Tag: Jesus

Joel Osteen, Judas Iscariot, and the Heretical “Prosperity Gospel”

Lakewood Church(Joel and Victoria Osteen’s megachurch) The recent controversy over Joel and Victoria Osteen has put these megachurch preachers back in the spotlight. This time, it was because Victoria said: I just want to encourage every one of us to realize when we obey God, we’re not doing it for God—I mean, that’s one way… Continue reading Joel Osteen, Judas Iscariot, and the Heretical “Prosperity Gospel”

9 Ways To Restore All Things in Christ

Pope St. Pius X The world looks pretty frightening for the Church these days. Christians are being martyred around the world, whether it be by Communists in China or by Islamic radicals in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Western society is becoming ever more anti-religious, and the Church is facing increasing threats by secularists in many… Continue reading 9 Ways To Restore All Things in Christ

The Five-Fold Argument for the Resurrection

I’ve got a piece today on Strange Notions (based upon this 2010 post) looking at five specific pieces of evidence that suggest that the Resurrection happened. Here’s a snippet: On this Good Friday, the day Christians traditionally commemorate the death of Jesus on the cross, let’s examine the evidence surrounding his death and resurrection. I’d… Continue reading The Five-Fold Argument for the Resurrection

How Do We Know Jesus Isn’t Speaking Figuratively About the Eucharist in John 6?

Cale B.T., an Anglican with some Catholic sympathies, asked one of the better questions I’ve seen regarding John 6 and the Eucharist: Guercino, Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at the Well (1641) I’m an Anglican who is very sympathetic to Catholicism and I’ve a question regarding the Real Presence. A verse frequently used in defence… Continue reading How Do We Know Jesus Isn’t Speaking Figuratively About the Eucharist in John 6?

Simon and Mary: Learning from the TWO Anointings of Christ

How much do you know about the anointing of Christ? Do you know about the leprous Pharisee? For that matter, did you know that there were actually two anointings? There were. The first one occurred early on in Jesus’ ministry, while the second took place in the week leading up to Good Friday. It appears… Continue reading Simon and Mary: Learning from the TWO Anointings of Christ

Finding Our Identity in Christ

Last week, I warned against being defined by your sexual orientation or history. This raises a central issue, going far beyond sexual orientation: how do we define ourselves? We live in a world with a wealth of competing identities, and it’s easy to define ourselves by something incidental, or at least, something non-central. For example, are… Continue reading Finding Our Identity in Christ

Making Sense of One of the Most Shocking Verses in Scripture

James Tissot, Jesus Found in the Temple (1890) Yesterday’s Gospel has one of the most shocking verses in the New Testament, Luke 2:51, “And he [Jesus] went down with them [Mary and Joseph] and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.” Is there any… Continue reading Making Sense of One of the Most Shocking Verses in Scripture

Day 7: O Emmanuel

Tonight’s O Antiphon is the last one, and it’s the most famous and probably the most beautiful.  It’s “O Emmanuel.” The name Emmanuel.means “God with us,” and it’s taken from Isaiah 7:13-14, in which Isaiah says, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of… Continue reading Day 7: O Emmanuel

Day 6: O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations)

Tonight’s O Antiphon is “O Rex Gentium,” meaning “King of the Nations,” or “King of the Gentiles.” The idea is that the Messiah would be King, not only of the Jews, but the Gentiles as well: that is, of all nations.  For example, Isaiah prophesied of the Christ (in Isa. 2:4), “He shall judge between the nations,… Continue reading Day 6: O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations)