Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship is there between light and darkness? What agreement does Christ have with Beliar? Or what does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols?
2 Corinthians 6:14-16
The other day in prayer, I got a very heavy feeling and a very clear image. The image was of a pathway that was in the shape of the cross. All around the crossing point of the vertical and horizontal were roses. But there was a sense to me – the more you followed the path of the vertical, the more the roses grew outward from the cross, on both pathways. But if you turned from the vertical to follow the horizontal, the roses faded and the path became dark. I thought of when we try to be good simply as humans, on the horizontal of the cross, and we leave God out or we twist who he is so the vertical and horizontal glory cannot be achieved.
It is the story of time immemorial, we try on our own to fix what only God can fix within us.
I came across this article the other day. The article is about how on the Arabian Peninsula there are plans to build a mosque, a synagogue, and a church, all in a triangle together, as if to create a trinity of religions. The article points out that some have criticized this as syncretism. Those critics are correct. While I do not doubt the good intentions of the people planning this, this is simply idolatry of people over God, which is what syncretism is. In an effort not to offend people we mix our beliefs together and care not about offending God. It seeks to create a peaceful coexistence between contradicting religions. While peace is a laudable goal, if you ever read the Bible when men try create what God wants to gift freely, you know how this always works out. War.
I don’t mean this post as judgment upon any soul. It is for God alone to judge intentions. We should always reach out to others in love. Love converts souls. But this isn’t love. Creating a space like this leaves the people confused. Is there really different truth for different people? The video at the bottom of the article leaves me feeling all the disordered chaos wrapped up in a sterilized package of lawlessness. I ask myself, is anyone in charge of this place? The answer appears to be, “you do you”, everyone is in charge. When everyone is in charge, no one is in charge. And the one through whom all authority comes gets left behind. It is a giant recipe for disaster, with good intention. The path of the road to hell.
Jesus tells us there is one truth. He is the way, the truth and the life. And they killed him for it. Are we now killing him too by killing his bride, the church? As if his sacrifice on the cross was all for naught? Making a mock trinity. We all know God will not be mocked.
We human beings spend so much time trying to create what isn’t ours to create. Jesus did not come for us to “peacefully coexist” in this worldly fashion. He came that we might have life and have it abundantly, by having Him dwell within us. This is something that comes from the Sacramental Life. It never needs to be forced, but lived so that people see you look different. It looks like Saint Francis, who did engage with the Sultan, but he did not shy away from preaching the Gospel truth. If we want true human fraternity we need true worship in our own hearts and in Mass of the One True God, who sent His Son, the second person of the Blessed Trinity, in the Incarnation to die for us so we might know Love.
“The Eucharist is the Sacrament of Love; It signifies Love, It produces love. The Eucharist is the consummation of the whole spiritual life.”
–Saint Thomas Aquinas
While we should absolutely love all people, we should not partake in syncretism. While Abraham is the father of these three religions, only one fulfills the covenant, only one culminates in truth with the incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection. The idolatry I see here is worship of man. Taking the horizontal path that will end up leaving the vertical behind. And we will be left in ruins.
We have already reaped havoc from this idolatry. From the time Pachamama earth bowl was on the altar at Saint Peter’s to the time Mass began to shut down because of a virus was 135 days. I see Fatima in that number, the 13th day of the 5th month.
Oh My Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.
When the church allows idolatry, the flock is scattered. I wonder how long until the next wave of chastisement comes upon us as a result of our latest idolatry of self. Perhaps another round of sex scandal. Perhaps another plague. Perhaps war. It isn’t God who is doing this, we have done it to ourselves. We can choose to leave God in the face of these sufferings, or we can choose to walk this Passion with steadfast faith and love of Christ in our hearts. If we stay, resurrection is on the other side.
Whatever the case we should pray without ceasing and we should take refuge in the hearts of Jesus and Mary. Pray for those who persecute us. Hold on tight, the labor pains will be getting harder.
