Showing posts with label redemption. Show all posts
Showing posts with label redemption. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

We Killed Jesus

Despite this post's title, I won't be indulging in a guilt trip, or bewailing the decline and fall of practically everybody.1

An incident earlier this month could have been much worse: like the Judenschlacht of 1241 or Hep-Hep riots in 1819.

What happened was bad enough, though:
"The chanting started with a rude taunt: Newton North High School students cheering for their basketball team Friday night shouted, 'Where are your girls?' to the fans of Catholic Memorial School, an all-boys school.

"But the response from the Catholic Memorial fans to their opponents, many of whom are Jewish, left the Newton North crowd horrified and upset: 'You killed Jesus!' shouted about 50 to 75 Catholic Memorial students. 'You killed Jesus!'..."
(Evan Allen, Boston Globe (March 12, 2016))
The Boston Globe article doesn't say how many Catholic Memorial fans were at the game, so I don't know if "the Catholic Memorial fans" refers to all the fans, or some of them. Either way, that was unacceptable behavior.

Catholic Memorial's administration thinks so, too. School brass took "corrective action"2 during and after the game, and my guess is that the lesson isn't over yet:
"Archdiocese of Boston Statement Incident involving Catholic Memorial High School"

"...The Archdiocese wishes to make clear that the behavior of a number of students from Catholic Memorial at the game is unacceptable....

"...Cardinal Sean O'Malley stood in solidarity with hundreds of members of the Jewish community and in affirming the Jewish and Catholic communities' shared heritage of faith...

"...We stand ready to assist Catholic Memorial in providing the student body with the awareness education that is needed to ensure that there is no recurrence of these actions or attitudes."
I put the statement's full text2, and links to more resources3, at the end of this post.

Before talking about being a gentile Catholic, and why our Lord died on the Cross: a tip of the hat to Fr. Robert Carr, on Google Plus, for drawing my attention to this short recording of a Palm Sunday homily.
  • "Who Killed Jesus?"
    Words From Holy Trinity Quincy, MA; PodOmatic, 5:25 (March 20, 2016)

Anti-Whatever Soreheads and Me



(From Watson Heston, via Wikimedia Commons, used w/o permission.)
("History Repeats Itself" — "This is the U.S. in the Hands of the Jews:" editorial cartoon from the April 15, 1896 issue of Sound Money magazine.)

I've mentioned the rabid Christians who helped me learn to love rock 'n roll, and eventually become a Catholic, before. (May 3, 2015; January 11, 2015; September 11, 2014)

The lot I ran into seldom mentioned Jews, or Israel: except in the context of their latest 'End Times' prophecy, where Israel occasionally popped up in the ultimate battle between America and Satan. And that's another topic. Topics. (February 21, 2016; April 19, 2015)

America has had its share of anti-Semitic, anti-Catholic, anti-Irish, and anti-whatever soreheads — yet more topics. (September 6, 2015; June 21, 2015)

I can't reasonably hate Jews, or anybody else. Mainly because —

I Worship a Jew


Jesus is a Jew. That's obvious, from both of our Lord's genealogies. (Matthew 1:1-16; Luke 3:23-38)

They're not exactly the same, and I've explained why the Bible's non-American origin doesn't upset me. (February 21, 2016; October 24, 2014)

Our Lord isn't just ethnically Jewish. While Jesus was here, he lived as a Jew, obedient to God's law: understanding it better than the Pharisees and other control freaks. (Matthew 12:1-5; Mark 2:23-28; Luke 11:52; John 5:6-17; Catechism, 423, 531-531, 582-584, 2173)

I could, by cherry-picking verses like Luke 11:47 and Acts 5:30, claim that God blames the Jews for whatever annoys me.

I really don't need that sort of trouble. Sacred Scripture, Tradition (capital "T"), the Magisterium, and my upcoming particular judgment, are — yet again more topics. (April 12, 2015; March 15, 2015; September 28, 2014; July 13, 2014)

I certainly can't blame 'the Jews' or any other single group for our Lord's death. Not if I take what the Church says seriously.

For starters, some Jewish authorities wanted our Lord dead, others didn't. (Catechism, 595-596)
"1 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2

"He came to Jesus at night and said to him, 'Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you are doing unless God is with him.' "
(John 3:1-2)

"Joseph of Arimathea, 19 a distinguished member of the council, who was himself awaiting the kingdom of God, came and courageously went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus."
(Mark 15:43)
Differences of opinion didn't stop after Jesus stopped being dead.
"6 But a Pharisee in the Sanhedrin named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up, ordered the men to be put outside for a short time,

"and said to them, 'Fellow Israelites, be careful what you are about to do to these men.

"7 Some time ago, Theudas appeared, claiming to be someone important, and about four hundred men joined him, but he was killed, and all those who were loyal to him were disbanded and came to nothing.

"After him came Judas the Galilean at the time of the census. He also drew people after him, but he too perished and all who were loyal to him were scattered.

"So now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men, and let them go. For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself.

"But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.' They were persuaded by him."
(Acts 5:34-39)
I think Gamaliel made sense. (September 14, 2014)

But being right, and making sense, is no guarantee of success. Not in the short run, anyway. I've talked about freedom, McCarthyism, and getting a grip, before, too. (July 19, 2015)

I know enough history to realize that truth wins — eventually. Sometimes we have to be very, very, patient, and that's still another topic. Topics. (January 10, 2016; July 5, 2015; January 18, 2015)

Getting back to our Lord's trial, Pilate was in a highly unenviable position. (November 22, 2015)

The political situation was complicated, the Sanhedrin threatened Pilate during the trial, and "...the personal sin of the participants (Judas, the Sanhedrin, Pilate) is known to God alone...." We must not blame folks who wouldn't be born for another two millennia. Particularly considering what Jesus and Peter said. (Catechism, 596-597)
"Consequently, Pilate tried to release him; but the Jews cried out, 'If you release him, you are not a Friend of Caesar. 3 Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.' "

"They cried out, 'Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!' Pilate said to them, 'Shall I crucify your king?' The chief priests answered, 'We have no king but Caesar.' "

"So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, 'Do not write "The King of the Jews," but that he said, "I am the King of the Jews." '

"Pilate answered, 'What I have written, I have written.' "
(John 19:12, 15, 21-22)

Forgiveness and Gentiles


Ill-informed Christians and imaginative editors notwithstanding, forgiveness is not a new idea. At all. (March 13, 2016; December 13, 2015; September 6, 2015)
"[Then Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.'] 5 They divided his garments by casting lots. "
(Luke 23:34)

"Now I know, brothers, that you acted out of ignorance, 7 just as your leaders did;

"but God has thus brought to fulfillment what he had announced beforehand through the mouth of all the prophets, 8 that his Messiah would suffer."
(Acts 3:17-18)
I get the impression that one of the early questions wasn't whether Jews were 'saved:' it was whether the Messiah came for Gentiles, too. (January 3, 2016)
"1 Because of this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ 2 (Jesus) for you Gentiles -
...
"When you read this you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,

"which was not made known to human beings in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit,

"that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel."
(Ephesians 3:1, 4-6)

Sin, Death, Redemption


Sin is what happens when I decide not to do something I should; or decide to do something I know is bad for myself or others, and do it anyway. (Catechism, 1849-1864)

It's not loving God, loving my neighbors, seeing everybody as my neighbor, and treating others as I want to be treated. (Matthew 5:43-44, 7:12, 22:36-40, Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31 10:25-27, 29-37)

Humanity is not divided into 'the righteous' who can do no wrong and 'sinners' who can do no right. Reality is a whole lot more complicated.

