05.28.24 - Member Question Tuesday

House rules/notes…

1.      Our meeting/classes are In-Person at St. John Neumann Catholic Church 11900 Lawyers Road, Reston, VA 20191 https://saintjn.org/  (usually held downstairs in Room 5), or ONLINE via Zoom (see #2).

2.      To sign up for Zoom notifications and to receive the Meeting Recaps, go to www.meetup.com/catholicbiblestudy and join us! The Zoom Logon is the same every week:  Zoom ID: 861 1782 2081  Password: 406952.  

3.      After each meeting, I send out Meeting Recaps of what we discussed. Please remember these recaps are unedited and without the pictures. The edited version with pictures will be posted on our website before the next class at www.catholiccatacombs.org. Taylor will notify everyone at that time and provide a link.

4.      Questions encouraged. If you have questions, we ask that you keep them on topic and brief. You can ask in the chat box during the class, or email through Meetup.com, or email me at ron@hallagan.net afterwards.

5.      Respectfulness. We will be discussing differences between religions and between Christian denominations, and we agree to be respectful at all times. Protestants especially are our friends and brothers-in-Christ; in fact, I personally owe part of my return to the faith to them!

6.      No politics.  It would be easy for us to self-destruct, but that’s not our goal. Our goal is to learn/understand/apply the Bible and our Catholic faith.

7.      Catholic Prayer & Fellowship. Are you interested in praying the rosary, etc. with other Catholics during the week?  Follow fellow member Jason Goldberg at https://www.meetup.com/online-catholic-prayer-fellowship-and-spirituality/.  Daily/weekly prayer is saintly!

8.      “The Chosen” TV series.  All of us seek a relationship with Jesus Christ, which is not always easy. It can help if we have seen and heard Him. The Chosen captures Jesus better than any show I have ever seen. Highly recommended. 

9.      RSVP Reminder:  Please RSVP whether you are attending the meeting or just reading the Recaps afterwards. The more RSVPs, the more Meetup will give exposure to “Catholic Bible Study” – a good thing!

Catholic Catacombs website:  www.CatholicCatacombs.org 

Bible Study Format:   Each week of the month has a repeating topic, as noted below.

Each meeting: 5 min greet, prayer, 10-15 min Catholic topic, 40-45 min main topic. 

Week 1:  Gospel Week   

Week 2:  Bible Week (Gen to Rev):  We are in The Book of 1 Samuel. 

Week 3:  Survey Topics Voted on by Members:       

x 1) Jesus’ Greatest Parables      x 2) Hell, Purgatory, Heaven      x 3) Comparative Religions  

    4) Great Women in the Bible                 5) Book of Revelation             6) Fathers, Heresies, and Church Councils

Week 4: Member Questions:

1.     What is “conscience?” To answer this we must also define our soul, free will, and our passions, and how these relate to each other.

2.     How do I live my Christian faith at work when my faith is not accepted there?

3.     What should our response be to those who ask us about priestly sex abuse?

4.     What about the atheist who leads a good life? Can I be a person be good apart from God?

5.     Miracles since the NT

6.     What’s the difference between Charity and Love? What are the highest forms of charity?

7.     Was King David good or bad? Was Emperor Constantine good or bad? Was he a Christian? What is a prophet?

8.     Why does God allow suffering?

9.     What do you think a day in the life of God is like to Him?

10.                        What is Tradition? Is Tradition equal to Scripture in importance? (2Thes2:15)

Today

1.     Apologetics: Explanation and Defense of Purgatory

2.            

2. Gospel Reading: Corpus Christi Sunday (Solemnity of the Body & Blood of Jesus Christ)

Opening Prayer 

Thank You, Father, for the hedge of protection that You bring in response to our faith.

Thank You that through the righteousness of Jesus we can confidently trust in

Your peace and safety for our lives and homes knowing that Your angels are always on guard.

We believe today, in Jesus' Name!

As you taught us to pray…

Our Father

Who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily Bread;

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Upcoming major holy days of note:

June 2 – Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi Sunday)           

August 15 – Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Quote of the Week:

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord; whoever eats this bread will live forever.” –Jn 6:51

“The school of Christ is the school of love. In the last day, when the general examination takes place… Love will be the whole syllabus.” – St. Robert Bellarmine

Apologetics and Exegesis Terms

Exegesis is the study/interpretation of the Word of God. If Jesus IS the Word of God, then you might also say that exegesis is the study/interpretation of Jesus. In a way, then, Jesus is also the exegesis of the Father!  A more down to earth definition: exegesis is the study and interpretation of the Word of God (Scripture). It is what we do every week. You are all exegetes.