Veil of Veronica 
I totally agree with everything you’ve written. May God have Mercy on us all. Hopefully it will bring us closer to the day He returns.
Thank you. God Bless you.
Very apropos…Absolutely been feeling this heaviness too. Confession today lightened up the burden…but know the evil is pressing stronger than ever. We Keep trodding with Jesus and his cross. God bless you
God Bless you too.
There is no doubt we are in for a time of chastisement. Out of his love and mercy He is giving us time to gather even closer to Him. Along Our Lady and St Joseph. Have Mercy on us Lord.
Amen
This is an awakening for me for I do not want to get the vaccine because it has the fetal tissues of our unborn children and I do not want to attribute anything good from destroying these pure and innocent souls! Thank you for revealing how to understand what is so very precious, -I will not get the vaccine and I will hopefully talk about how I really feel about this! May God’s mercy be our focus, trusting in him first about everything!
while the mRNA vaccine doesn’t have fetal tissue within it, it was tested using fetal tissue. I don’t believe anything good can come from us using the blood of the innocent to try to save ourselves. In fact I think that will also rain down fire from heaven upon us. May the Lord have mercy on all of us.
AMEN!!!
I respectfully disagree with your opinion that the Arabian Peninsula project is syncretism. It would be syncretism if the three religions were using or encompassing the same building (temple). They are not. Each will have their own building. Jesus will be fully present in the church (alone), thereby being accessible to countless Catholics (and perhaps many others). The other buildings will serve the other religions, respectively. As a veteran, what I see is nothing less than a miracle. Three religions that have never agreed to let one another “be” have agreed to do so WITHOUT killing one another? How can you call that war? Have you seen the ravages of war in the name of religion? It isn’t pretty. It’s horrible.
When God told Abraham to count the stars and that his descendants will be so, do you suppose He was “only” counting Catholics? Of course not! Anyone who calls Abraham their father in faith would (could) be counted in that figure. See Gen 17:20 for example. Try counting the stars. The only way that that scripture makes perfect sense is in counting all of Abraham’s descendants, which include Christians, Muslims, and Jews.
Jesus told us to love our enemies. What does that mean? Certainly not syncretism! It means loving them just as they are rather than “converting” them first or making conversion some sort of “requirement” for love. So what exactly did Jesus mean when He said to love our enemies? He said it best as He hung from the cross, saying: “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do!”
The greatest gift that Vatican ll gave to us is that it took down the “barrier” between religions. Sadly, many Catholics were not ready to be “exposed” to other religions. Why not? Isn’t “readiness” the heart of the Gospel? Our “lamps” do NOTHING as long as they’re hidden. It is ONLY when our lamps are on the lamp stand that others will see the light! Our God is a God of attraction, NOT imposition! Pope Francis has been encouraging us all to simply “love” ever since he was elected to the chair of Peter. Sadly, so many Catholics don’t get it. Love hurts!!!
I greatly appreciate your comment and will ponder it in my heart. I agree we must love our enemies and that conversion is not a prerequisite for love. You have presented a thoughtful analysis and it is good for thought. I also agree that Pope Francis has encouraged us to love others.
I think the starkness of the Triangle shape was startling to me. It does seem a mockery of the Trinity. And seems to say that there are 3 different truths. That was my position.
I do totally get that love hurts. I also know this project could show people the light of Christ, but sadly what I usually see is that people tend to believe Christ and the Sacraments aren’t important and they have left en masse.
But again thank you for your comments, there is always something to learn from other perspectives.
Regardless of who is “right” I will pray for our church and our Holy Father. I actually hope you are right and that this is peaceful and the love from the Christians will move others to conversions.
I wondered whether Jesus, who opened the Temple for all to come, would have partaken in something like this that has 3 different types of worship, and if so then does the Eucharist mean anything? It seems to me that this is different than the Holy Land where history played it out that way, versus the purposeful construction of this triangular formula. What I see for the future is the removal of the Eucharist, like already happened temporarily. My hope is that I am wrong. And thank you for being so respectful in the comments. Peace be with you.