We're still made "in the image of God," as Genesis 1:26-27 says. We're rational creatures who can decide what we do: spiritual beings with a body made from the stuff of this world. (Catechism, 311, 325-348, 1704, 1730-1731)

Having a body isn't the problem, by the way. Satan and the other rebellious angels are pure spirit, and look what happened to them. (Catechism, 385-395)

Our trouble started when the first of us decided to put their preferences above God's — and we've been dealing with consequences of that decision ever since. (Catechism, 396-412)

I've been over this before, often. (March 13, 2016; February 7, 2016; September 27, 2015)

Seeing anything from God's viewpoint is arguably impossible for a finite creature. We can, however, learn and come to understand the Almighty: to some extent. (Catechism, 27-43, 202, 600)

God, predestination, and Psalms 115, are even more topics. (July 26, 2015; September 21, 2014; July 27, 2014)

I can't 'work my way into Heaven.' I rely on our Lord for salvation. (February 7, 2016)

By dying on the Cross, Jesus took on our sin: and made it possible for each of us to take on our Lord's divine, risen, nature. (Catechism, 599-618, 638-655)

Whodunit


That brings me back to the 'who killed Jesus' whodunit. The solution is sort of like Agatha Christie's "Murder on the Orient Express."

Everybody who was there4 was involved. Some Jews railroaded our Lord through that trial. Pilate, a gentile, tried to let Jesus off; but finally went along with the local authorities. Roman soldiers — more gentiles — escorted our Lord to Golgotha and nailed Jesus to the Cross.

I am there, too, in a sense: every time I fail to love God and my neighbor, every time I "delight in [my] vices and sins." (Hebrews 6:6; Catechism, 598)

Happily:
"...life is eternal, and love is immortal, and death is only a horizon, and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight...."
I have one life, one soul, and one chance at eternity. Hope is a virtue, despair is not an option, and hope lasts as long as we live. (Catechism, 366, 988-1014, 1021-1022, 1501, 1817-1821, 2091)

And that is — yes, it's another topic. Topics.

More about taking God seriously:
1 If that phrase sounds familiar, your reading habits may be like mine. "The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody" is the title of Will Cuppy's uncompleted historical satire. It didn't stay uncompleted, obviously, since Fred Feldkamp sorted through Cuppy's copious notes: finishing and publishing the book in 1950.

2 Response to a "troubling incident:"
"Archdiocese of Boston Statement Incident involving Catholic Memorial High School"

"The Archdiocese of Boston has learned of a troubling incident that occurred on Friday evening at Newton South High School, during a basketball game between Newton North and Catholic Memorial High Schools. The Archdiocese wishes to make clear that the behavior of a number of students from Catholic Memorial at the game is unacceptable.

"On Thursday evening of this past week, in observance of the 50th anniversary of the Church's landmark document that overturned the Church's history of anti-Jewish attitudes and teaching, Cardinal Sean O'Malley stood in solidarity with hundreds of members of the Jewish community and in affirming the Jewish and Catholic communities' shared heritage of faith.

"We are pleased that the administration of Catholic Memorial took corrective action immediately during and after the basketball game. This incident, while not representative of the school community, presents an opportunity to promote an important learning experience for the students.

"We stand ready to assist Catholic Memorial in providing the student body with the awareness education that is needed to ensure that there is no recurrence of these actions or attitudes."
3 More:
4 Our Lord's mother is a special case. As I've said before, Mary is as human as I am. Catholics don't, or should not, worship her. I've discussed Mary, mother of Jesus, before:
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Sunday, August 25, 2013

Transformation, Radical Change, and Ending Selfishness

Readings for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time:

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

By Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas
August 25, 2013

I would like to share with you a simple statement and then spend the rest of my homily defending it.

This earthly life would make no sense if it were merely the staging ground for the life to come. God puts us on this earth to learn how to live here so we will be prepared to live here after. If we find nothing of God's kingdom here on earth we are not likely to find a home in heaven. And as I often say to my seventh graders, there is no culture shock when you die!

Someone asked Jesus, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" Jesus doesn't answer the question directly, which seemed to create a dark and troubling scene. But He does use it to make a very important point for the questioner needs to hear what really matters in the kingdom of God.

Jesus' responds is that we are to strive to enter by the narrow gate, "for many will seek to enter and not be able." Similar words were spoken in the Gospel of Matthew where Jesus says, "enter-by the narrow gate for the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction." Jesus cannot be accused of preaching a pie in the sky type of gospel. He is candid about the difficulties of following him and the costly nature of discipleship.

And when you stop to think about it how could it be otherwise, all worthwhile efforts and meaningful achievements involve passing through a narrow gate they require self-discipline and diligent effort. Jesus came to save us from ourselves and from our sins. He came to heal the evil in our hearts and make us different. He did not come merely to get us into heaven, he came to make of us a new creation. Such transformations cannot happen without radical change, without the pain of sacrifice and a commitment to a radical change. God's grace had been revealed to us primarily through the cross of Christ. Receiving that gift is a very serious matter. Our selfishness will not die easily. This is why Jesus said that many would try to enter the narrow gate and be unable.

"Will those who are saved be few?" Let us suppose that we are asking Jesus that question, are we looking for eternal security? If Jesus were to tell us that we assuredly would go to heaven, what would our response in life be, what would that mean to live that kind of faith? Wouldn't that kind of assurance make us self-centered and selfish? Jesus answers with the wisdom that places us in the center of the greater human family and should cause us to be less selfish, that should lead us to a concern for the welfare of our brothers and sisters even at the cost of our own self.

When so many of God's children throughout the world are hungry, lonely, and cold, how can we be so preoccupied with our own circumstances that we ignore them, or forget them? "Me-first" is no way to follow Jesus Christ. Self-centeredness is the fundamental sin whether we are Christian or atheist. It is supremely un-Christ-like for us to be more concerned about ourselves then we are about anyone else.

