As Christians, we readily acknowledge that Jesus, in addition to being Divine, also had (and has) a true human body. But does Jesus also have a human soul? This is one of the earliest questions that the early Church had to resolve, and the answer is crucial for how we understand Christ Jesus.
Tag: faith
The Proclamation and the Promise of the Ascension
Today is the Feast of the Ascension of Christ. What can we say about this Feast? It’s a proclamation and a promise. What does it proclaim? That we are body and soul, and that our bodies are good. What does it promise? That Christ has not abandoned us, and that we, body and soul, are destined for future glory.
The Catholic Church Doesn’t Look Like the Early Church? Good.
It’s frequently objected that the Catholic Church doesn’t look like the early Church. Good. It’s not supposed to.
Why I’m a Theist, a Christian, a Catholic, and a Seminarian
Why do I believe in God? Why am I a Christian? Why am I Catholic? And why am I a seminarian? Here’s how I answered those four question to a group of high school theology students.
The Public Nature of Reading Scripture
In the modern age, it’s easy to assume that Christians always studied Scripture by reading their personal Bible, or that theological questions always settled by the believer looking through his Bible at home, alone.
But none of that is true. As St. Augustine and Scripture itself confirm, the Bible was originally intended to be proclaimed to the community. Which is why I’m happy to be part of a project that seeks to do just that.
Why Does Jesus Tell Mary Magdalene Not to Touch Him?
On Easter Sunday, why does Jesus say to Mary Magdalene, “Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father”? And why does He then invite St. Thomas to touch His hands and side?
The Virgin Tomb of Christ
Both St. Matthew and St. John take pains to specify that Christ’s Tomb was never-before used. “Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb where no one had ever been laid” (John 19:41). But why do they both specify this seemingly-mundane detail? Because the Virgin Tomb, like the Virgin Womb, tells us something about Who Jesus Is.
How Important is the Canon of Scripture?
How important is it that all Christians operate from the exact same Bible? You may be surprised to learn that for most of Church history, the (implicit) Christian answer was “not that important.” Why was this the case? And why isn’t it the case today? Because of a major shift in how Christians approached Scripture and doctrinal orthodoxy…
The Trouble with Christian SoBs
Contemporary Christian groups are fond of producing “Statements of Belief” (SoBs) that serve as sort of imitation Creeds. That’s a bigger problem than it might seem.
The Humiliation of Christ
As far as I know, Christianity is unique in this: we believe in a God who willingly, and regularly, humiliates Himself. Consider the worst blasphemies imaginable, and then consider how far beyond those that Jesus is willing to go.