Catholic Apologetics– apologetics means to defend a belief, so Catholic Apologetics is tIn e art of defending the Catholic faith using reason, tradition, and Scripture.   

Apologetics of the Week:   Defense of Purgatory – the importance of seeking forgiveness.

First, what is Purgatory?

            Purgatory is the anteroom to Heaven, meaning everyone who enters Purgatory makes it into Heaven. Like a shower before entering the pool, we often are in need to cleansing before we can enter Heaven. That is because we cannot take unrepented, sinful baggage with us into Heaven. Heaven is perfect and allowing sins in would ‘un-perfect’ it.

Purgatory, the Anteroom to Heaven – some basic Q&A:

• Did the Jews and the Apostles and Early Christian Fathers believe in a middle state between Heaven and Hell?

Yes. Eventually, it was given the name “Purgatory.”  

• Why don’t Protestants believe in it?

Because they don’t see the word “Purgatory” mentioned in the Bible.

• Is the idea of Purgatory supported in the Bible?

Yes, in both the New and Old Testaments. Below we will review Scriptural support for Purgatory.

• What happens in Purgatory?

We atone for our unrepented/unreconciled sins so we can enter Heaven.

·         What is prayer?

Prayer is both ongoing reconciliation and communion with God. Purgatory is place of prayer where unfinished reconciliation is completed and pure communion with God can proceed in Heaven.

Dante’s Paradiso (second book of the Divine Comedy trilogy)

Salvation and Justification. Since Protestants often make use of the word “Justification,” let’s discuss what it means. Justification is a kind of a legal term that has to do with our salvation.

After humans were given free will, humans followed the devil instead of God ( we call this “the Fall of Man”); consequently, humans lost sanctifying grace, the Holy Spirit, and therefore access to Heaven. This choice against God is also called mankind’s “Original Sin.”  

Justification is when fallen man is “made just again” so that he/she can enter Heaven. This was made possible by Jesus’ dying for our sins. That’s because when Christ died as a sinless

human on the cross, God accepted that as payment for our sins and Heaven was reopened to mankind. It is important to note that humans did nothing to deserve this or earn it. It was a pure gift (grace) of God’s sacrificial love. Because of this cancelation of the Fall, all humans are invited to start over and follow God again. Since humans have retain their free will, following God is still a choice each of us must make.

Making the Choice to Follow God.

One becomes “justified” when he/she has faith in Jesus Christ and receives the sacrament of Baptism. All sins are wiped out, we receive sanctifying grace, and the Holy Spirit enters our souls. Baptism is the official seal of our justification and we thereby become a member of the Body of Christ. Therefore, by the cross of Christ and the grace of the HS, we are saved.  

Most Protestants believe this single act of Justification ensures one’s Salvation, and one can only lose their salvation if they lose their faith. Catholics have always believed the first part – Jesus is the cause of our Justification – but that there is more to be done than a statement of faith. We believe that our faith requires that we return God’s love not only to Him but towards others by acts of love and charity (“good works”). If not, then our faith is empty. It would be like telling someone you love them but then never acting on that love.     

Said in different words, receiving Justification (sanctifying grace) at Baptism is like receiving a packet of heavenly seeds to plant a garden in our souls. Like any garden, we must care for it, nourish it, plant new fruit and flowers, and perform routine weeding! What do these mean?  Caring for it is living Christ’s commandment to love one another. Nourishing it is receiving more sanctifying grace through the Sacraments and getting to know God better through prayer and studying his Word. Weeding is getting rid of our sins along the way. Over time, this garden grows in beauty and gives back to us many times over, in this life but especially eternally.

Now, when we die, if we have not done a good job of removing our weeds, then fortunately these can still be erased in Purgatory. I say fortunately since no one can enter Heaven with even smallest remnants of sin. All Christians agree on this point. We must be perfectly holy (sanctified) to enter Heaven.  