The primary purpose of salvation in Christ is not to save us from death and taxes, and labor, pestilence and people we don't like. Neither is it about rewarding us with a heaven where all our earthly desires and unfulfilled fantasies are finally being realized. Biblically and theologically speaking, salvation is about redemption of the earth, of time, of nations, and of all of us who are created in the image of God. This goal of salvation is compelling. Jesus said, "people will come from the East and the West, North and the South, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God." Ultimately, salvation includes the whole cosmos. All will be transformed and give glory to God the Creator and Redeemer. But how can we anticipate such a hope and a promise as this for ourselves when millions of people live and die in an endless night of darkness?

However, there are those who consume themselves in providing healthcare, hope, and means to those who live in darkness. Mother Teresa is well known, but there are countless unknown individual who live her vision and give themselves to needy people the world over. Some of them can only make phone calls, write notes, or pray. How often I tell the old people in nursing home and assisted living, their duty before man and God is now to spend their time in prayer: and usually remind them to look around and they will have to decided that you can pray all day long and when night comes there is more to pray for. You will find some who weep with those who are weeping. Providing meals for those who can no longer cook for themselves. Some provide transportation or simply engage in conversation. Of course by the world standards such people are not major players -- they are not world leaders, renowned scientists, brilliant doctors, business tycoons. They are neighbors, friends, church members, individuals with nothing to give, but care and compassion. They are the last and least. In the kingdom of God, according to Jesus, the tables are turned and some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.

And once again to remind you to be Good, Be Holy, and Preach the Gospel always, and if necessary use words!
'Thank you' to Deacon Kaas, for letting me post his reflection here.
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Sunday, April 28, 2013

Golgotha, Rome, and Words that Mean Something

Readings for April 28, 2013, Fifth Sunday of Easter:

Fifth Sunday of Easter 2013

By Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas
April 28, 2013

President Woodrow Wilson famously said, "If I'm to speak for ten minutes, I need a week for preparation, if fifteen minutes, three days, if half an hour, two days, if an hour, I am ready now."

Jesus was ready, too. Today's gospel story begins the passion of our Lord with the words: "when the hour came..." Jesus is ready to face his final hours in this city that will soon devour him. He begins his final redeeming act that continues to speak for all eternity. God's centuries old preparation comes to fruition. For Jesus, His three years of ministry sharpened into the moment when he takes his place at the supper table and becomes a Sacrifice for all future generations. Ready or not, we enter with Him into the journey of Golgotha.

You took part in the reading of the passion a few minutes ago and I'm sure all of you being attentive probably do not need a lot of extra explanation. And because of the length of the passion and wanting to keep my remarks a little short this morning, I want to talk to you about Pope Francis.It would be an understatement for me to tell you that I'm excited. And to put my excitement into perspective and wanting to tell you a story that some of you have already heard, however remembering Father who will tell us that good music or a good story is worthy of retelling.

Father Statz gives a homily on being good, and he did a good job, the next weekend was my turn to preach and I titled my homily out loud, "good isn't good enough, you have to be holy." By the way that was the only homily than I ever gave in his presence that he thanked me for. What came out of that was that at the end of mass when the little kids and sometimes not so little kids would give me a hug I would whisper to them be good, and they would respond, be holy.

This went on for quite some length of time and finally some of the young people that were off to college were coming home on weekends. We would go through this little thing be good be holy, but I would add have you been preaching the gospel? I think some of them really thought that that was my job, my response, no-no that's your job!

Then I would remind them of the story of St. Francis. When one day he goes out with one of his young man to preach the Gospel and having been out all day and returning the young man says, Father Francis we haven't preach the gospel today. Father Francis responds, what do you think we've been doing all day if necessary use words. This then completes the exchange that had been going on between some of our people and myself.

Now suddenly we have a new pope and he is called Francis. But even more, if you been watching and listening to him in the last week you will come to the realization that he is like St. Francis by preaching the Gospel more in who he is and who he represents and by how he loves us. You will note too that when he uses words they really mean something.

He tells us of the need to protect the environment, serve one another with love and tenderness and not allow "omens of destruction," hatred, envy and pride to "defile our lives."

Jesus, commanded to Peter and to his successors to: "feed His lambs and His sheep." This command was likewise given to Pope Francis as he accepts the chair of Peter. Keep both eyes on this Pope Francis because what he does will be more important than what he says!

You all be Good, be Holy, preach the Gospel always and if necessary use words.
'Thank you' to Deacon Kaas, for letting me post his reflection here.
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Sunday, December 23, 2012

Genesis to Luke: A Long Journey to Christmas

I found a pretty good guide for Christmas preparations yesterday:
  • Visit a live Nativity scene. Does it help you imagine Jesus's actual birth?
  • Read the seventh lesson from our Festival of Lessons & Carols and listen to the podcast.
  • Include the O Antiphon for today in your prayer.
  • Reflect on the Canticle of Mary in Chapter 1 of Luke's Gospel which is prayed every evening as part of Evening Prayer (or vespers) in the Liturgy of the Hours.
("Saturday of the Third Week of Advent;" December 22, 2012; Advent, Liturgical Resources, Prayer and Worship, USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops))

Minnesota Winters and Live Nativity Scenes

I didn't do the first item on that list. Even if there was a live Nativity scene here in Sauk Centre, I'd greatly prefer staying inside where it's warm.

Central Minnesota's climate is more - varied - than the eastern Mediterranean's.

An average low temperature for this time of year there is about 47 degrees Fahrenheit: above zero. Around here, it's colder. Quite a bit colder. The climate doesn't encourage going outside in reasonable imitations of 1st-century Middle Eastern clothing.

I spend a little time in front of a little Nativity scene my family set up in the living room, though. Did it help me imagine the birth of Jesus? I suppose so: it's a pretty good way to focus attention, at least.

Three Magi

The second item, today's entry in Festival of Lessons & Carols, is about the three wise men who came looking for the "newborn king of the Jews." They checked in with the region's ruler on reaching Jerusalem; and asked for help. (Matthew 2:1-12)

Happily, the magi didn't check in with the king on their way back. Joseph and Mary fled the country, and that's almost another topic.

"Antiphon?"

Number three on the list, the "O Antiphon," went quickly. It's apparently called the "O Antiphon" because each of the seven responses starts with "O."1

By the way, "antiphon" isn't against anything, quite. The word means "a verse or song to be chanted or sung in response." (Princeton's WordNet)

The Canticle of Mary, and an Online Dictionary

I read the Canticle of Mary, Luke 1:46-55, which took care of part of the list's final item.

