No Matter What People Think About Me, I Know I'm a Human First

Ronald Davis is a man down on his luck. Living on the streets, he tries to survive everyday. He is like any one of us. But he gets humiliated, ignored, and insulted by those around him. Ronald has to deal with men  and women who will not give him the opportunity to improve his life; to turn his life around. All he asked for was a place to stay and a job to get him some food, but they all turn him down. Its the story of his life - no one wants him, no one wants to see him, no one wants to be him. Thankfully there are those who look beyond who we are on the outside and look at our true potential, as Children of God.

His fortune changed after his interview was sent to Reddit and seen by millions. I remember reading about him as his luck began to unfold. Hundreds saw their opportunity to give back to this man for the wrongs they have done to their own man. People scoured the streets of Boston - to deliver care packages; just to let him know there were people out there who saw the injustice and wanted to help. But this is not just Ronald's fight. There are thousands of impoverished children and adults throughout the United States in similar situations. They are on every corner, waiting for one of us to help deliver them to a better place. They are in your neighborhood, your parks, even in front of our own school. Sure we say we are 'Men for Others' but it disgraces me that we don't even try to help those around us.

While touring Harvard with the Strake - St. Agnes Choir, we saw the extent of poverty. Men and women lived in trash bags; one man was eating out of the garbage can. They would come up to us, begging for money, and I would feel sorry, then slowly walk around them. Looking back I was no better than those around me. We have our call to come closer to God and one way to do that is by showing others that we care for them - whether they are down on their luck or have just never been given a chance.

Human Dignity

I just watched a video of a homeless man named Ronald Davis who talked to the press about what it is like to live as a homeless man.  This really opened my eyes towards the hardship that homeless people.  When ever  saw a homeless person, I always said to myself, "Why doesn't that guy just get a job?"  Well this man answered that question, they can't.  He said when he walked in a business to apply for a job, they looked at him like he was crazy.  Then they would ask him for a phone number and they would call him.  The only problem is that he doesn't have one like the thousands of other homeless people.  It made me feel guilty for being so critical of these people, even though they have hardly any opportunities.  My view of the homeless has been changed completely.

Secondly, I never realized that the homeless are humiliated to ask for money.  When ever I saw a homeless person begging for money, I always thought of them as an inanimate person.  I never realized that it takes a great deal of courage for them to ask for money, and they only do it because they have to in order to make it another day.  Ronald Davis consolidated all the money he collected that day and if he had enough, he would buy a room for the night.  If not, he would just sleep outside in the elements.  Also, not only did he have to by a room, but he also had to buy food.  The money he received from gracious people was greatly appreciated and helped him survive.

Who is Welcome?

When the Church says that it is catholic, it means that it is universal and accepts all people.  She accepts every, and I mean everyone, despite who they are, what they may have done, or the sins they may have committed.  However, once welcomed to the church, one must follow the rule and guidelines of the Church.  It would be like a boy who has been welcomed to a soccer game with his friends.  Now he must follow the rules of the game to continue to play, he can not pick up the ball and run with it.  The Church is exactly the same.  Once you have entered the Church, one must make a conscious effort to stop sinning and grow closer to God.

God welcomes all peoples to his Church, but once admitted, the must change their ways.  Say a drug addict were to join the Church.  The Church would love him, support him, and respect him, but she would expect him to abandon his unhealthy habits.  Also, if a couple who has just chosen to abort a child were to join the Church, this would not change the love for them and the way she would treat them.  The Church would help them come to realize what a grave mistake they made and grieve with them in their deadly decision.  When people say the Church is for all people, it really is.  Now matter what condition, race, or faith you come from, the Church will love you, respect you, and treat you the same as any one else.

http://www.henkeldiversity.com/2010/03/26/report-on-equality-between-women-and-men-2010-bericht-uber-die-gleichheit-zwischen-mannern-und-frauen-2010/

The Woman Priest

Recently in Kentucky, a woman by the name of Rosemarie Smead was ordained a priest in a small group that has defected from the Roman Catholic Church.  She said she can no longer wait until the Catholic Church allows women priests and she must act now.  Also, she had to have been ordained by a priest or a bishop, who has gone against the rules of the Church.  Both of these people claim to be still be members of the Church, but has carried out the actions to be separated form the church, schism.  If Jesus had wanted a woman priest, he would have made a woman one of his apostles.  People argue that men were the dominant figure back then and Jesus could not have made a woman an apostle.  Jesus could have easily done this, he broke so many other rules and traditions, what was holding him back?  The answer is nothing, if Jesus had wanted a woman as an apostle he would have done it, but this was not part of God's plan.  Jesus was a man and all of the apostles were men and God intended it to be this way.  The Church follows God's will and only allows men to be priests.  Rosemarie Smead is going against God's will by becoming a priest, but she remain a nun.  As a nun, she can participate in God's will as fully as she can but the office of the priest is reserved for men.  One can only pray that she understands why God desires it to be this way.
        
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/29/woman-priest-ordained_n_3174277.html

Why the Church Teaches What It Does

Long ago Jesus began his earthly ministry and founded the Church. He gave his authority to her and she was told to go and spread the Good News, teaching what Jesus taught her.