Purgatory is an Extension of Forgiveness

The main problem all Christians have is that after Justification/Baptism we still sin. Therefore, we must continue to ask for forgiveness. This process of returning to God for forgiveness over and over is both how we build our relationship with God while our souls become increasingly conformed to the image of Christ. It’s how our garden grows.

Forgiveness is another gift since it is “free-for-the-asking” (Jesus paid for it). Ongoing forgiveness is a huge deal – it was the entire reason for the cross. Think about how much emphasis Jesus gave to forgiveness:

1)    He forgave people constantly during his ministry, even when they didn’t ask for it. How often did we hear:  

Your sins are forgiven!”

2)    Jesus made forgiveness central to the Lord’s Prayer:

Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. – Matthew 6:12

3)    Forgiveness was the core of the New Covenant Jesus gave to us at the Last Supper:

This is my blood of the New Covenant which will be poured out for the forgiveness of sins – Mt 26:28

4) Jesus showed us personally how to forgive one’s enemies while he was dying on the cross…

Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do. – Luke 23:34

5) Finally, what was the FIRST thing Jesus did after his Resurrection when he visited the Apostles in the Upper Room?   

He breathed on them and said, “What sins you forgive will be forgiven and what sins you retain will be retained.” – John 20:23

Would it not be horrific to missed out on Heaven just because we had a few dozen (or even a few hundred) minor sins?  Of course it would, which is why God extends his forgiveness – a “grace period” we now call Purgatory.

Protestants might respond, “Don’t you believe Jesus’ death on the cross was sufficient to save us?”

            The answer is:  Of course it was, a million times over!  What’s missing is not on Jesus’ end but our end. Just saying “yes” and believing in Christ is what’s insufficient, for even the Devil believes in Jesus. What is important is to make these beliefs a part of our lives. Love and forgiveness must become verbs/actions, not mere thoughts or words.

Besides, if Christ’s forgiveness from the cross was sufficient for salvation, then why did he go to the Upper Room immediately after his Resurrection and instruct his disciples to start forgiving sins? That would make no sense.

Many Protestants have been taught that Catholics believe we can earn our way to Heaven with good works instead of by faith.   

            This is not true. Once again, for 2000 years Catholics have believed that without our faith and Jesus’ pure gift of grace, there is no salvation. We also believe that Jesus requires our good works as part of our response to his gift. So did the Apostles. As James said:

Faith, if it hath no works, is dead. – James 2:17

Moreover, Jesus said acts of charity were necessary for salvation. When explaining who would make it into Heaven on Judgment Day, he described how he would separate the sheep (Heaven) from the goats (Hell). In his examples of the sheep’s behavior, he described…

For when I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; when I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you invited me in; I needed clothes, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you looked after me; I was in prison, and you came to visit me. – Mt 25:35-37

Finally, Protestants are famous for saying that "Purgatory is not in the Bible.”  Let’s address this.

According to Protestants, humans either go straight to Heaven or Hell. Although this is a 16th century invention, this belief negates the need for a middle place like Purgatory. If this was true, then it would surely be a waste of time to pray for the dead since if they are already in Heaven, they don’t need our prayers! And if they are already in Hell, prayers won’t do them any good. This is useful to know because if we find people praying for the dead in the Bible, then the people they are praying for can only mean they must not yet be in either Hell or Heaven. They must be someplace else.

As for the word “Purgatory” not being in the Bible, this doesn’t hold water for the simple reason that there are many terms that Protestants both believe and use that are not found in the Bible, such as the Trinity, Christmas, Easter, Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, and even the word “Bible” – to name a few.  The word purgatory simply describes purifying us of the remnants of sin. We know it’s necessary because nobody can take their sins into Heaven and because many of us die with unreconciled sins. This makes Purgatory  a GREAT GIFT; one that enables many, many more people to enter Heaven.

As for the idea of Purgatory – this middle place – we can indeed find references in Scripture. Here is a sampling:

1.     Matthew 5:26 (Jesus preaching)

“Whoever says a word against the Son of man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”

This passage, "forgiven in the age to come" cannot happen in Heaven or Hell. Heaven has no sin, and Hell is permanent.

2.     Matthew 12:32 (Jesus teaching about preparing for Judgment Day)…

"First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”

Once again, "not get out until you have paid the last penny" can only be referring to Purgatory.

