THE HEART OF A SEMINARIAN

A Roman Catholic Seminarian opens up his Heart and shares the Faith he Loves.

 

COMMENT ON A PREVIOUS POST

Last week, a visitor made this challenging comment on my post on Lenten Sacrifices, which I included on this post.  I truly encourage comments and questions to all my posts.  When I do receive them, I would like to answer or clarify myself.  Thank you to all of you who have shared your comments.  Before I respond to this comment, I like to know what you think.  Does this person have a point?  Do you agree or disagree?  What is your view?   

First of all, I want to say that I enjoyed your blog. I think it is very knowledgeable, entertaining and insightful. However, I do have a question regarding a comment you made.

I am confused by your statement, “I wonder what the point of the sacrifice was if your just going to indulge afterwards.” If this is the case, then why do Catholics give up meat on Friday during Lent. Is this not the same concept of giving up something, but indulging afterwards?

Also, I am sure you will agree with me when I say people should always be trying to improve themselves whether spirituality, physically, or mentally. Therefore, I do not like the idea making a sacrifice, something that people should already be trying to do. I always considered making sacrifice, giving up a pleasure (for example, watching movies and candy) that the person really enjoys. Therefore, whenever the person would normally be enjoying this pleasure, they will now be thinking about the sacrifice that Jesus has made for them. For example, I bet every time your friend had the option to watch a movie and turned it down, one of the thoughts going through your friends head was of the sacrifice Jesus made.

This is just what I have always thought, and would be interested to hear a response from you. I guarantee you that you know more about this than I do. 

LENT BEGINS (previously posted on 2/10/05)

            As we look at these next 40 days, I will offer you my point of view about your Lenten sacrifice.  If Lent is the time to increase our focus on the sacrifice of Christ, then the Lenten sacrifice is the opportunity to unite ourselves with the sacrifice of Christ.  With that in mind, any sacrifice is a good sacrifice, but some are better than others.  I remember one tear when a friend gave up sweets and movies.  He did a great job throughout Lent, but once Lent ended, he invited people over all day for candy and movies.  I wondered what the point of the sacrifice was if he was just going to indulge afterwards.  Use this time to improve yourself.  What are challenges that you want to make a habit.  What about giving up snacks between meals or exercising/walking 3 times a week?  Those are good habits to form.  What about spiritual challenges?  In my opinion, everyone should choose one of these.  What up praying the rosary or praying it as a family at least once a week?  What about reading a chapter of the Bible every night or going to confession?  These are all good habits to form.   So let this Lent be the time that you not only joined your sacrifices with Christ, but also improved your life.

posted by: muniz at 19:34 | link | comments (1) |

IN MY LIFE

Last Saturday, I went to my cousin’s house to play a little poker.  In case you were wondering, I took all their money.  It is ok.  They view it as giving to the Church.  Anyway, my cousin has a 6 year old daughter, who is also my Goddaughter.  Before we started to play poker, Maddy wanted me to watch her color, which lead to a great opportunity for us to talk about stuff (politics, religion, NHL labor dispute, etc.).  While she was talking, she saw that I had something around my neck.  She asked “What is that?”  When I pulled out my necklace, I showed her my crucifix.  I said “Do you know who this is?”  She replied “Jesus.”  Also, I had a miraculous medal on the same chain.  I said “Do you know who this is?”  She replied “Mary.”  So far she was on fire.  I also had a scapular around my neck too, which had pictures of Jesus and Mary on each side.  I showed the picture of Jesus to her and asked her “Do you know who this is?”  She replied “Mary.”  I guess the long hair threw her off, but the beard should have given it away.  When I said “No”, she quickly said “Jesus.”  When I showed her the other side, she answered “Mary.”  At first, I was impressed that she is learning about her faith, but I started thinking.  My cousin probably told her to answer every question that I asked with either “Jesus” or “Mary”.  This would explain why for supper she got “Jesus” at McDonald’s and her favorite color is “Mary”.   

Also, a tough question came from Maddy.  She turned 6 on Jan. 18 and I turned 27 on Feb. 6.  She asked “If my birthday is in Jan. and yours is in Feb., then am I older than you?”  How do you answer that?  So I simply answered “Jesus”,  then “Mary”.  I guess that did not work for her. 

 

posted by: muniz at 23:05 | link | comments (3) |

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 

This is just an opportunity for anyone to ask questions about the Catholic faith, anything else pertaining to faith, or myself.

Question for you

If you could create a priest, what is a characteristic that he would have and why?