Reflecting on that passage from Luke doesn't mean holding a mirror in front of my computer's monitor, although I suppose it could.

"Reflect" means quite a few things. Princeton's WordNet gives an oddly unhelpful definition for the sort of reflecting the USCCB had in mind: "reflect deeply on a subject." (WordNet)

I mean to say: 'reflect means to reflect deeply???' The good news is that they also give a number of synonyms for that meaning:
  • Chew over
  • Think over
  • Meditate
  • Ponder
  • Excogitate
  • Contemplate
  • Muse
  • Mull
  • Mull over
  • Ruminate
  • Speculate
    (Princeton's (WordNet)
After chewing and thinking over Luke 1:46-55, I meditated, pondered, excogitated (yes it's a real word), contemplated, mused, mulled over, ruminated, and even speculated. I also got distracted by other Advent readings.

By the time I was through, I had the rest of this post written.

A Promise Made, a Promise Kept

The first of those "Festival of Lessons and Carols" lessons included a reading from Genesis 3. That's where Adam tries to blame his wife, and God, for the mess they're in. (Genesis 3:12)

That bit of evasion ended about as well as could be expected. With 20-20 hindsight, we see a hint that humanity had hope:
"Then the LORD God said to the serpent: 'Because you have done this, you shall be banned from all the animals and from all the wild creatures; On your belly shall you crawl, and dirt shall you eat all the days of your life.

"3 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel.' "
(Genesis 3:15)
Footnote 3 for Genesis 3 (NAB)

"...He will strike . . . at his heel: since the antecedent for he and his is the collective noun offspring, i.e., all the descendants of the woman, a more exact rendering of the sacred writer's words would be, 'They will strike . . . at their heels.' However, later theology saw in this passage more than unending hostility between snakes and men. The serpent was regarded as the devil (⇒ Wisdom 2:24; ⇒ John 8:44; ⇒ Rev 12:9; ⇒ 20:2), whose eventual defeat seems implied in the contrast between head and heel. Because 'the Son of God appeared that he might destroy the works of the devil' (⇒ 1 John 3:8), the passage can be understood as the first promise of a Redeemer for fallen mankind. The woman's offspring then is primarily Jesus Christ."
Much more recently, God's promise became a bit clearer. (Isaiah 11:1-10)

Then, about two millennia back, everything changed.

Two Messages

Gabriel had a message for an old man. Zachariah asked for proof, and got it. (Luke 1:13-25, particularly Luke 1:20)

Six months later, Gabriel was back, this time with a message for a young woman:
"10 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,

"to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary."
(Luke 1:26-27)
Mary had a question, too:
"But Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?' 12"
(Luke 1:34)
Mary got proof: the unexpected pregnancy of her relative, Elizabeth. (Luke 1:36)
"...Mary's questioning response is a denial of sexual relations and is used by Luke to lead to the angel's declaration about the Spirit's role in the conception of this child (⇒ Luke 1:35). According to Luke, the virginal conception of Jesus takes place through the holy Spirit, the power of God, and therefore Jesus has a unique relationship to Yahweh: he is Son of God."
(Footnote 12 for Luke 1 (NAB))

"All Power in Heaven and Earth"

Mary's son grew up, and was recognized as the Son of God. (Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 16:16)

Later, Jesus of Nazareth was killed, stopped being dead, had a series of meetings with his followers, and gave instructions before leaving. (Matthew 28:9-10;  John 20:26-27; Luke 24:41-43; Matthew 28:19-20)

Quite a bit has happened since then. Kingdoms grew and faded, empires rose and fell, civilizations changed; but those final instructions haven't changed:
"11 Then Jesus approached and said to them, 'All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

"Go, therefore, 12 and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit,

"teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. 13 And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.' "
(Matthew 28:18-20)
Methods we use have changed, particularly in the last few decades: and that's another topic.

So are the reasons I'm not upset about what we've been learning, particularly in the last few centuries, about this creation. Lots more topics.

More-or-less-related posts:
1 "O Antiphon:"
"The Roman Church has been singing the "O" Antiphons since at least the eighth century. They are the antiphons that accompany the Magnificat canticle of Evening Prayer from December 17-23. They are a magnificent theology that uses ancient biblical imagery drawn from the messianic hopes of the Old Testament to proclaim the coming Christ as the fulfillment not only of Old Testament hopes, but present ones as well. Their repeated use of the imperative 'Come!' embodies the longing of all for the Divine Messiah."

"December 17
"O Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love: come to teach us the path of knowledge!

"December 18
"O Leader of the House of Israel, giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai: come to rescue us with your mighty power!

"December 19
"O Root of Jesse's stem, sign of God's love for all his people: come to save us without delay!

"December 20
"O Key of David, opening the gates of God's eternal Kingdom: come and free the prisoners of darkness!

"December 21
"O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.

"December 22
"O King of all nations and keystone of the Church: come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!

"December 23
"O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law: come to save us, Lord our God!"
(From "Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers")
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Monday, October 31, 2011

Angels, Demons, Theological Hooey, and Redemption

Last week's post about Christopher Marlowe's "...Faustus" featured the bit where Doctor Faustus asks for a wife, and gets "a DEVIL drest like a WOMAN, with fire-works."

Today, I'm picking up where Faustus almost changes his mind.

Return of the Bipolar Duo

Mephistopheles has just said that man must be niftier than Heaven, because Heaven was made for man. "Fairer" is the word Marlowe used, actually. Back to the play:
"...FAUSTUS. If it were made for man, 'twas made for me:
I will renounce this magic and repent.

"Enter GOOD ANGEL and EVIL ANGEL.

"GOOD ANGEL. Faustus, repent; yet God will pity thee.

"EVIL ANGEL. Thou art a spirit; God cannot pity thee.

"FAUSTUS. Who buzzeth in mine ears I am a spirit?
Be I a devil, yet God may pity me;
Ay, God will pity me, if I repent.

"EVIL ANGEL. Ay, but Faustus never shall repent.
[Exeunt ANGELS.]..."
("The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus")

Heaven, Hell, and Retirement Plans

First of all, just what is Heaven? And is it really better than Hell?

If Heaven is what's shown in some cartoons - all puffy clouds, pastel colors, and people holding radically under-stringed harps - it'd be awfully bland for my taste.

Then there's the disturbing notion that Heaven is infested with the sort of self-righteous pests most of us would cross the street to avoid:


(ArizonaLincoln (talk), via Wikipedia, used w/o permission)

If Heaven really is a sort of pastel wasteland inhabited by disciples of malignant virtue, the old quip might be true: "Heaven for climate, and hell for company."

