Medytacjefaith
środa, 17 sierpień 2011 22:35

Science and faith (Wed/9/I)

Jerusalem, Notre Dame, 6th June 2007

 

Today‘s gospel is very a good example for discussion: science and faith.

Sadducees were well educated people in the time of Jesus. And they didn’t believe in the resurrection and they had a logical argumentation. They thought: “We are right! Jesus is wrong! The resurrection is illogical!”
Jesus believed in resurrection and he had also a logical argumentation. And more: He said to them “You are greatly misled”.
So we have problem. On the one hand Sadducees: “we are right”. On the other hand: Jesus: “You are greatly misled”. Where is the truth?

The Sadducees didn’t believe in the argumentation of Jesus. In the Act o Apostles we read they still don’t believe in the resurrection. So even Jesus didn’t convince them of the life after death. 
But what is important Sadducees didn’t have more arguments, or better arguments. They only didn’t have courage to confess that the faith is a matter of grace and not a matter of argumentation.

The same problem we have nowadays. A lot of people - especially scientists - have  a lot arguments against our faith. And we have a lot arguments in favour of our faith. And we can repeat with Jesus "You are greatly misled". But what we don’t like it and it is not fair, when the people abuse the scientific authority to say something against God, church and faith. Science and logic are never against God because he is the master of the universe. So we ask: “Dear scientist. Don’t say: it’s against science or logic. Be honest, please. Just say: I don’t have a grace to believe in God”.

Dział: Sermons
środa, 17 sierpień 2011 19:41

Faith and Progress (Fr/3/I)

Jerusalem, Notre Dame, 26th January 2007

 

What is common in today’s two parables?
Both are speaking about the Kingdom of Heaven and both are speaking about the progress.
The land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. A mustard seed is the smallest. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants. 

I think in these parables we have one of the keys why the people leave the Church, God and faith.
The human being like progress. Yesterday I had 20 $ and today I have 40. So I see it works. It is a progress. My job yields a specific fruit. 6 years ago I knew two languages. Today I speak 4. So I see it works. My study is useful.
The people work when they see any progress.

If somebody has belived in God and after 10, 20, 40 years he doesn’t see any fruits he can say: It is senseless! It doesn’t work! Something is wrong! And he can stop to believe or to practice the faith.

Jesus says today: In the true Kingdom of God there is specific, real and visible progress.
If in my faith I don’t see any fruits surely there is not problem of the Gospel.

Dział: Sermons
piątek, 12 sierpień 2011 13:12

Two problems with one Gospel (7C)

Jerusalem-Notre Dame, 18th February 2007

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters!
What kind of comment can I do after this Gospel?
Should I say: Don’t take Jesus’ words in the literal sense?
O maybe I should explain what does mean: do not withhold your tunic or give to everyone who asks of you, orsomething else?
I was thinking a lot about today’s Gospel, but I couldn’t find any interesting topic.

I think we have two great problems with today’s gospel.
The first: it’s the problem of our faith.
Do you believe in Jesus’ words? Do I believe that what Jesus said is true? Can you say with honesty: Yes, I agree! I should bless those who curse me. I should pray for those who mistreat me. I should offer the other cheek, when the person strikes me on one cheek. Do you agree?
This is the first problem of this gospel. Maybe we don’t believe in the deep of our hearts in these words, perhaps we don’t agree with Jesus and we want to cry: O, Lord! It’s impossible to live in that way!
If we don’t believe in these Jesus words we have to pray: Lord Jesus, give me the grace to believe in you, to believe in what you are saying, to believe that only you are right, only you know what is the best for me and for my life. 

The second problem is to put these Jesus’ words into practise. Maybe we believe that Jesus is right, that it would be great to live as Jesus taught us, but we don’t have any force to love those who are against us.
In this case it would be very usefully to choose one of Jesus words and focus all you desire and all your faith to put only this one suggestion into practice.
Stop judging!
Give everyone who asks of you!
Do to others as you would have them to do you!
Lend expecting nothing back!
Stop condemning!
Bless those who curse you!
Pray for those who mistreat you!
Forgive!
Which of these words is the most important and the most needed now in your life? 

Dear Brothers and Sisters!
The Lent is coming. So let us do something to believe and to put into practise at least one of Jesus’ words. Because the one who will not follow Jesus’ difficult steps, will never find the tomb of  the resurrection, either in this life or in the life to come.
Lord, Jesus Christ!
Help us to  love our enemies.
Give us the grace to be kind to everybody.
Strengthen us, when we are too weak to put your words into practise. And never allow us to lose the faith that only with you the live is everlasting resurrection. Amen.

Dział: Sermons
piątek, 12 sierpień 2011 13:43

What, if not money? (19C)

New York, St. Margaret, 12th August 2007

 

Dear Friends in Faith.
Last Sunday we spoke about money.
Jesus said: Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.
Jesus warned about money. But if not money what else? 

Today’s second reading has no doubt.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out not knowing where he was to go.
By faith he sojourned in the promised land.
By faith he received power to generate, even though he was past the normal age.
By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac.

Today’s second reading is only an abridgement of the eleventh chapter from the letter to the Hebrews. If we go there we can read more:
By faith Abel offered to God a sacrifice greater than Cain's.
By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death.
By faith Noah built an ark for the salvation of his household.
By faith Joseph, near the end of his life, spoke of the Exodus of the Israelites.
By Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king's fury.
By faith they crossed the Red Sea as if it were dry land.
By faith the walls of Jericho fell.
What more shall I say? I have not time to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, did what was righteous, obtained the promises; they closed the mouths of lions, put out raging fires, escaped the devouring sword; out of weakness they were made powerful, became strong in battle, and turned back foreign invaders.
By faith.
If not money what else?
Only faith. Nothing else. 

By faith I’m not afraid of the death. I know the afterlife is better than now.
By faith I’m not afraid to be alone. I know who believes is never alone.
By faith I’m not afraid of any man. Jesus says to me:
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more.
By faith I’m not afraid to lose anything. Saint Paul says to me:
I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need.
By faith I’m not afraid of the hate:
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you.
By faith.

I believe in God, because he says to me:
Though the mountains leave their place and the hills be shaken, My love shall never leave you.
I believe in God, because he says to me:
Can a mother forget her infant? Even should she forget.... I will never forget you”.
I believe in God, because he never lies, he never exploits me, gives me power and joy, and certainty my life is not gong to be wasted.
I believe in God because even though I’m not better than unbelievers, he forgives me all my sins and give me peace in my heart.
I believe in God because I can’t believe in myself.
I promise in every confession that I will improve and I don’t.
I want to be a good Christian and still I do a lot of things against my faith. 

I believe in God and I trust him.
That’s my life, my money, my fame.
That’s my world.
I agree with the today’s second reading.
Everything by faith.
I agree.
And you?
What about you?

Dział: Sermons

Konsola diagnostyczna Joomla!

Sesja

Informacje o wydajności

Użycie pamięci

Zapytania do bazy danych