will cry and gnash their teeth." Matthew 13:44 onwards.  

 

AMAZON LINK HERE

What Jesus said about ... (series)

 

What Jesus said about ... greed.

Then He said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Luke 12:25

Oh dear ... how relevant is this to today's society I wonder. 

We live in a generation greedy for everything; fun, entertainment, happiness, riches, possessions, good looks, fame, celebrity and everything else besides. They want it all and want it now. It's as if it is a birthright that everyone should have plenty with the minimum of effort.

We measure peoples' success in life by the kind of job they have. The size of their house and where it's located. Their cars, their holidays abroad, and other possession like jewellery, designer clothing and so on and so forth.

Greed is certainly not a new phenomenon. It always existed. But I guess it is more noticeable now with communications being so much more available through TV, radio and social media on the Internet. We see other peoples' haves and we want them also. 

We all want to be successful, rich and a celebrity idol loved by everyone - it seems. Very few are just happy with what they've got. And they certainly seem to ignore the most precious treasures they have ... like their health, their families, their real friends ... until it's too late. And greed consumes all. Even their faith.    

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21

What Jesus said about ... (series)

 

What Jesus said about ... enemies.

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Matthew 5: 44

Now that's a difficult one. What does it really mean?

Let's make it clear that we all have the right, a duty even, to defend ourselves and our loved ones. Sometimes this can be done by distancing ourselves from the ones who hurt us. We can seek professional legal advice and take appropriate action as necessary.

But what if the enemy is a violent person or another nation? There are times when defensive action is necessary to stop the aggressor doing harm to us or our loved ones. 

When Christ taught us to love our enemies He did not mean give way to every attack or act of aggression. The Old Testament describes many wars between the Israelites and their enemies. And today, there are instances when a nation has to go to war to stop evil. 

So, how do we "love" our enemies as Christ commanded? 

There is no way we can do so as Christ did when hanging there from the Cross dying a most agonising death. This is because He was/is God and we are not. So we cannot love as He has done and shown.

But this should not stop us from trying. When we have to face an aggressor let us do so with all the power that we can muster; but let us also do it for the right reasons and with proportionate acceptable force as is necessary. Our opposition need not always be physical; but it can be in argument, debate or through the legal systems. Whatever way is necessary to stop aggression it should be done for the right reasons as intended by Christ. 

We all know the story about Jesus and the traders in the temple.  When Jesus entered the temple courts, He began to drive out those who were selling.  “It is written,” He said to them, “‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” - Luke 19:45-46

This story in the Bible is often misunderstood. We see Jesus being violent and beating the money changers and traders out of the temple. His reasons may be obvious by what He said in the passage quoted above; but there is more to it than that.

In those days the people had to offer a sacrifice to God in the form of an unblemished perfect animal. It could be a pair of doves, a lamb, goat or whatever you can afford depending on your wealth and the gravity of your sin. The people gave the animals to the priests who had them slaughtered and made into a burnt offering. 

One reason for Christ's behaviour, apart from the quotation above, is that at the time the people brought their own offerings to the priests and the priests had to decide whether the animal was without blemish and perfect. If the priests decided against that animal then the people had to go and buy another (more expensive) one from the traders in the temple. Hence the collusion between the priests and the traders cheating the poor people out of their money by forcing them to buy a more expensive animal from the traders.

Jesus was angry because instead of the temple being a place of prayers, the priests and traders had made it into an opportunity to cheat and steal from the poor.

Turning the other cheek, as Jesus also taught, does not mean surrendering to evil when it comes our way. 

An eye for an eye was meant to be a limitation to aggression and retaliation; not an encouragement to seek revenge.  

In summary, as best we can, we should "love/forgive" our enemies despite their wrong-doings; but not to the extent where we let them walk all over us. Defensive action is sometimes required and legitimate.

As always, sincere prayers are the answer. Pray to God about the situation you are in and hand over the matter to Him seeking His help and guidance in every case. 

If Christ could forgive His enemies; we should at least try to do the same.

“Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:24.

What Jesus said about ... (series)

What Jesus said about ... kindness,

"And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. You have heard that it is said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:40-43 

Kindness is a difficult concept to explain. I guess it goes hand-in-hand with "loving" other people, besides your immediate family and friends. Loving, in the sense of caring for them. For example, we might see a homeless person or a beggar in the street and we might feel sorry for them. But we do nothing. Is that "caring" really? Is it kindness? We might know some elderly people living alone, and we might be "concerned" about their vulnerability and weakness; and we do nothing. Is that kindness?

Should kindness be measured by our actions and not our feelings? If so, then how many of us are not kind at all?

There's a big difference between being kind and being nice. Being nice is the way we are seen by others. We are popular, liked, good to be with, people look forward to meeting us because we are fun and the life and soul of the party.