Happily, that's not the case.

"Supreme and Definitive Happiness?" Sounds Good

The Catholic Church's discussions of Heaven and Hell lack the sort of vivid descriptions I've run into elsewhere: golden towers, flaming gorges, that sort of thing. What we do get is, I think, much more useful for planning purposes:
"HEAVEN: Eternal life with God; communion of life and love with the Trinity and all the blessed. Heaven is the state of supreme and definitive happiness, the goal of the deepest longings of humanity (1023).

"HELL: The state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed, reserved for those who refuse by their own free choice to believe and be converted from sin, even to the end of their lives (1033). "
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, Glossary) (links added by me)
So: I've got a choice:
  • "Supreme and definitive happiness" with God
  • "Definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed"
In one way, it's a 'no-brainer.' Obviously I'd prefer an eternity of "supreme and definitive happiness" to any alternative. In a way, that's what the drug culture was about, a half-century back: desperate folks trying to find happiness in a world that made no sense to them.1 And I'm getting off-topic.

Prayer of the Tax Collector

Or, maybe not so much. Some of the folks I've known don't seem to be good candidates for Heaven. Like the one who killed herself.2

For that matter, when I look in a mirror, I see someone who had better pray like the tax collector in Luke 18:9-14. At the end of all things, I may find that "I have friends in both places."3

Do I have any right to say who is going to Heaven, or Hell? No. We're told to "stop judging" others. (Matthew 7:1-5; Luke 6:37-38, 41-42; and see footnote 10 in Luke:6) On the other hand, we're expected to exercise 'good judgment.' I've been over that before:

Spirits, Faustus, and Theological Hooey

Last week I wrote that "EVIL ANGEL fed Faustus the sort of theological hooey that seems to resonate in that learned head." Here's what I was talking about:
"...EVIL ANGEL. [to Faustus] Thou art a spirit; God cannot pity thee.

"FAUSTUS. Who buzzeth in mine ears I am a spirit?
Be I a devil, yet God may pity me;
Ay, God will pity me, if I repent.

"EVIL ANGEL. Ay, but Faustus never shall repent.
[Exeunt ANGELS.]..."
("The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus")
I'm no expert on Elizabethan English, but in this passage "spirit" probably means "any incorporeal supernatural being that can become visible (or audible) to human beings." (Princeton's WordNet) GOOD ANGEL and EVIL ANGEL are "spirits" in this sense. So is Mephistopheles.

Doctor John Faustus isn't.

Angels aren't Human

He can't be. He's a human being: albeit a fictional one. At this point in the play, Faustus has been making decisions that are bad: but he's no devil.

Despite what we've seen in some recent television series, human beings don't become angels when we die. We don't become demons, either. We're human beings.

Angels aren't human. They're "spiritual, non-corporeal beings." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 328-330) "Corporeal" means "having material or physical form or substance." (Princeton's WordNet) Angels are non-corporeal: they don't have bodies.

Demons or devils are angels who decided to rebel against God. (Catechism, 391-395.)

Humans aren't Angels

Human beings are animals. But not just animals.

I've been over this before.4 Humans are:
  • Animals
    • A special sort of animal
      • Endowed with reason
      • Capable of
        • Understanding
        • Discernment
      (Catechism, 1951)
  • People
    • Rational and therefore like God
      • Made in the image and likeness of God
      (Catechism, 1700-1706)
    • Created with free will
    • Master over our actions
      (Catechism, 1730)
    (Adapted from the Catechism of the Catholic Church)
    (first posted August 31, 2011)

Confusing the Already-Confused

Offhand, I'd say that EVIL ANGEL is trying to confuse Doctor Faustus: which doesn't seem like such a difficult job. Remember, John Faustus recently explained that their contract was null and void: because Hell didn't really exist.

Not believing that Hell exists isn't all that remarkable, by itself. For most of my life, one of the easy ways to appear sophisticated was to deny the existence of Hell, Heaven, or God. Or to claim that everything is god, and that's another topic.

Dealing with fallen angels isn't all that remarkable, either, sadly.5

Calling up a demon, negotiating a contract with the creature: and then telling the demon that Hell doesn't exist?! Now that's remarkable.

Sin, Redemption, and Doctor Faustus

The Catholic Church has a few things to say about sin, including this:
"Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity. It has been defined as 'an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law.'121"
(Catechism, 1869)
I am a sinner. There's nothing unusual about that. We live in a fallen world: and that's almost another topic.

My soul needs redemption. The alternative - is simply not acceptable.

Redemption is:
  • The act of delivering from sin or saving from evil
  • Repayment of the principal amount of a debt or security at or before maturity (as when a corporation repurchases its own stock
  • The act of purchasing back something previously sold
    (Princeton's WordNet)
Since I'm a practicing Catholic, I have to accept Jesus of Nazareth as my Redeemer. Actually, I don't have to: but again, the alternative simply isn't acceptable.

Here's a little of what the Church has to say about Jesus the Christ:
"Christ's death is the unique and definitive sacrifice

"Christ's death is both the Paschal sacrifice that accomplishes the definitive redemption of men, through 'the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,'439 and the sacrifice of the New Covenant, which restores man to communion with God by reconciling him to God through the 'blood of the covenant, which was poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.'440

"This sacrifice of Christ is unique; it completes and surpasses all other sacrifices.441 First, it is a gift from God the Father himself, for the Father handed his Son over to sinners in order to reconcile us with himself. At the same time it is the offering of the Son of God made man, who in freedom and love offered his life to his Father through the Holy Spirit in reparation for our disobedience.442

"Jesus substitutes his obedience for our disobedience

" 'For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man's obedience many will be made righteous.'443 By his obedience unto death, Jesus accomplished the substitution of the suffering Servant, who 'makes himself an offering for sin,' when 'he bore the sin of many,' and who 'shall make many to be accounted righteous,' for 'he shall bear their iniquities.'444 Jesus atoned for our faults and made satisfaction for our sins to the Father.445"
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 613-615)
There's more, of course. There always seems to be more.

