3.18.25 - St. Joseph, St. Nicholas, Early Fathers of the Church II

Opening Prayer

Trinitarian Prayer

Father, thank you for loving us into existence, and for coming back for us when we turn our backs on you.

Lord Jesus, thank you for coming here and walking in our shoes; for showing us the way; for paying our way; for leaving yourself behind in the Eucharist and for sending your Holy Spirit to help us the rest of the way.

Holy Spirit, fill every space inside of us, make us wise and strong, and leave no room for temptation to enter!

And as Jesus taught us to pray… together

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:        LENT… Ash Wednesday, March 5, through the Lord’s Supper, April 17

March 19, Solemnity of St. Joseph 

TODAY: 

·       Catholic Lay Ministry:  Cursillo Invitation

·       Feast of St. Joseph

·       Reading for the 3rd Sun in Lent (3/23) – The Fruit of Repentance, Luke 13:1-9

·       Early Fathers/Heresies/Councils of the Church – II and St. Nick!

Quote of the Week: 

Language is the clothing of your thoughts. Always try to look your best. – Samual Johnson

Cursillo 

Recall how in the first three centuries Christians had to meet secretly in small groups for fear of persecution or death. It is that way in some countries but not here, and yet we don’t meet to support each other except by chance at Sunday masses or groups like this. That shouldn’t be. What would you think of being part of such a small group who met for coffee once a week or so to talk about God in their lives? This was the reason the Cursillo Movement began in Spain in the 1940s. I recently found out about it because Fr. Tuck – who some of you know and with whom I play racquetball – convinced me to give it a try late last year. It starts out with a single 3-day retreat at the Mission Hurst in Arlington. After that, you continue to meet in a smaller group (the same one) generally once a week for coffee and danish (or whatever) for an hour. I’ve been doing this for the last 6 months and its cool, so I’m letting you know about it.

Cursillo (cur-see-yo) is a lay Catholic movement. It is about friends helping friends grow in Christ and shared Christian values in our challenging world. As I said, Cursillo began in Spain about 80 years ago and has spread to many countries throughout the world.  Their purpose is to reinforce the Christian understanding and principles in our daily home and work lives, so we can go deeper in our journey with Christ.

There is a Men’s Retreat occurring on April 24-27, 2025, at Missionhurst in Arlington, Virginia, and a Women’s Retreat there later this year in the Fall. I am on the team that’s organizing this next retreat. If you are interested in attending, or learning more about this movement, please contact Jim Ward (Jim.B.Ward@gmail.com). The contact person for the Women’s Retreat is Jennifer Pence (Jennifer.pence@gmail.com).   

The Feast Day of St. Joseph – March 19

We are sometimes surprised by how few times Mary is mentioned in the New Testament (actually, it’s 19 times and she speaks in 3 of them). Well, then, meet Joseph!  Seven mentions and 0 words (unless his dreams count).

Like Mary, Joseph’s quietude in Scripture is not a sign of unimportance but of deep faith and humility – even an example for all of us. The fact is that Joseph had a tall order – to raise and protect the two most important people who ever lived – Mary and Jesus. His strength was in his patience, meekness, and his confident trust in God’s plans. His actions and the way he responded to God’s call are what defined his character and his significance in the narrative of Jesus’ life. For me, listening to The Life of Mary as Seen by the Mystics (Raphael Brown), the humility of Mary and Joseph redefined humility. They do nothing for themselves, ever. EVER. Joseph was a hard-working, nose-to-the-grindstone kind of guy who channels his relationship with God regularly for the faith and strength needed for every challenge ahead. Joseph had nothing to prove, needed no clicks or likes, no need to self-promote. He was content to live as God called him – to be the man he was made to be.

What are the seven mentions of Joseph in the New Testament?

1 Genealogy of Jesus – Mt 1:16

2 Annunciation to Mary – Luke 1:27

3 Annunciation to Joseph (dream) – Mt 1:18-25

4 Flight to Egypt (dream) – Mt 2:13-15

5 Return from Egypt (dream) – Mt 2:19-23

6 Presentation at the Temple – Luke 2:22

7 Finding Jesus in the Temple – Luke 2:41-52

In Scripture, the story of Joseph begins at the end of Jesus’ lineage in Matthew that begins with Abraham and ends with Joseph.  