Thank you for your kind response. You pose an interesting question in the last paragraph of that response: “…if so then does the Eucharist mean anything?”
The Eucharist will ALWAYS mean one thing and that is that it not a thing. It IS JESUS IN THE FLESH! The trouble is that the vast majority of Catholics have doubts about this. It’s OK to have doubts. That’s normal. What’s not OK (if one wants to preserve and/or grow their faith) is to “hide” the truth about those doubts. The best thing is to be honest and candid about doubts with God. Tell Him “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). God loves honesty! He will not disown us if we tell Him we have doubts! He will Help us!
The very first thing that my spiritual directed instructed me to do when he agreed to direct me was to have me spend at least an hour (beyond mass attendance) with Jesus, before the tabernacle in church. He said that it wasn’t necessary that He be exposed. Just spend an hour in His Presence. What a difference that has made to my faith these past few years!!! You see, Jesus is ALWAYS present in the Catholic churches. The problem is that PEOPLE are not! That’s what’s missing, and if anythings – THAT’S what leads to the “Eucharist losing its meaning.”
Have you ever been inside of a non Catholic church? It’s amazing how His Presence is distinctly NOT there. It’s a small little comparative exercise, but for anyone who cannot seem to grasp His Presence, it might be well worth the effort of checking it out!
Jesus IS fully Present in every Catholic church in the entire world. Yet we walk or drive by Him countless times without even the thought of spending time with Him. The best way to get to know anyone is to spend time with them!!! No?
(EDITED)
Thank you for your kind response. You pose an interesting question in the last paragraph of that response: “…if so then does the Eucharist mean anything?”
The Eucharist will ALWAYS mean one thing and that is that it not a thing. It IS JESUS IN THE FLESH! The trouble is that the vast majority of Catholics have doubts about this. It’s OK to have doubts. That’s normal. What’s not OK (if one wants to preserve and/or grow their faith) is to “hide” the truth about those doubts. The best thing is to be honest and candid about doubts with God. Tell Him “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). God loves honesty! He will not disown us if we tell Him we have doubts! He will Help us!
The very first thing that my spiritual director instructed me to do when he agreed to direct me was to have me spend at least an hour (beyond mass attendance) with Jesus, before the tabernacle in church EVERY DAY! He said that it wasn’t necessary that He be exposed. Just spend an hour in His Presence. What a difference that has made to my faith these past few years!!! You see, Jesus is ALWAYS present in the Catholic churches. The problem is that PEOPLE are not! That’s what’s missing, and if anythings – THAT’S what leads to the “Eucharist losing its meaning.”
Have you ever been inside of a non Catholic church? It’s amazing how His Presence is distinctly NOT there. It’s a small little comparative exercise, but for anyone who cannot seem to grasp His Presence, it might be well worth the effort of checking it out!
Jesus IS fully Present in every Catholic church in the entire world. Yet we walk or drive by Him countless times without even the thought of spending time with Him. The best way to get to know anyone is to spend time with them!!! No?
Your argument was compelling, but something not sitting well so I asked the Lord, “what is it?” I heard the word “motive”. What is the motive of those bringing this about? I had to go read the article Susan linked to. There it was, right at the top:
The ‘Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together’ met in New York on Sept. 20 to unveil plans for a church, synagogue and mosque on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi. The three houses of worship will collectively be called the Abrahamic Family House and will stand together as a symbol of the kind of religious tolerance that the UAE wants to be known for.
So there you have it. The motive. Not that Jesus Christ who is the ONLY way, truth and life will be known and accepted as the only way to true peace, no motive that this is for the salvation of souls….no, just to bring a false peace based on “tolerance” and for appearances for the UAE because they want to change their image to the world. Frankly, this is an evil seduction. Even the elect will be deceived because they have no love of the TRUTH.
The Church for too long now has falsely concerned itself with pleasing the world and becoming friends with the world. That makes us enemies of God according to Scripture. It has also led to deception, and the sheep falling for the deceptions.