Let's see what Faustus says after EVIL ANGEL says: "Ay, but Faustus never shall repent."
"FAUSTUS. My heart's so harden'd, I cannot repent:
Scarce can I name salvation, faith, or heaven,
But fearful echoes thunder in mine ears,
'Faustus, thou art damn'd!' then swords, and knives,
Poison, guns, halters, and envenom'd steel
Are laid before me to despatch myself;
And long ere this I should have slain myself,
Had not sweet pleasure conquer'd deep despair.
Have not I made blind Homer sing to me
Of Alexander's love and Oenon's death?
And hath not he, that built the walls of Thebes
With ravishing sound of his melodious harp,
Made music with my Mephistophilis?
Why should I die, then, or basely despair?
I am resolv'd; Faustus shall ne'er repent.—
Come, Mephistophilis, let us dispute again,
And argue of divine astrology.100
Tell me, are there many heavens above the moon
Are all celestial bodies but one globe,
As is the substance of this centric earth?"
("The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus")
That footnote is a bit interesting: to me, anyway:
"[ And argue of divine astrology, &c.— In THE HISTORY OF DR. FAUSTUS, there are several tedious pages on the subject; but our dramatist, in the dialogue which follows, has no particular obligations to them.]"
(Footnote 100, "The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus")
Looks like Christopher Marlowe showed compassion for his audience - or didn't want them to walk out - and edited his source material. Even so, what follows seems a trifle long-winded. More about that, next week.

Other posts in this series:
Vaguely-related posts:
Background, from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
  • Angels
  • Devils/demons
  • Heaven
  • Hell
  • Redemption
    • Christ's death as the sacrifice of,
      613, 616
    • The Church as the instrument for the redemption of all,
      776
    • At the center of the Good News,
      571, 601
    • And the Eucharist,
      1372
    • Extension of redemptive work,
      634
    • Life of Christ as a mystery of,
      517, 635, 1067
    • For many,
      605
    • Mary serving in the mystery of,
      494, 508
    • Meaning of the redemption can be understood by faith alone,
      573
    • Proclaiming and promising of,
      55, 64, 601
  • Repentence
    • 393 (repentance is possible before death, not after)
  • Sin
    1846-1869
    (Not an exhaustive index)
"...Faustus" excerpts in these posts taken from:
1 I don't think what happened to Jimi Hendrix and others was a good thing. At all. But I was one of 'those crazy kids:' and understand that Timothy "Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out" Leary didn't sound so crazy at the time. Particularly compared to parents and others who demanded lockstep conformity to their dreary preferences. I've mentioned "The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit" (1956) before.

Post-WWII America really was, I think, "Happy Days:" for someone like Howard Cunningham in that long-running television series. Between economic boom times, veteran benefits, and cultural leftovers from an earlier age, America was a great place for someone who was an adult, male, and white. I think being a tad unobservant helped, too.

I remember the 'good old days,' when "she's as smart as a man" was supposed to be a compliment, and a clergyman named King was still alive. What happened after the '60s could have been better: but America was desperately overdue for cultural and legal upgrades. I've posted about conformity and getting a grip before:
By the way, about "veteran benefits:" I think they make sense, to an extent. And that's a topic for another blog:
2 Suicide is a difficult topic. I've discussed it a few time, including this post:
3 I found the anonymous "Heaven for climate, and hell for company" quotation on page 378 of Evan Esar's "20,000 quips & quotes" (1968). Back on page 377, near the start of the section of quotes on Heaven and Hell, I found ones that were attributed to specific individuals, like Ed Howe, Ben Johnson, Lincoln Steffens: and Mark Twain. Including these:
"I don't like to commit myself about heaven and hell - you see, I have friends in both places."

"When I think of the number of disagreeable people that I know who have gone to a better world, I am sure hell won't be so bad at all." (Mark Twain, 377, Evan Esar's "20,000 quips & quotes" (1968))
No rant, by the way: Samuel Clemens/Mark Twain was no theologian, and lived in a place and time that was at least as spiritually confused as today's America. Not in the same way, of course.

4 I've posted about angels - both kinds - and human beings before:
5 I've posted a few times about the reality of demons, and the screwball notions folks have:
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Friday, October 14, 2011

My Take on the News: Dubious Dissing; Egyptian Killings; Saudi Law; Tattoos

Friday's the day when I give my take on stuff in the news. This week I picked four items. Three, if you count the last two as a pair:
  1. German Bishops Dis Pope? Not hardly
  2. The Pope is "Deeply Saddened"
  3. Soccer Player Arrested - In Saudi Arabia - Over a Tattoo
  4. Tattoos and All That
The most serious of the set is #2, Benedict XVI's response to the killings in Egypt last Sunday. Enough of this introduction. Here's my take on the news:

1. German Bishops Dis Pope? Not hardly

Apparently a rumor is going around that German bishops showed disrespect for the Pope. By not shaking his hand.

As rumors go, this one is more fact-based than many. Pope Benedict XVI really was in Germany. There really is a one-minute, 18-second YouTube video showing the Pope walking down a line of bishops, shaking some hands and not shaking others.

Which, depending on how thin-skinned a person was, and other factors, could mean that
  • Some bishops showed disrespect for the Pope
    • By not grabbing his hand
  • The Pope snubbed some bishops
    • By not shaking their hands
  • The photographer humiliated the Pope
    • By taking photos of other people
And yes, I know about the pedophile priests, which came up in 'related videos' on that YouTube page.

This rumor may be around as long as Elvis sightings were. Particularly since, depending on who you listen to the Catholic Church:
  • Is icky
    • And will fall apart really soon
  • Was just perfect until Vatican II ruined everything
    • And will fall apart really soon
Then there are assorted assertions that the Catholic Church is a Babylonian conspiracy; a Satanic plot; or whatever.

"Ridiculous?" Works for Me

I think what's in this CNA article is a more plausible explanation of what we see in that video. But I would say that, since I'm 'one of those Catholics.' I'll be back with more snide cracks trenchant insights:
"Vatican spokesman rejects claim German bishops disrespected Pope"
Marta Jimenez, CNA (Catholic News Agency) (October 12, 2011)

"Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi, S.J., dismissed what he called 'ridiculous' claims circulating online that the German bishops disrespected Pope Benedict during his recent visit to the country.

"Fr. Lombardi said that a YouTube video showing the Pope and German president Christian Wulff has been misconstrued by bloggers and other members of the media...."
Bloggers? And "other members of the media?" I've discussed bloggers, blogging, and old-school journalists before. Back to that CNA article:

Pope 'Ignored?' Reality Check, Please

"...Some have claimed that as the Pope moved down the line and extended his hand to introduce the members of his entourage, he was ignored by a number of German bishops.

"But Fr. Lombardi told CNA that 'the interpretation given to that video that the German bishops were disrespectful to the Pope is absolutely unfounded.'

"In fact, he added, the video 'obviously shows the moment in which the Pope was introducing his entourage - not the German bishops - to the German president at his residency.'...

"...'I have nothing else to add,' Fr. Lombardi said. 'An interpretation of the video that accuses the German bishops of disrespecting the Pope is too senseless to warrant further comment.'