But are we kind? What is kindness in our life and how do we portray that kindness towards others?

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them.” Matthew 7:12 

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 

What Jesus said about ... (series)

 

What Jesus said about ... forgiveness.

Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, if my brother keeps sinning against me, how many times do I have to forgive him? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” answered Jesus, “but seventy times seven.” Matthew 18: 21-22

Forgiveness is an act, not a feeling. You decide, actively, that you will forgive someone who has hurt you. This means you will not seek revenge, retribution, compensation or feel resentment or ill-will towards the person who did you wrong. 

Of course, the memories will linger on. The slightest event will bring back the whole situation to your mind and will make you angry or upset once again. This is only natural. Don't worry. Use these moments of remembering again as an opportunity to actively forgive once more. Hand over the person who hurt you to God. Pray for them. You cannot possibly hate someone you pray for. Say to God, "I hand this person to your love and mercy. Forgive them for me!"

What if the person who has hurt you, and never sought your forgiveness, is now dead?

He is no longer your concern. Stop agonising about it. This person is now before God and has seen the situation in all its facets. God will now deal with the situation and that person's role in it. You should pray for that person when the memory of the wrong-doing comes to mind.

What if you need to seek forgiveness from someone who is now dead?

Obviously, it is now too late to seek forgiveness from him. But it is never too late to seek forgiveness from God. Confess your wrong-doing to God and honestly and earnestly ask for His forgiveness. Provided you are sincere and repent God will forgive you.

And once God has forgiven you this is the end of the matter. Stop picking at the situation over and again. Stop feeling guilty at your wrong-doing. God has forgiven you. By picking at the situation you are insulting God in that you are saying He has not forgiven you. That He was wrong that He forgave you. 

How do you think He feels about that? Doubting His love, His mercy and His forgiveness.

Accept His forgiveness graciously and move on with a joyful heart.

"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:24

What Jesus said about ... (series)

 

What Jesus said about ... anger.

Whoever is angry with his brother will be brought to trial, ... if you are about to offer your gift to God at the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar, go at once and make peace with your brother, and then come back and offer your gift to God. Matthew 5: 22 - 24

Basically, what this means is that we should not go to church, or start praying, if in our hearts we have ill feelings and vengeance against someone else. Now this makes it very difficult for many of us - or it should. Can you honestly say that when you start your prayers you really have no angers, bad thoughts or any negative feelings against anyone? I mean, anyone? Including someone who hurt you some time ago and the pain lingers on?

There are times when anger is justified. When we are angry about something that someone is doing that is harming a vulnerable person or ourselves. We have a right to stand-up and defend ourselves or our loved ones. If there was no anger then there would not be any wars to stop evil in its many forms.

So, anger can be justified. And the hurts done to us can linger on. 

Now here's a thought. Why not include that anger in our prayers? Why not bring the situation to God? Tell Him why we were/are upset at a certain situation or individual. Tell Him how it still hurts and how you find it difficult to forgive. And ask Him to forgive on your behalf. Ask for healing and peace in this situation which is hurting you and hindering your prayers.

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:24

Advance Notice

 

I am planning a series of posts about the teachings of Jesus. They will be entitled "What Jesus said about ..." The first one will be about Anger and we will explore what Jesus said and how it applies to us in today's world.

If there are any of Christ's teachings you'd like discussed here please let us know in the comments box; or write to me at the "Contact us" button at the top right of this page. All e-mails come to my office privately.

God bless.

Nun on the run

It was Friday evening and Father Ignatius was alone in the Parish House listening to his favourite classical music. He sat in his armchair by the fire, eyes closed, and with his hand slowly moving his index finger in the air as if holding a baton and conducting an orchestra. Just as the music reached his favourite piece of Verdi’s Aida … The Triumphal March … just then, the front doorbell rang and interrupted his grand moment of triumph.

He jumped off his chair, switched off the record player and said sotto voce, “OK … hold it there all of you … we’ll return to this piece presently …”

He opened the door to be confronted by Sister Martha.

“I’m not interrupting anything?” she asked.

“Oh … only Giuseppe Verdi …” he replied.

“Yes … I’ve heard him through the open window … he’s getting better under your leadership … mind if I come in?”

He moved aside and let her in.

“Would you like tea or coffee …” she said as she made her way towards the kitchen.

“Tea please,” replied the priest as he walked back to the living room.

Sister Martha was in her late sixties yet she was as youthful and energetic as anyone half her age. She lived at the Convent nearby with a dozen other nuns, and she taught at the local Catholic schools. She often called in on the priests at St Vincent for a chat and a cup of tea on her way home, especially on Fridays when she stayed a little late at the school.

Moments later she entered the living room carrying a tray of tea and ginger biscuits; the priest’s favorite, as she knew very well.