“… and Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ. Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. (Mt. 1:16, 18-21, 24)

I personally have recently starting asking for Joseph’s intercession so I can better mirror his work and life ethic. I wrote a prayer for this which I will share, but if you don’t’ like it, just ignore it!  I like to ask for Mary’s intercessions as well, so I am getting a two-fer by getting her blessing.)  

Mary, if I may seek your husband’s assistance…       

Hail Joseph filled with grace; the Lord is with you.

Blessed are you among men, and blessed is the holy family you raised and protected in the most unpredictable of times.

Holy and humble Joseph, foster father of our Lord,

Pray for me to emulate your daily work and life ethic this today

– that my every minute and breath be for God –

Now, and for the rest of my days, and in the hour of my death. Amen.

       Reading for the 3rd Sun in Lent (3/23) – The Fruit of Repentance, Luke 13:1-9

Context:  To understand what Jesus is talking about today, it helps to know that in biblical times it was generally believed that bad things happened to bad people and good things happened to good people. In fact, that’s what the book of Job is mostly about – bad, horrible things happen to a good man, Job. His friends keep telling him, “You must be hiding something because there’s no way all these bad things would be happening to you if you were a good guy!” Indeed, Job was a good man and so the story was a lesson that in this life, bad things may happen to good people and good things may happen to bad people, but this life doesn’t have the final say. All justice will be evened out on Judgment Day.  

That said, perfect justice can be scary, especially since most humans would be crushed by perfect justice. Just think of every selfish thought or action you ever did!  Thank God he sent Jesus to pay for our injustices in order that we could receive forgiveness. It is also important to understand that forgiveness isn’t a one-off. Every request for forgiveness is sets up the next request, because this is how we develop spiritually and build a relationship with God by seeking his help and wisdom.

Jesus gives us two examples to illustrate that bad things don’t automatically imply bad people. Then he finishes with a short parable about a fruitless fig tree that is given some extra time to bear fruit. Afterwards, we will discuss who is who in the story, so pay attention.

Luke 13:1-9

Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices.

Jesus said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this waythey were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent,you will all perish as they did! Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them – do you think they were more sinful than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!”And he told them this parable: There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, “For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?”

He said to him in reply, “Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and  fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.”

Exegesis = Interpretation/Explanation

Pilate massacres the Galileans

Was Pilate such a bad guy that he would massacre a bunch if Galileans who’d come to worship at the Temple?

            Yes, indeed. Pilate was vindictive and cruel. He also hated Herod Antipas, who ruled over Galilee, so it could have been connected to that. Or, the Galileans may have caused a distrurbance related to the strict Roman rule over Jerusalem. We don’t know which, but here’s a passage about Pilate from a contemporary historian, Philo:

    The Tower of Siloam

The only record we have of the falling tower of Siloam is via this passage in Luke. Siloam was one of several pools in Jerusalem supplied by aqueducts. This is the same pool where Jesus healed the man blind from birth (Jn 9:1-7). Apparently, a tower next to this pool collapsed killing 18 people. Again, Jesus says:   

Do you think they were more sinful than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! (v.4)

Yet, the point that bad things can happen to good people and vice versa is only Jesus’ secondary point. The main point Jesus wants to make comes next. It’s about the need for repentance and the time that’s left.

What is the message about time?

            He is pointing out that the end for the Galileans who were massacred came unexpectedly and abruptly. We don’t know when our time is up. Surely the people who died when the tower fell didn’t know their time was up, either. The same is true for us – we don’t know when. We only have this life to repent. Don’t wait.

What does Jesus mean by “repentance”?

The root of repent comes from regret, but intensified. It means to regret so much as to be willing to change oneself – to turn in the opposite direction. It means to turn away from our self-centered ways and towards a God-centered life. The Greek word commonly used for this is metanoia (meta=to transform + noia=your mind).

Parable of the Fig Tree – the owner grants his vinedresser another year to see if the fig tree will bear fruit. 

Who is the owner of the orchard? God

What does the orchard represent?           Israel

Who does the fig tree represent?  The Old Covenant people of God (Jews); the only tree mentioned in Eden.

Who is the vinedresser?                               Jesus

What does the fruit represent?                  Our actions/behavior, primarily humility, compassion, and good works. 

Israel has been given a land like Eden to make anew. Since the Fall, the fig tree too often produces no fruit. Jesus is calling them back (repent/metanoia) to God’s ways. For three years he has been preaching to the Jews and time is running out. Now he is heading to Jerusalem for the last time.