3.     1 Corinthians 3:11-15 (Paul is also speaking about our judgment after this life):

"It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder may suffer loss but yet be saved – even though only as one escaping through the flames." 

Once again, “suffer loss but yet be saved… only as one escaping through flames” can only be Purgatory. BTW, the "flames" are not considered physical – he said “as” through flames; remember, we are talking about our spiritual souls. Fire is a metaphor using the analogy of how gold and silver are purified by fire to remove all its impurities (i.e., sins).

This interpretation of the above passage was expounded on in the writings of St Augustine in his “City of God” (XXI.26) in 426 AD, which then after became standard accepted reading throughout Christendom.

4.     2 Maccabees 12:41-46 (after a battle against the Greek Seleucids, the Jews praying for their dead, 164 BC):

But under the tunic of the dead soldiers, they found amulets of the gods worshipped in Jamnia, which the Law forbids Jews to wear; and it became clear to all why these men had fallen. So they praised the ways of the LORD, the just judge who reveals all that is hidden, and taking themselves to prayers, they begged the Lord that their sin might be wholly blotted out… He also took up a collection from his troops and sent 2,000 silver coins to Jerusalem as payment for a sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the dead… Therefore, he made atonement for the dead, so that they may be delivered from their sin. – 2 Maccabees 12:41-46

Q: The Protestants are likely to respond to this last one by saying they don’t have the Book of Maccabees in their Bible. It was in the Bible up until the 16th century AD, so why did they remove it?

            Because the in the 16th century the Protestants decided to follow the Jewish Bible and they don’t include Maccabees. However, the Jews didn’t establish their Bible until several centuries after Christ died and only then decided to accept Hebrew texts as inspired; the only extant copy of Maccabees was in Greek. That’s kind of funny because the Jews celebrate Hanukkah and the only place where Hanukkah is found is in the Book of Maccabees! We also know that Hanukkah (also called the “Feast of the Dedication”) was a time-honored tradition among the first century Jews because Jesus celebrated it. Jesus went to Jerusalem for the celebration of the Feast of Dedication in John 10:22. Therefore, this long-time tradition of Jews praying for the dead was part of Jesus’ own religious practice.   

Church Authority. This last passage has to do with the Church’s authority to interpret Scripture, granted by Jesus. Jesus not only tells the Apostles to go out and baptize all nations (their new mission as the new Church), but also …

“Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven." – Matthew 18:18-20 

Jesus herein gives the authority to the Church to teach and interpret the faith, in order to prevent false prophets and countless others from interpreting Scripture for their own purposes. It requires the Church to analyze, interpret, and explain concepts like the Trinity, Justification, Salvation, and Purgatory, to create the Creed, and establish which books make up the Bible. That is exactly what the Church has done since Apostolic times. It is what we call Apostolic Tradition.

Corpus Christi - The Solemnity of Body and Blood of Christ

Corpus Christi is a celebration of the body and blood of Christ. Corpus Christi is Latin for Body of Christ. As you know, the Last Supper is a solemn event when read during Holy Week. This time it is a joyful celebration since we are looking back at it through the lens of what Jesus accomplished at Pentecost, and forward to the Lord’s eternal and Trinitarian presence given to us each time we receive the Eucharist. This is what Corpus Christi celebrates.

Gospel Reading Corpus Christi

Context: Since this is the year of Mark, our reading is taken from Mark’s Last Supper event. We will stop and comment on the meaning of the verses as we move through the reading.  

Mk 14:12-16, 22-26

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?"

Q: What is the Feast of Unleavened Bread?

Unleavened bread was eaten at the first Passover in Egypt because the enslaved Israelites had no time to leaven bread. It was the night before their escape and God told Moses to make sure everyone was ready to get out of town. Even today, no “leaven” is allowed in Jewish kitchens during this festival. The Festival of Unleavened Bread is 7 days long.

            The Passover is a 1-day celebration that is type of a reenactment of the first Passover night, which was both a meal and a sacrifice where God instructed them to roast/eat an unblemished lamb without breaking its bones and put the blood of the lamb on their doorposts so that the plague of death that was coming that night would “pass over” their homes. God also told the Jews to memorialize this event thereafter (anamnesis – repeat/re-present/re-enact) every year to never forget that God saved them from slavery and death – and to pass on to their children the torch of their relationship with Yahweh.    