Yes Sally. That’s why the image of the cross and roses was so stark to me. It’s taking a turn away from God…in the guise of being Godly.
We need to go down on hands & knees – praying for the conversion of our Pope. Oh Our Blessed Mother- please help your children. Amen.
Thank you for this article..
It’s really a wake up call for our Catholics. God bless.
I think it’s worth noting also that from the time Pope Francis signed the Fraternity Pledge with the Muslims, February 4, 2019 to the first documented case of COVID in China, November 17, 2019 is 287 days. Gestation in humans is 280 days.
The signing and yoking us with an Anti-Christian belief system gave birth to this covid chastisement. May God in His Mercy forgive us.
This is why it’s so important to look at the fruit of something. I try always to look for the good intention- so as not to judge souls- but you can see the fruit of where we have been led. We’re worse off then before, not better. You will know them by their fruits.
May 13th (Fatima) is also the Feast of Our Lady of the Most Holy Eucharist ! Isn’t that beautiful ?
Thanks so much Sally for the research. No one is posting judgement on motives, but rather seeking to raise awareness about another subject Susan has often underlined for us here on this blog : PURITY.
Purity means many things, and there are many degrees or levels to it, not just the usual fleshly things that come to mind. Purity is really at its root , substance and essence ALL about (motives) INTENTION: that which moves the heart to speak or to act on something. When our motive is the Glory of God alone, 100 %, then I do believe If something we attempt to do is God’s Will , then He sure will MULTIPLY AND MAGNIFY THE ROSES ! Isn’t that what God did with San Juan Diego through Our Lady of Guadalupe at Tepeyac ?
Amen Lucy. And we are in a purification where we will asked – are you glorifying God alone, or is there another agenda. I shudder actually at how far I need to go to be detached from the world.
Hi Lucy. I agree with everything Susan shared. My reply was supposed to be for Finnian and his disagreement with syncretism and the “motive” of this project. When I read his comments lauding the oroject, something didn’t sit right, so I asked the Lord, what? I heard ” motive”. Meaning what is the motive of the people behind this project in UAE. I’ve done further research, and the “church” will not be Catholic at all, just “christian”…so I believe this is another man made edifice and God and Jesus, and most importantly, salvation, are not considered at all. God bless! And thanks Susan, I had not seen this project.
so the project won’t have a Catholic Church? That’s odd – wasn’t this coming from the Vatican?
Me, too. It is amazing what C-19 has unveiled !
Mercy and Grace, please Lord….
My analogy on the Holy Trinity and Creation
There is only One God and in this God there are Three Persons God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. These Three Persons make up the One God so we cannot say God exist with out one of these Persons.
Look at the world it is made up of longitude, latitude, and altitude all three must be present for the world to exist.
For time to exist, in order for us to measure time or to talk about time there has to be a past, present and a future.
Look at matter it is made up of height, width and depth, all three must be present for matter to exist.
Take the atom it is made up of neutron, proton and electron and all three must be present for the atom to exist.
Also look at the elements, they can be in the form of gas, solid or liquid, such as water, it can be liquid, or steam, or ice. Take a piece of ice put in a pan and heat it. Now from that piece of same ice you will have a solid, liquid and gas, (steam).
Next think about the sun it is a Ball of fire and from it comes light and heat, Imagine the sun being God, the Ball is God, the fire God the Father, the Light, God the Son and the heat God the Holy Spirit. A flame does the same thing; it is a flame of fire, which puts out light, and heat. Here again we can compare it with the Trinity, the Flame being God, the Fire being God the Father, the Light God the Son and the Heat God the Holy Spirit.
One other important out look. The human family, in order for a complete family to exist there must be father, mother, and a child. A child cannot be made with out a father or mother and a father or mother cannot make child by their self. Also for a woman to conceive, there has to be the woman, the man and God. For in the Old Testament God said I knew you before you were in your mother’s womb.
Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Isaiah 49:1 Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the LORD called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name.
Isaiah 49:2 He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver.