"The video can be seen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygeG5WFzkV8"
(Marta Jimenez, CNA (Catholic News Agency) (October 12, 2011))
There's more in the article, mostly about the folks in that video and papal protocol. The bottom line, as I see it, is that the Pope didn't shake the hands of his entourage

Think about it: when was the last time you saw the president of the United States shaking the hands of his Secret Service bodyguards? It's not the same thing, of course. Not quite.

Rumors? Par For the Course

My reaction to news of the rumor, the video, and the CNA article, is that this sort of hoo-ha is about par for the course.

The Catholic Church is ancient, has a current membership of over a billion, and makes some remarkable claims. In America, at least, a great many folks know things about the Catholic Church that either never were true: or haven't been for several centuries. I was one of them. When I found out what sort of authority each Pope had, I converted to Catholicism, and that's another topic.

Even if some German bishops had snubbed the Pope, I wouldn't be all that troubled. Miffed, maybe. But worried about the Church? Not so much. Concerned, yes: worried, no.

Two Millennia of SNAFUs

We've been through worse. Much worse. There was that time, about a thousand years back, when where was the Pope, and up to three or four wannabes saying that they had Peter's commission. We're not talking about the sort of nut cases who think they're Napoleon: the antipopes were taken seriously by a fair number of folks.

Sort of reminds me of the 'holier than the Pope' types who decided that Vatican II wasn't to their liking - and so must be against the will of God. Yet another topic.

There's more to this post, but I'm putting the 'Related posts' and 'Background' links that related to this new item here.

Related posts:
Background:

2. The Pope is "Deeply Saddened"

It's no wonder that the Pope expressed sadness at Sunday's killings in Egypt. More than a dozen Christians were killed. There's more going on than 'us against them,' though. A whole lot more.
"Pope deeply saddened by Egyptian violence"
David Kerr, CNA (Catholic News Agency) (October 12, 2011)

"Pope Benedict XVI expressed his sorrow over violent clashes in Cairo that left many Egyptian Christians dead and hundreds wounded.

" 'I am deeply saddened by the violence that was committed in Cairo on Sunday,' the Pope said at the Oct. 12 general audience in St. Peter's Square.

" 'I join in the sorrow of the families of the victims and the entire Egyptian people, torn by attempts to undermine the peaceful coexistence between its communities, which is rather essential to preserve, especially in this time of transition,' he said....

"...The Pope said that the Egyptian authorities - civil and religious - should try to build a new society that 'respects the human rights of everyone, and particularly minorities, to the benefit of national unity.' It is estimated that about 10 percent of Egyptians are Christian."
In a way, Sunday's killings were the fault of the 17 dead Christians. They, and others, had been demonstrating: trying to draw attention to previous attacks on Christians. Obviously, if they'd left the country: this wouldn't have happened.

Religious Freedom: It's In the Rules

I don't see it quite that way, but I live in a country where we have laws against killing someone for going to the 'wrong' church - and enforce them. More to the point, I'm a practicing Catholic. One of the rules is that I have to support religious freedom. For everybody.

I'm not sympathetic with Egypt's 'old school.' On the other hand, I think they're going through a terribly difficult period: getting dragged into a global culture where killing infidels is often considered gauche.

Which does not mean that all Muslims are psychopathic killers. Or a threat.

Like I said before, as a Catholic I have to support the right of everybody to worship - or not worship - according to their conscience. If that's not what you've heard about the Catholic Church, I'm not surprised. There's some background under, what else? "Background," below.

Related posts:
Background:

3. Soccer Player Arrested - In Saudi Arabia - Over a Tattoo

I am not making this up.
"Saudi police detain soccer player for showing tattoo of Christ"
CNA (Catholic News Agency) (October 11, 2011)

"Saudi Arabia's religious police detained a Colombian soccer player at a shopping mall on Oct. 7 for not covering up an image of Jesus tattooed on his shoulder.

"Juan Pablo Pino, 24, who plays with the Al Nasr Soccer Club in Saudi Arabia, was wearing a sleeveless shirt while out with his pregnant wife at a mall in the capital city of Riyadh.

"Locals who saw the tattoo began insulting him, which drew the attention of the officers from a group known as the Police Force for the Promotion of Virtue of the Prevention of Vice, who detained the couple...."
I'm no big fan of tattoos: but this is ridiculous. On the other hand, arresting a foreigner for offending some local taboo is about par for the course for that desert kingdom.

Like I said before, getting dragged over several millennia of change in a generation can be unsettling.

Related posts:

4. Tattoos and All That

As I said before, I'm no big fan of tattoos. I haven't gotten a tattoo, and neither have my wife or kids. Not yet, anyway.

But I'm not going to rant about how tattoos have brought civilization to its knees and forebode the coming of the End. I'll get back to that, after this excerpt from an op-ed:
"Tattoos: Not just for bikers anymore"
Julie Filby, Catholic Womanhood, CNA (Catholic News Agency) (undated, probably July 27, 2011)

"Once upon a time tattoos were limited to the tough guy population—soldiers, bikers, rock stars.

"Not anymore....

"..It's a fad that's affected virtually every age group, race, gender, industry and religion. A Pew Research Center survey found that 36 percent of Americans ages 18–25 have a tattoo, 40 percent of those 26-40, and 10 percent of those 41-64...."
"Fad?" Here in central Minnesota, I've been seeing tattoos on quite a variety of folks for years. I think of a fad as something that might last a month. Maybe a year or two. Sort of like pet rocks. Or mood rings.

My guess is that tattoos are now part of North American culture: and will probably be around for years. Decades. Maybe a generation or more.

'God is on My Side?' Or 'I'm on God's Side?'

So, is this a sure sign of the coming apocalypse? No, I really don't think so.

Back to that op-ed:
"...Love or loathe them, perspectives continue to differ regarding the appropriateness and morality of tattoos. Which made me wonder: What does the Church say about it?

"In the article 'Physical Graffiti: Tattoo You' in Envoy Magazine issue 7.4, Deacon Robert Lukosh from the Archdiocese of Portland wrote that tattoos are morally permissible as long as they respect the dignity of the person:

" 'Body art as a form of adornment, that is ordered to the ultimate good of the person and to humanity, if it observes modesty and avoids vanity, and if it respects the fundamental integrity of the human person—including the integrity of the body—can be morally permissible.'..."
(Julie Filby, Catholic Womanhood, CNA (Catholic News Agency) (undated, probably July 27, 2011))
As I said before, I'm not going to rant about the Satanic influence of tattoos, how rock and roll is of the Devil, and how God will smite everybody who doesn't share my taste in music and hair styles.

Rules, Leviticus, and Getting a Grip

Julie Filby brings up a few verses from the Bible. The first one, form Leviticus, she puts in context:
"...However some argue that Scripture prohibits tattoos in the Old Testament book of Leviticus: 'Do not lacerate your body for the dead, and do not tattoo yourselves. I am the LORD' (19:28).

