Dear Friends,
JESUS SAVES! Perhaps the most referenced Bible verse that sports fans like to call attention to is in today’s Gospel, John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” But what does it mean to “believe” in Jesus?
I’ve had good discussions with hundreds of our Protestant brothers and sisters (whom I love dearly), many of whom believe that “all you need to do is believe in Jesus and you’ll be saved.” “The Bible makes it plain and simple—just read John 3:16! We’re saved by faith alone!” What’s the problem with this (fundamentalist) Protestant perspective of salvation… of what it means to “believe” in Jesus? It’s easy to selectively pull a couple isolated Bible verses out of context, create a theology of salvation around them, and ignore the other 7,954 verses of the New Testament which contain many verses that contradict that theology. Rather, we begin to learn what it means to “believe” in Jesus from St. Paul who frames his letter to the Romans with the “obedience of faith” (Rom 1:5, 16:26), which is the Catholic perspective consistent with the entire Word of God.
It’s the Catholic Church, founded by Jesus on Peter the Rock and the apostles in 33 AD who gives a coherent and systematic presentation of faith and morals using over 4,100 references to Scripture and over 2,100 references to Church documents and the saints in one trustworthy, engaging, and easy-to-read book: The Catechism of the Catholic Church. If you do not have the Catechism, I encourage you to ask for one or buy yourself one as an Easter gift. By reading it, you’ll enable your Catholic faith in Jesus to come alive through it and the Bible.
The focus of today’s readings is Jesus, our Savior. Lent calls us to follow Jesus to the cross. In dying to ourselves, Jesus will raise us up. When we put our trust in him, he delivers us from the consequences of our limitations, weaknesses, and sin. Lent draws us toward Jesus and the Cross, who leads us to the Resurrection and eternal life.
Coming Easter Season, 2024… Seekers
SEEKERS is a 3-session series that provides an opportunity for people who feel spiritually disconnected in their relationship with the Catholic Church to ask questions, to seek answers in the hope of becoming reconnected.
SEEKERS focuses on questions that seekers bring with them, and prompts discussion from the Catechism to stimulate discussion on topics such as the desire for God, God’s loving Revelation, man’s response to God, and other topics. I hope to see you or someone you invite there. Especially consider inviting those coming to Easter Mass with you who do not typically go to weekly Mass. See today’s bulletin or Flocknote for details.
Peace in Christ,
Father Jim
