Tag: Jesus

How Does Good Friday *Work*, Exactly?

Today, Christians celebrate Good Friday, recalling the Death of Christ on the Cross for our sins. Virtually all Christians agree that Christ’s Death is an atoning Sacrifice for our sins. But Catholics and Reformed Protestants understand the nature of that Sacrifice very differently.  Is Christ’s Sacrifice on the Cross the outpouring of the Father’s wrath… Continue reading How Does Good Friday *Work*, Exactly?

Pope Francis, Foot-Washing, and the Cross

Meister des Hausbuches, Christ Washing the Feet of the Apostles (1475) The more I read about our new Holy Father, the happier I am.  He seems to combine outspoken orthodoxy with flagrant and outspoken love of the poor and downtrodden.  In short, there is plenty for Catholics (and non-Catholics) of all stripes to like.  One… Continue reading Pope Francis, Foot-Washing, and the Cross

The Father’s Two Sons: What the Prodigal Son Tells us About Divine Sonship

In Exodus 32, Moses has gone up on Mount Sinai to talk to God.  Almost immediately after he left, the Israelites fall into idolatry, worshiping a golden calf (Ex. 32:1-6). God is displeased, and says to Moses, “Go down; for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves” (Ex. 32:7). Moses responds… Continue reading The Father’s Two Sons: What the Prodigal Son Tells us About Divine Sonship

Numbering the Stars with a Fresh Pair of Eyes

The Gospel reading for this past Sunday is one of the more famous passages from the Book of Genesis. God  tells Abram (a childless, 75-year-old man) to number the stars.  When he can’t, God says, “And so shall your descendants be.” One of the things that makes this scene so captivating is that, for anyone… Continue reading Numbering the Stars with a Fresh Pair of Eyes

Mormonism and the Martyrdom of St. Stephen

St. Stephen’s martyrdom, which we celebrate today, includes a valuable gem in discussing prayer with the LDS, better known as the Mormons.  Mormons refuse to pray to Jesus, because they don’t see prayer to Him in the New Testament: So, it is abundantly clear in Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount that we are instructed,… Continue reading Mormonism and the Martyrdom of St. Stephen

Adam and Eve, Jesus and Mary

Yesterday was the second of the three-part “Shameless Popery” live apologetics series. It was entitled “The Priesthood of Christ & Adam and Eve, Jesus and Mary.”  The second of those two topics, on the parallels between Adam and Eve with Jesus and Mary, is something that’s been covered before on this blog, but I wanted… Continue reading Adam and Eve, Jesus and Mary

Does John 6:63 Refute the Real Presence?

Early Christian depiction of the Eucharist from the C A couple of my Evangelical friends were recently talking with me about John 6 and the Eucharist. If you haven’t read it recently, you should. In it, Jesus states repeatedly, and in no uncertain terms, that He is the Bread of Life, that our eternal salvation… Continue reading Does John 6:63 Refute the Real Presence?

Understanding Christ’s Resurrected Body

Caravaggio, Supper at Emmaus (1601) This Sunday’s Gospel involves one of the Easter Sunday appearances of Jesus Christ to the Disciples. It starts out with the two disciples from the road to Emmaus returning to describe how “Jesus was made known to themin the breaking of bread,” an obvious Eucharistic reference. But in the midst of this… Continue reading Understanding Christ’s Resurrected Body

What Should Christians Think About Adoptive Parenting?

Guido Reni, Saint Joseph with the Infant Jesus (1635) A week ago, a Democratic lobbyist named Hilary Rosen said that Mitt Romney’s wife Ann “has actually never worked a day in her life,” since she’s a stay-at-home mom. A lot of people, particularly stay-at-home parents, were understandably upset. But that doesn’t justify the response of the Catholic League,… Continue reading What Should Christians Think About Adoptive Parenting?