Just prior to His Ascension, Jesus will instruct his faithful remnant of the new Israel – his Apostles/disciples – to take the New Covenant Gospel message of salvation to the "ends of the earth" – “to the Gentile nations of the world” (Mt 28:19-20; Acts 1:8). 

Early Fathers and Councils of the Church

Early Fathers of the Church (called “Patristics”)

Review:  The early church fathers were a group of thinkers and leaders who lived and wrote during earliest centuries of the Church, from the first century to roughly the 7th century. 

The Early Church Fathers are generally grouped into three categories: 

1.    Apostolic Fathers – those church fathers who knew/were disciples of the twelve apostles.

2.    Ante-Nicene Fathers – church fathers before the Council of Nicaea (2nd century to 325 AD).

3.    Post-Nicene Fathers – church fathers after the Council of Nicaea (325 AD to the 7th century).  

The Fathers of the Church contributed thousands of writings that we still have today. They could fill libraries. Augustine alone had over a thousand. They universally support the teachings of the Catholic Church, such as the special reverence due Mary, the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, the Apostolic authority of the Church of Rome, and the existence of Purgatory, just to name a few.

Fathers of the Church

The Fathers of the Church can be divided into three categories:

Apostolic Fathers – connected to the Apostles.

·        Apostolic Documents: The Didache (70-85), Epistle of Barnabas (80-110AD), The Shepherd of Hermas (90-120)

·        St. Clement of Rome: 3rd Pope (88-97AD), disciple of Peter, ordained by Peter.

·        St. Ignatius of Antioch: (50-117 AD) – appointed by Peter as bishop of Antioch; later became a disciple of John.  

·        St. Polycarp of Smyrna: (69-155) – disciple of John.  

Ante-Nicene Fathers – disciples of the disciples of the Apostles, prior to the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD.    

·        St. Justin Martyr (100-165) 

·        St. Irenaeus of Lyons: (140-202 AD) – a disciple of Polycarp

·        St. Clement of Alexandria (150-216 AD)

·        Tertullian (160-230 AD)

·        Origin (185-254 AD)

·        St. Cyprian of Carthage (200-258 AD)

·        Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea, historian (260-334)

Post-Nicene Fathers:   

·        Aphraates, Sage of Persia (280-345 AD)

·        St. Ephraim (306-373 AD)

·        St. Athanasius (295-373AD)

·        St. Cyril of Jerusalem (315-350-386AD)

·        St. Hilary of Poitiers (310-368 AD)

·        St. Basil the Great (330-379 AD)

·        St. Gregory of Nazianz (330-390 AD)

·        St. Gregory of Nyssa (335-394 AD)

·        St. Epiphanius of Salamis (315-413 AD)

·        Theodore of Mopsuestia (428 AD)

·        St. Ambrose (333-397 AD)

·        St. John Chrysostom (349-407 AD)

·        St. Jerome (347-420 AD)

·        St. Augustine (354-430 AD)

·        St. Cyril of Alexandria (375-444 AD)

·        St. Leo the Great (400-461 AD)

·        St. Boethius (480-524 AD)

·        St. Gregory the Great (540-604 AD)

Church Councils

The purpose of the Church Councils is to settle questions of faith and practice, promote unity, and address other issues affecting the Church, which would include any new heresies. These councils facilitate deliberation among bishops and leaders as they seek to ensure the Church’s teachings align with its mission and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Their goal is to preserve the integrity and constancy of our apostolic faith.

Often the Councils had to deal with heresies. What is a heresy?

A heresy is when an official within the Church teaches something that does not conform to Church teachings.

Important Church Councils throughout history

50 AD            Council of Jerusalem

325 AD          First Council of Nicaea

381 AD          First Council of Constantinople

393 AD          Council of Hippo

397 AD          Council of Carthage

431 AD          Council of Ephesus

451 AD          Council of Chalcedon

553 AD          Second Council of Constantinople

681 AD          Third Council of Constantinople

731 AD          Second Council of Nicaea

869 AD          Fourth Council of Constantinople

1123 AD        First Council of the Lateran

1130 AD        Second Council of the Lateran

1179 AD        Third Council of the Lateran

1215 AD        Fourth Council of the Lateran

1245 AD        First Council of Lyon

1274  AD      Second Council of Lyon

1311 AD        Council of Vienne

1415 AD        Council of Constance

1431 AD        Council of Basel-Ferrara-Florence

1512 AD        Fifth Council of the Lateran

1545 AD        Council of Trent

1869 AD        First Vatican Council

1962 AD        Second Vatican Council

When was the Bible established?