In today’s world, there has been rising controversy towards women ordination, married priests, and homosexuality. Even now, many hope for a change in the Church with the coming of the new Pope, while the old one has stepped down. What many do not understand is that the Church cannot ever change. In the Ordinary Magisterium, part of the Church’s Deposit of Faith - its teaching authority on Earth - she may only affirm the teachings given to her by God and can never change or create new doctrine, only reaffirm. Some may point to changes in the Liturgy as signs that the Church has the power to change the way we pray and take part within it, but that never changes the underlying grace behind these words. It changes as culture changes, to help bring us to God in every circumstance - even the Sacraments are just visible signs of grace. The grace behind the signs are what really matters to growing in communion with God. THIS is what the Church can never change. As such, the same teachings given by Christ represent this hidden grace and help us become closer to God in all of our lives.

Who Can Receive Communion?

The Sacrament of Communion is the most prominent because we receive the Body and Blood of Christ. It strengthens us in our fight against sin and draws us closer to God. The Sacrament of Communion gives us grace to resist sin in every aspect of our lives. "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food, and my blood is real drink. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever" (John 6:53–58). This encounter we have with Christ has been entrusted from Jesus to his Church, and it is only through his Church that we are saved.

There are five requirements the Church has for those who wish to take Communion. First, you must be in a state of grace. Second, you must have been to confession since your last mortal sin. Third, you must believe in the doctrine of transubstantiation. Fourth, you must observe the Eucharistic fast. Finally, one must not be under an ecclesiastical censure. If you have offended someone you must repent your sin before you can participate in Communion; otherwise it is futile. Transubstantiation literally says that the bread and wine are actually transformed into the actual body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ, with only the appearances of bread and wine remaining. Only after fulfilling these requirements and are a member of the Universal Church can you participate in Communion.

My Church believes that everyone has the right to participate in Communion, to help them grow and be transformed in God. The United Methodist Church’s Confession of Faith states: “We believe the sacraments, ordained by Christ, are symbols and pledges of the Christian’s profession and of God’s love toward us. They are means of grace by which God works invisibly in us, bringing to life, strengthening and confirming our faith in him. Two Sacraments are ordained by Christ our Lord, namely Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.”

On transubstantiation, we believe that the change is spiritual. They signify the body and blood of Christ for us, helping us to be Christ’s body in the world today, redeemed by Christ’s blood. We pray over the bread and the cup that they may make us one with Christ, “one with each other, and one in service to all the world.”  Anyone may participate, but you remain your right to choose to not receive Communion. It is the Lord’s Supper, not ours, and it is Christ who invites you. As our ritual puts it: “Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another.” We do not refuse any who present themselves desiring to receive. Whether you should receive Communion with us is between you and God. Two thousand years ago Jesus ate with sinners and those whom others scorned. He still does. None of us is worthy, except by God’s grace. Thank God we don’t have to earn worth in God’s eyes by our goodness or our faith. Our sacred worth is God’s free gift. No matter what we have done or what is our present condition, if you want Christ in your life you are welcome at his table. Communion provides the opportunity for you to confess your sins, to receive forgiveness, and to indicate your intention to lead a new life.

Children may also receive Communion. We remember that when some of Jesus’ disciples tried to keep children away from him he said: “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs” (Mark 10:14 NRSV). You may say they do not understand the importance of their actions; however, neither do any of us. It is a wonderful mystery, and children can sense wonder and mystery. Children cannot understand the full significance of family meals, but we feed them at our family tables and at Christ’s family table. Young children experience being loved by being fed. They sense the difference between being included and excluded at a family meal. They have the faith of a child, appropriate to their stage of development, which Jesus recognized and honored. Indeed, he said to adults: “Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it” (Mark 10:15 NRSV). More information can be found in the book, United Methodists and Communion. We believe anyone who has the desire to change and to grow in God should be given the right to have Communion.

The Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano

The Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano is a miracle where the Host turned into the flesh of Christ.  In the small Church if St. Legontian, a Basilian monk was performing the mass.  He had trouble believing the Jesus's real presence and thought that the Eucharist represented Christ.  When he held up the host to consecrate it, it transformed into the flesh of Christ.  Also, all five goblets of wine were transformed into red, sparkling blood.  The flesh and wine has been preserved today, left out with nothing to preserve it.  The flesh can be seen today and is said to look brown, but when lit from the back, a rosy color emerges.  The blood over 1,200 years has changed to a mustard yellow color.  Several scientific test were performed on the blood and flesh in 1970-1971 and in 1981.  They examined the flesh and determined that it was true flesh and belongs to the human species.  They also discovered that it is the flesh of the heart and found that the myocardium is thicker than the rest of the heart, just as it is in a normal heart.  They then tested the blood and confirmed that it is indeed human blood and they found proteins that would normally be in the blood of a healthy human being.  Finally, the most convicting evidence is that the blood type, AB, is the same as the blood on the Shroud of Turin.  This miracle shows that the hosts and wines are truly the body and blood of Christ, but they may not look like them in appearance.  So next time you are taking communion and you wonder if you are really consuming the body and blood of Christ, remember this miracle.        
   

http://www.christusrex.org/www1/apparitions/pr00026.htm