 

posted by: muniz at 23:26 | link | comments (3) |

SUNDAY’S READINGS FOR MASS

February 13, 2005 – 1^st Sunday of Lent

Genesis 2: 7 – 9, 3: 1 - 7

Psalm 51: 3 – 6, 12 – 13, 17

Romans 5: 12 - 19

Matthew 4: 1 - 11

 Explanation

The objective for the first week of Lent is to emphasize the reason for the season of Lent.  The main message for these readings is our sinful nature.   The Church uses the main scriptures to teach and show our sinful nature.  The first reading is retelling of the first sin of humanity in the Garden of Eden.  As a result of this sin, humanity is in need of a savior who has not sinned.  The Psalm shows us this sinfulness by its main line “a sinner was I conceived.”  This psalm is a great psalm of repentance of King David after his affair with Bathsheba.  This is a good psalm to read on your own and reflect.  The gospel tells us the story of the temptation of Jesus in the desert for 40 days (The 40 days of Lent is in reference to this).  By the resistance of Jesus to sin in these 40 days and his whole life, he is able to redeem us.  The second reading is the explanation of the first reading and the gospel.   In apologetics, Romans 5 is key in the explanation of original sin.  Romans 5 is a MUST READ.  This week I will write on why Christ had to come to die for us.  Final note, I want to tell you so much about these readings, but the amount of time I have to write is short and the amount I give you to read should be short.  So I ask you to read these scriptures or listen to them at Mass and share your thoughts, comments, or questions. 

 

Scripture: Genesis 2: 7 – 9, 3: 1 - 7, Psalm 51: 3 – 6, 12 – 13, 17, Romans 5: 12 - 19, & Matthew 4: 1 - 11

 

posted by: muniz at 21:45 | link | comments |

THOUGHTS ON THE DEATH OF BLAKE

It has been almost 2 months since the death of Blake.  His death came as a surprise and left with a lot of unanswered questions.  A lot of people ask why answers have not been given.  We must remember a couple of things.  One, we don't have to be given information on his death.  Secondly, the fact that nothing has been shared does not mean that he died from a negative reason.  We know that he drowned to death, but the why's could be a multiple of things that are not negative.   He was not hit or murdered; he just drowned.  This does not mean that he was drunk or used drugs; it just means that for some reason he went down to the creek and somehow drowned.  In my opinion, the more positive causes are more likely to be the cause than the negative ones.  The fact that nothing has been said on the matter is a good indication that nothing came up conclusive on the cause, which means probably not drugs or alcohol.  Plus, if it was drugs or alcohol, then I am sure that his parents would be going after the friend and her parents whom he was visiting (which would be visible and public).  To wrap it up, let us not jump to a negative conclusion of a person, because no information has been given.  Let us concentrate our prayers for his soul and for his family, who are seaching for answers more than us.

posted by: muniz at 05:08 | link | comments (2) |

LENT BEGINS

            As we look at these next 40 days, I will offer you my point of view about your Lenten sacrifice.  If Lent is the time to increase our focus on the sacrifice of Christ, then the Lenten sacrifice is the opportunity to unite ourselves with the sacrifice of Christ.  With that in mind, any sacrifice is a good sacrifice, but some are better than others.  I remember one tear when a friend gave up sweets and movies.  He did a great job throughout Lent, but once Lent ended, he invited people over all day for candy and movies.  I wondered what the point of the sacrifice was if he was just going to indulge afterwards.  Use this time to improve yourself.  What are challenges that you want to make a habit.  What about giving up snacks between meals or exercising/walking 3 times a week?  Those are good habits to form.  What about spiritual challenges?  In my opinion, everyone should choose one of these.  What up praying the rosary or praying it as a family at least once a week?  What about reading a chapter of the Bible every night or going to confession?  These are all good habits to form.   So let this Lent be the time that you not only joined your sacrifices with Christ, but also improved your life.

What is your Lenten sacrifice?

What habit do you want to form from it?

Share your challenges so it can give others ideas too.

posted by: muniz at 03:29 | link | comments (2) |

SUNDAY’S READINGS FOR MASS

February 6, 2005 – 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah 58: 7 - 10

Psalm 112: 4 – 9

I Corinthians 2: 1 – 5

Matthew 5: 13 – 16 

Explanation

This is another great set of readings.  If any of you are not in the habit of reading scripture, then you need to start.  Scripture is so packed with life changing words that can bring so much clarity.  Also, thank God for the Catholic Church who puts together the Old and New Testament so that we can see the message God has for us. 