            Of course, the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread are connected, and by Jesus’ time, they Passover were combined into one, 8-day event (Octave!) – with the Passover being the first day, and the names used interchangeably. 

            Today, the Jews do not technically celebrate Passover, because that would require a lamb sacrifice at the Temple in Jerusalem, and there is no Temple. What they celebrate is the Feast of the Unleavened Bread, although you will hear the term Passover being used.

Q: Why was blood so integral in Jewish sacrifices?

            Because blood represents life (Lev 17:11). In the Passover sacrifice - or other sacrifices for the atonement of sins – the life of the lamb was being offered up in their place to pay for their sins. It was not a removal of their sins but considered a “covering over” of their sins. This covering over of their sins was not permanent and therefore sacrifices had to happen often. When Christ sacrificed himself, two things happened: his sacrifice replaced the need for any further sacrifices, and the giving of his life doesn’t “cover over” our sins but instead removes them completely. Because of this, death ‐ the greatest obstacle from the Fall – no longer has hold over us. Jesus’ life is granted to us eternally.   

Q:  What does “atonement” for one’s sins mean?

            Atonement means to re-unify. At-ONE-ment.      

He sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?"' Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there. The disciples then went off, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover.

Q: Which two apostles do you think Jesus sent?

            Although Mark does not say, the Gospel of Luke does – it was Peter and John. Tradition also informs us that Jesus kept the whereabouts of the location of their Passover meal away from Judas, because He did not want to be arrested until after he could initiate the New Covenant at the Last Supper.  Remember just after the meal, Jesus told Judas to go and do what he must do. (John 13:27)

Q: Is there anything significant about meeting a man who was carrying a jar of water?

            Custom in those days was such that men did not carry jars of water, women did. The only exception was the Essenes, the Jewish sect that lived in a “monastery” 20 miles east of Jerusalem on the north edge of the Dead Sea (Qumran, site of the Dead Sea Scrolls). Some Essenes also lived in a section of Jerusalem called the Essene Quarter.

Jerusalem and the Essene Quarter (Upper Room)

While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, "Take it; this is my body." Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. (Mk 14:22-24)

These are shocking statements for his disciples. First, the phrase used by Jesus, “this is the blood of the covenant” is the same phrase used in the ratification of the Sinai covenant in Exodus 24:9-11. By saying this, he is making himself greater than Moses. Also, his words not only suggest his violent death in the shedding of his blood, but by asking them to eat his body is a serious violation of one of the prohibitions against consuming human flesh or blood in the Sinai Covenant, a statement that cost him some disciples earlier in John, when he said:

“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him on the last day.” – John 6:51

Q: How could Jesus ask his disciples to do what was forbidden on the Old Covenant Law?

                Because Jesus was no ordinary man. To consume the body and blood (life) of the Son of God is to be elevated to a share in His own divine life. What probably relieved the disciples was Jesus combining his soon-to-be-glorified flesh with the Bread of the Presence (manna) from the Ark of the Covenant.

Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."  Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Q: What is significant about Jesus skipping the last/fourth cup of the Passover meal?

  This is another shocker. The last (fourth) cup officially concluded the sacred meal. For the Jews, this would have been like the Catholic priest stopping Mass before Communion and suddenly giving the farewell blessing. Rather, Jesus tells them he will not drink this cup until he his new covenant work here is finished.

This cup is called the Cup of Consecration and it symbolically sealed and confirmed God’s covenant with Israel for another year. However, Jesus came to complete the Old Covenant and usher in the New Covenant, which he initiated at the Last Supper but would not be finished until his death on the cross.   

Q: When was Jesus’ task fulfilled?

In John 19:28-30.  Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said, “I thirst.” A bowl full of vinegar stood there, so they put a sponge full of vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. – John 19:28-30

In the stunning glory of this moment, you would think they’d have given him a fine French Cabernet or Burgundy!

Closing Prayer

Our Lord Jesus Christ, I come sick to the doctor of life, unclean to the fountain of mercy, blind to the radiance of eternal light, and poor and needy to the Lord of heaven and earth.

Lord, in your great generosity, heal my sickness … May I receive the Bread of angels, the King of kings and Lord of lords … with the purity and faith … that will help to bring me to salvation.

Hail Mary…

Full of grace, the Lord is with thee

blessed are thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.