“Ah … I didn’t know we had ginger biscuits,” said Father Ignatius, “I didn’t find them earlier on when I looked …”

“Mrs Davenport has shown me where she hides them …” said Sister Martha pouring two cups of tea, “she told me if you’d find them you’ll finish the whole packet …”

A few minutes of silence later as they slowly sipped their tea Sister Martha was first to break the quiet.

“Ignatius … have you heard about Sister Cecilia?” she asked.

“No … I can’t say I have …” he replied, “what’s the problem …”

“I am not breaking any confidences Ignatius … she asked me to speak to you … she’s already spoken to Mother Superior today …”

“Sounds ominous …” said the priest putting his cup down.

“Well … she works at the hospital as you know … she’s a nursing assistant there … well, not to put too fine a point on it … she’s fallen in love with a young doctor there …

“She told me she doesn’t know how it happened …” continued Sister Martha, “they got attracted to each other and she feels she can no longer continue her vocation …”

“You say she spoke to Mother Superior?” asked Father Ignatius.

“Yes … today. She told her she’d been thinking about this for about a month or so … she wishes it didn’t happen but it has … she wants to leave the convent and pursue a new life with him …

“She told me that Mother Superior was very understanding and suggested that she leaves the Convent for another one down South to give her time to think …

“But Sister Cecilia doesn’t think it will help … she wants to leave her vocation altogether.”

“I see …” said the priest calmly, “and you say Cecilia asked you to speak to me …”

“Yes … she wanted your advice …”

Father Ignatius smiled weakly.

“The poor soul …” he mumbled, “what advice can I give her Martha?” he asked rhetorically.

“When we decide to take up our vocation to serve the Lord,” he continued, “we do so after a lot of soul-searching, a lot of prayers, and a lot of training. It takes years as you know Martha … this is perhaps deliberate to give us a chance to think seriously on what we’re doing and the commitment we’re undertaking …

“Yet … despite all that … it does sometimes happen as in this case, that individuals can no longer continue their vocations and wish to leave. It happened some years ago to a priest I knew well … he has left the church and is now married with a family of his own …”

“It’s terrible …” Sister Martha said quietly.

“I suppose it is …” he replied, “as a Church we frown when people break their marital vows and divorce or separate … and I suspect this is no different …

“When a priest or nun break their vows and no longer wish to continue their vocations … it is perhaps the same as couples seeking divorce …

“Yet Martha … whilst I understand what people like Cecilia or that priest I spoke of are going through … I cannot condemn them …”

The nun looked up at him with a frown.

“I cannot condemn them, Martha …” he repeated, “I agree that it is wrong to break the vows they made freely … but at the same time … who am I to stand in the way of true and genuine love … if that is what’s happened in this case. I know it was exactly what happened in the case of that priest … I knew him very well.

“He fell in love with a teacher … he shouldn’t have … but he did … He wanted to leave the Church … just like Cecilia … He confessed to me … it was heart breaking … he told me he could not go on serving as a priest.”

“What did you do?” asked Sister Martha.

“I forgave him of course …” replied Father Ignatius, “how could I possibly withhold absolution … He was repentant and he knew that he could no longer serve as a priest … even if he gave up his lover and was moved to another Parish … He knew that he would not be a good priest and that deep in his heart he’d be a fraud … He’d be serving against his will and would be cheating the Church as well as God Himself …

“Yes …” said Father Ignatius thinking back to that event in the distant past, “I forgave him and absolved him …

“When we forgive someone else, we touch his very soul with the merciful love of Jesus Christ our Lord. How could I stand in the way of such love?

“Eventually … the bishop let him go … and as I said, he’s now married with a family.”

“What do you want me to say to Cecilia?” asked Sister Martha.

“Tell her that I’ll be praying for her …” he replied, “tell her to think about what Mother Superior advised … and that I’ll be always available if she wishes to have a talk with me … How old is she?” he asked.

“Thirty … last month!”

“She’s young and no doubt very frightened …” said Father Ignatius calmly, “I believe that whatever we do … our role is not to condemn but to forgive … She is doing what she feels is right for her life …

“Our Lord forgave many sins when He walked this earth … who am I to stand in the way of true repentance?”

MORE FATHER IGNATIUS STORIES HERE

Inspirations to live by

 

Here are some inspirational thoughts that came to mind whilst in the bath.

A wet man on the beach does not mean he was in the sea. 

The shortest day is always in winter.

In the graffiti of life you are a footnote.

A fallen tree in the forest with no witness to see it remains upright.

A bicycle with a broken wheel is not a mono-cycle.

Glasses are for seeing not drinking.

It does not matter whether your cup is half full or half empty as long as it does not leave a stain on the table.