I will try to keep this a simple and to the point.  In my life, I remember only being a Christian for the benefits.  I would pray to God by making requests for my pleasures either it be success, popularity, females, or money.  I wanted God to give me what I wanted and just fix everything.  If he did that, then I might do something for Him.  Actually, I felt I was doing what he wanted anyway because I was going to Church.  As we see in the first reading (Is 58:7-10), God does not work that way; it is actually the opposite.  When you finally work towards obeying God and giving to others that is when you will find peace in your life.  When you finally decide to give more of your life to God that is when the healing begins.  When you finally decide to live helping others that is when you will be protected by God.  As much as you give to God and His work, your light will shine as bright.  God has given everyone gifts and has blessed each one of our lives, use it to shine your light even brighter.  If we spend our lives pursuing this, maybe we will be called Saints.

 

Scripture: Isaiah 58: 7 - 10, Psalm 112: 4 – 9, I Corinthians 2: 1 – 5, Matthew 5: 13 – 16

 

posted by: muniz at 21:17 | link | comments |

 

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CATHOLIC FAITH

This is just an opportunity for anyone to ask questions about the Catholic faith or anything else pertaining to faith.

Answers to people’s questions

Q  My priest told me that the reason women can't be priests is because all of the apostles were males. He also told us that all of the apostles were black. I asked him why white men were allowed to be priests when women weren't. He didn’t have an answer for me...do you?

A  This will be a hard question to answer in a short post.  I hope you and everyone else understand if I am not as clear as I could be or I neglect certain points.  If anyone has additional points or further questions, then please feel free to post comments.  Without further hesitation, I will attempt to answer your question.

            What is a priest anyway?  They are more than just religious leaders and church administrators; they are the representatives of Jesus Christ on earth until He comes again.  To give a little background on priests, I will give you a quick history of them.  Before Jesus ascended to Heaven, he enabled the Apostles to continue his work, i.e. Eucharist (Lk 22:19), Confession (Jn 20:23), and Baptism (Mt 28:19).  These things were only done by Christ, but given to the Apostles before the ascension.  The Apostles were the leaders of Christianity, because they were now the presences of Christ on earth.  As Apostles died and Christianity grew, more leaders were empowered to be the presence of Christ on earth.  The 2^nd generation of apostles was called bishops.  Just like it is now, bishops have a large area to shepherd, so they enabled people to help them make Christ present to the people.  These helpers are called presbyters (priests). 

            The key to all these people is the fact that they are the presence of Christ on earth.  When you see a bishop or a priest at Mass or the sacraments, you are not seeing a mere man, but Jesus Christ (meaning Fr. Bob is not absolving your sins, but it is Christ).  The representatives of Christ must be true representatives of his characteristics.  So is Christ’s maleness a key characteristic?

1)      Biblically, Jesus is repeatedly called the Bridegroom and the Church is seen as His Bride (Mt 9:15, Eph 5:21-33). 

2)      Jesus selected all males to be His presence to the earth (Apostles). Remember, Jesus is not one to give into social pressures like having to pick all males in a male dominated culture.

3)      The nature of males in the biological sense is giving, while females are naturally receivers.  When looking at Christ and the church, who is the giver and who is the receiver?  In the nature of male and female, Christ must be the male which means that His representatives on earth do too.

When this question is raised, many times the issue is about one thing, POWER.  Power is an awful tool used by the devil.  So many people have fallen into sin due to power.  So please, if anyone wants to ever discuss this, then never bring up power.  Christ did not establish bishop/priest to be the ruler of power, but they were established to be his presences on earth.   Remember God does not offer equality in power, because power is a tool for sin.  God offers equality in service.  God never limits any of us due to our sex the opportunity to give fully of ourselves. 

This week’s question

What can I do to improve this blog?

What have I done that you liked, disliked, wish that I would do more, or do less?

posted by: muniz at 05:35 | link | comments (5) |

 

PRO-LIFE MARCH 

            First of all, I am sorry for the lack of postings, but the trip to Washington D.C. caused me to catch up on my sleep and work.  Hopefully, I will be more consistent.  Today, I will give you the things that meant the most to me on the trip. 

For starters, we took 4 buses of kids from the Diocese of Springfield to the march.  It was inspiring to see those kids care so deeply for the unborn; not to mention all the families that went together at the march.  The youth give so much energy to movement. They did not just merely go on the trip, but they were the ones who were the most vocal and passionate about it.  It was very inspiring.

Even though the kids were great, the most memorable moment for me was walking the march and seeing a group of women holding signs that said “I regret my abortion.”  When I saw them, I just wanted to cry.  All of a sudden, abortion was not just an issue; it had a face.  My heart went out to them.  It is bad enough that woman murder their children, but they have to live the rest of their lives wishing that they can have that moment in time back.  One aspect to abortion that people don’t realize is the pain it causes the women.  The group was called Silent No More.  Check out their website and read about these women and the pain in their lives.  Needless to say, pray for all the women who have had abortions. 

posted by: muniz at 05:11 | link | comments (1) |

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