            It was started at the Council of Hippo (393) and finalized at the Council of Carthage (397). Before this, the writings were like the Jewish Scriptures – you had individual books/treatises on Genesis, Isaiah, etc., but the Jews never gathered them into one book until the 3rd century AD.  Same for Christianity, but Christianity was growing fast and unapproved writings were appearing, so the Church decided to formalize which books were correct/inspired and which were not. There were 73 books finalized (46 Old Testament + 27 New Testament) at the Council of Carthage in 397 by the Church, which was confirmed again at the Council of Trent in 1545 after the Protestant Reformation sought to remove 7 OT books.  

What was the criteria established by the Church to determine the canon of Scripture.

For the Old Testament, the Church used the Septuagint, which was what the 1st and 2nd BC/AD century Jews used. It was the translation of Hebrew Scriptures into Greek about 250 BC. It is what Jesus and the Apostles would have used.

For the New Testament, the criteria was:

1.    Apostolic Origin – A primary criterion was that it written or taught by one of the Apostles or their disciples (Luke…).  

2.    Orthodoxy – It had to conform to the “Rule of Faith”– the core teachings of the Gospels and the Apostles.    

3.    Universal Acceptance – The writings had to be commonly accepted and used across the entire Church. 

4.    Spiritual and Theological Value – The writings needed to demonstrate theological and salvific significance.

5.    Guidance from the Holy Spirit – they prayed for guidance from the Holy Spirit each step of the way.

2025 is the 1700 Year Anniversary

The Council of Nicaea, 325 AD was the first truly major council in the history of the Church. The reason one didn’t happen earlier is that Christianity wasn’t legal in the Roman Empire until 313 AD. The Church was “underground.”

Emperor Constantine, whose mother was a Christian, approved the Council and sat in as an observer.

Key Issues and Decisions:

·       The Heresy of Arianism: The primary issue was the controversy surrounding the priest Arius in North Africa, who claimed that the Son of God was created and not co-eternal with the Father. The council condemned Arius' teachings and affirmed the doctrine of the Trinity, declaring that the Son is "consubstantial" (homoousias- same essence) with the Father.

·       The Nicene Creed was established to articulate and affirm the essential doctrines of the Christian faith, particularly in response to heresies like Arianism. It was to serve as a unifying declaration of belief for the Church, ensuring clarity and consistency in the understanding of God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

·       Date of Easter: The council also addressed the calculation of the date of Easter, establishing a unified method for its observance across the Christian world, distinct from the Jewish Passover.

·       Church Governance: The council dealt with issues of church governance, particularly the authority given to bishops.

Tradition also tells us of a fascinating story about Bishop Nicholas of Myra who attended the Council of Nicaea.

Who is Bishop Nicholas of Myra?

Alongside 317 other bishops, St. Nicholas participated in the Council of Nicaea, the first formal council of the Church, in 325 A.D. One of the purposes of the Council was to resolve confusion caused by the Arian heresy over the nature of Jesus Christ the Son and his relationship to the Father. Arian claimed that Jesus was not equal with God and that he was more of a finite being, like a super-angel, who ought to be worshipped but not the same as God. Not only was this a new teaching, but it would mean worshipping two Gods, making Christianity a polytheistic religion.

At the Council, legend has it that while Arius was defending his teaching in front of the 317 bishops, Nicholas couldn’t believe his ears and walked up to the front of the room face to face with Arius and slapped him. Arius called for Nicholas’ expulsion or death, but didn’t get his wish. Constantine said it was the Church’s meeting and the Bishops would have to decide. The Bishops decided to put Nicholas in time-out until the Council was over and then sent him home to Myra.

Early painting of Nicholas slapping Arius at the Council of Nicaea

The biggest outcome of the Council was the creation of the Nicene Creed that we now pray at Mass every Sunday. Perhaps the greatest “gift” of St. Nicholas was his help with the Creed!

Closing Prayer

Prayer of St. Nicholas

O good St. Nicholas, you who are the joy of the children,

put in my heart the spirit of childhood, which the gospel speaks, and teach me to seed happiness around me.

You, whose feast prepares us for Christmas, open our faith to the mystery of God made man.

Hail Mary, full of grace,

the Lord is with thee.

Blessed are thou among 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.