As one door closes another opens outwards and hits you in the face.

The two words to open doors for you in life are "Pull" and "Push".

In the darkest night of your life your torch battery will have died.

If your drink tastes funny, you've squeezed a budgie instead of a lemon.

All roads lead to Rome but only in Italy.

Never leave to tomorrow what you can delegate to someone else today.

And finally ... 

During a check-up the patient asked the Doctor, "Do you think I'll live a long and healthy life then?"
He replied, "I doubt it somehow. Mercury is in Uranus right now."
The patient said, "I don't go in for any of that astrology nonsense."
He replied, "Neither do I. My thermometer just broke."

Let's discuss this ...

 

Once upon a time, God said to one of His people, "I have ten suggestions you might want to write down and discuss with your friends; they might help you live a happy and contented life!"

WRONG !!!!!

Let's be clear about this. When God gave us the Ten Commandments; that's what they were.

Commandments.

Not suggestions to discuss and debate and alter to suit our selfish modern needs and wants. Let's check them out once again.

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” and “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.”

These days we have many gods to choose from - money, power, influence, possessions, celebrity status, cars and so many other things. We may not see them as gods but they certainly managed over the years to push aside and exclude the one Living Creator God from our lives.

“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.”

OMG !!!

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

Admittedly, some jobs should be manned 24/7; but have we gone too far by ignoring this Commandment? In the UK only 5% of the population goes to church regularly every Sunday - that's all denominations combined.

“Honour thy father and thy mother.”

However we treat our parents we set the example for our offspring to treat us likewise. 

“Thou shalt not kill.”

This includes abortion, euthanasia, assisted voluntary suicide ... ... ... 

“Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

Oh come on ... casual relationships are fun and not meant to be serious. They build experience and what's wrong if it is consensual, or both partners agree to have an open and honest relationship with other people? 

“Thou shalt not steal.”

If you take a pencil or a pen from work it is stealing. Also a paper clip or anything else. It does not matter if everyone does it. Also if you get to work late or leave early, or take a longer lunch break or stay longer in the bathroom; it is stealing. Or if you phone in and pretend to be unwell to take a day off. Remember - you do not work for your employer - you work for God. Everything you do in life should be to glorify God.

“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”

Gossip. tittle tattle, rumours; just for fun. Not meant to be taken seriously. If you pass on or listen to something bad about someone you have in effect stolen their good name and reputation. If you listen to gossip; take care that person may also be gossiping about you.

“Thou shalt not covet.”

I wish my Blog was as popular as yours ... OOOOPS !!!

Lord, I hope this day is good

 

FATHER FRANCIS MAPLE

 

WEBSITE

 

Lord, I hope this day is good
I'm feelin' empty and misunderstood
I should be thankful, Lord, I know I should
But Lord, I hope this day is good

 

Lord, have you forgotten me
I've been prayin' to you faithfully
I'm not sayin' I'm a righteous man
But Lord, I hope you understand

 

I don't need fortune and I don't need fame
Send down the thunder, Lord, send down the rain
But when you're plannin' just how it will be
Plan a good day for me

 

Lord, I hope this day is good
I'm feelin' empty and misunderstood
I should be thankful, Lord, I know I should
But Lord, I hope this day is good

 

You've been the King since the dawn of time
All that I'm asking is a little less crime
It might be hard for the devil to do
But it would be easy for You

 

Lord, I hope this day is good
I'm feelin' empty and misunderstood
I should be thankful, Lord, I know I should
But Lord, I hope this day is good

I believe ...

 

I believe ... ... ... 

How often do we utter these words in conversation. I believe that this and that will happen. Or I believe so and so will do this soon. Or I believe that ... ... ... 

When we say "I believe" we are relying on our instinct, gut feelings, inner soul, intuition or whatever else you wish to call it; together with a degree of facts we know about. It is mostly instinct or intuition rather than fact. Some may call it faith. To believe something without really knowing it for sure. You know what it's like ... you believe in something, or that something will happen.

How about this: I believe in God.

What?

You believe in something or Someone you have not seen and have only read about in books and hearsay? Is hearsay admissible in Court? How can you believe without any proof whatsoever? You believe blindly and call it faith.

To have faith is to believe when your common sense tells you not to.

 

FATHER FRANCIS MAPLE

 

CLICK WEBSITE

 

 I believe for every drop of rain that falls a flower grows
I believe that somewhere in the darkest night a candle glows
I believe for everyone who goes astray someone will come to show the way
I believe, I believe

I believe above the storm the smallest prayer will still be heard
I believe that someone in the great somewhere hears every word
Every time I hear a newborn baby cry or touch a leaf or see the sky
Then I know why I believe

Every time I hear a newborn baby cry or touch a leaf or see the sky
Then I know why I believe