"OK, don't do it. Bible says.

" 'Not exactly,' according to Mark Hart of Life Teen International, who's affectionately known as the Bible Geek. Hart explained that this verse referred to the ancient mourning practices of the Canaanites that were forbidden for the Israelites. The law was meant to communicate to people that mourning wasn’t necessary if they believed in God's salvation. It also sought to prevent people from hurting themselves (tattooing could be deadly back then).

" 'It's not altogether correct to say a blanket statement like "tattoos are against God" or are "anti-Biblical" because they're not,' Hart said, adding that the decision of a tattoo goes beyond what the Bible says about it and should be taken seriously.

"Hart said some of the holiest people he knows have ink...."
(Julie Filby, Catholic Womanhood, CNA (Catholic News Agency) (undated, probably July 27, 2011))
So far, so good. Filby and Hart realize that Leviticus wasn't written by an American. And that specific rules in the book were written for folks who lived quite a while ago.

God, Change, and Two Dozen Centuries

Quite a lot has happened in the two dozen or so centuries since the Pentateuch was assembled. For one thing, Canaanites aren't part of the ongoing Middle East crisis. On the other hand, Abram's domestic dispute - and that's yet another topic.

The point is that the rule about "mutilation" made sense. Then.

But today? Although my hat's off to folks who dutifully follow the rule about leaving the hair of their temples and edges of their beards uncut: I think the important point in Leviticus 19:27, and in Leviticus 19:28, is the principle that we're supposed to love and serve God, and worship Him. Only Him.

I suppose I could try living exactly the way that Leviticus spells out. But I live in central Minnesota, not the east end of the Mediterranean. Starting around this time of year, the treatment program described in Leviticus 17:3-32 would be downright chilly.

Tattoos: There's a Reason; Lots of Reasons

One more excerpt from that op-ed:
"...People get tattoos to memorialize a person; honor a relationship with a child, parent or spouse; commemorate an event or accomplishment; reflect their heritage; express their personality, convey their religious beliefs; and sometimes, to evangelize...."
(Julie Filby, Catholic Womanhood, CNA (Catholic News Agency) (undated, probably July 27, 2011))
It's the "to evangelize" motive that got the soccer player in trouble with the Saudi faith police: that's my guess, anyway.

Stuff I Don't Like is Sinful?

It's very unlikely that I'll ever get a tattoo. And, like I've said, I'm not a fan of tattoos.

On the other hand, I've been on the receiving end of too many earnest 'Bible believers' to be comfortable claiming that what I don't care for is sinful.

Back when tattoos started getting popular, I did a little checking on my own. Remember, by the way, that I've got the authority of "some guy with a blog." I don't speak for the Church.

There's quite a bit about the body in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It's the temple of the Holy Spirit, and we're supposed to respect the body - but not worship it.

Folks have taken the idea that God created the human body, which is true: and so we should 'trust God' to heal wounds and cure disease, which is sort of true. Trusting God is good.

But God also gave us brains: and we're not required to be stupid. Organ transplants and autopsies are okay. Even cremation: provided it's not intended to deny the resurrection of the body. I've put links under another "Background" section, below.

The closest thing to a prohibition on tattoos was this:
"Organ transplants are in conformity with the moral law if the physical and psychological dangers and risks to the donor are proportionate to the good that is sought for the recipient. Organ donation after death is a noble and meritorous act and is to be encouraged as an expression of generous solidarity. It is not morally acceptable if the donor or his proxy has not given explicit consent. Moreover, it is not morally admissible directly to bring about the disabling mutilation or death of a human being, even in order to delay the death of other persons."
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2296)
Honestly? This isn't all that close to forbidding tattoos. Except for that bit about "disabling mutilation."

Let's see what "mutilation" means.

Mutilation:
  1. An injury that causes disfigurement or that deprives you of a limb or other important body part
  2. The act of damaging the appearance or surface of something
    (Princeton's WordNet)
Definition #1 doesn't really describe what a tattoo does. The skin's still there: it's just got some extra pigment. I suppose a big enough tattoo might start interfere with our ability to synthesize vitamin D: but I think that's a stretch.

Definition #2, "damaging the appearance," certainly could cover the effect of getting a tattoo. If I thought that my artistic tastes were the one universal standard by which all humanity should be judged.

I don't need that kind of trouble. I wrote about Matthew 7:1-5; Luke 6:37-38, and 41-42 on Wednesday.

A tattoo that I might feel is "damaging the appearance" of someone's skin, someone else might regard as a beautiful work of art.

"Your Body is a Temple...." Context, Please!

The op-ed's author cites another verse of the Bible. It's from 1 Corinthians 6, about the body being the Temple of the Holy Spirit. Placed where it is in the op-ed, it sort of looks like it might mean that we shouldn't be marking up the walls of the temple with tattoos.

Looking at the verse in the sixth chapter of 1 Corinthians? Maybe not so much:
"Do you not know that your body is a temple 8 of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?"
(1 Corinthians 6:19)
'Context, please,' which is discussed in footnote 8:
"8 [19-20] Paul's vision becomes trinitarian. A temple: sacred by reason of God's gift, his indwelling Spirit. Not your own: but "for the Lord," who acquires ownership by the act of redemption. Glorify God in your body: the argument concludes with a positive imperative to supplement the negative "avoid immorality" of ⇒ 1 Cor 6:18. Far from being a terrain that is morally indifferent, the area of sexuality is one in which our relationship with God (and his Christ and his Spirit) is very intimately expressed: he is either highly glorified or deeply offended."
(Footnote 8, 1 Corinthians 6)
My take on tattoos is that they're:
  • Part of today's culture
  • Depending on individual taste,
    • Works of
      • Art
      • Satan
    • Eyesores
  • An emotional topic
Getting tattoos can be dangerous: if someone's not careful about properly sterilizing the needles. But if I start claiming that potentially-dangerous activities are 'un-Biblical,' I'd have to start ranting about the sin of driving automobiles, using power tools, and swimming.

And that, in my opinion, would be silly.

Related posts:
Background:
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Marian Apparition: Champion, Wisconsin

Background:Posts in this blog: In the news:

What's That Doing in a Nice Catholic Blog?

From time to time, a service that I use will display links to - odd - services and retailers.

I block a few of the more obvious dubious advertisers.

For example: psychic anything, numerology, mediums, and related practices are on the no-no list for Catholics. It has to do with the Church's stand on divination. I try to block those ads.

Sometime regrettable advertisements get through, anyway.

Bottom line? What that service displays reflects the local culture's norms, - not Catholic teaching.