Isaiah 49:3 He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.”
Isaiah 49:4 But I said, “I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing. Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand, and my reward is with my God.”
Isaiah 49:5 And now the LORD says– he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD and my God has been my strength—
Isaiah 49:6 he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”
Psalm 139:13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Luke 1:36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.
Luke 1:37 For nothing is impossible with God.”
Luke 1:38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
Luke 1:39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,
Luke 1:40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.
Luke 1:41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Luke 1:42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!
Luke 1:43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
Luke 1:44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
Then what about each person, we are made up of mind, (intelligence), body, and soul. Here a gain there are three separate functions but one in the same. What effects one effects the other.
And one last thing the church, the church is made up of the church militant, the church suffering, and the church triumphant. Here are three separate functions, but one and the same church. The church militant are us on earth fighting against evil, the church suffering are those souls in purgatory, and the church triumphant are those in Heaven.
So it is with God from God comes the Father, Son and Holy Spirit..
Gen 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
Note the us has to be the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, because only God can create.
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
John 10:30 I and the Father are one.”
John 10:38 But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”
John 14:10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.
John 14:11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.
Matthew 1:23 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” –which means, “God with us.”
Note Jesus is called Immanuel (God with us) so since He is God with us, And there is only One God. He has to be one in the same God as the Father and the Holy Sprit.
John 20:28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
John 20:29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Note Here a gain Jesus is called Lord and God, since there is only one God, There has to be a trinity and Jesus is the Son
P.S.
Also I would like to point out here the reason why the Roman Catholic church teaches against birth control and abortion. As it is seen from the scripture readings above, it is God who creates us and forms us in our mothers womb. So when we use birth control, etc. we are going against nature and God’s Will. We are preventing God from forming us in the womb. For if we let God’s Will be done, as asked in the Our Father prayer, would He not from a baby in the womb for the benefit of all creation, even if the woman is thought to be barren. If we really believe in God, that He created us. Why do we worry about world population, do we not trust that He will take care of us. Must we be in control or should we let God be in control. God does not go against our will. Don’t we trust God, were is our faith ! In Geneis 38:9-10 we see that God was so displeased with Onan for spilling his semen on the ground, that Onan was put to death. Here again the bible tells us not to use birth control.
Genesis 38:9 But since Onan knew that the offspring would not be his, he spilled his semen on the ground whenever he went in to his brother’s wife, so that he would not give offspring to his brother.
Genesis 38:10 What he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD, and he put him to death also.
Luke 12:22 Then Jesus said to his disciples:”Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.
Luke 12:23 Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.
Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!
Luke 12:25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ?
Luke 12:26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
Luke 12:27 “Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
Luke 12:28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!
Luke 12:29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.
Luke 12:30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.
Matthew 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny ? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.
Matthew 10:30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Matthew 10:31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
These scriptures tells us that God will take care of us, if we only let Him!
Remember: Thy Will be done!
You may say who are you to tell me about scriptures, and I say I am nobody, I am less than nobody. I am a creature, created by God, who has not done the Lord’s Will in the past and who is now struggling to do His Will. The Lord has had and still has patient with me, as He has with everybody. I am one who likes to have control of myself and those around me. But I must let go, as we all must let go, to do God’s Will. And in this century of materialism it is hard to let go. We must be perfect, as the Father is perfect, for we are His creatures. He created us, we did not create ourselves. Please Pray for me.
Matthew 5:48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.
2 Corinthians 7:1 Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit,perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
2 Corinthians 13:9 We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection.
Sirach 44:17 Noah was found perfect and righteous; in the time of wrath he kept the race alive; therefore a remnant was left on the earth when the flood came.
Wisdom 9:6 for even one who is perfect among human beings will be regarded as nothing without the wisdom that comes from you.
One comforting thought before I close, God will devise plans for your good.
II Samuel 14:14 We must all die; we are like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up. But God will not take away a life; he will devise plans so as not to keep an outcast banished forever from his presence.
P.S. 01-05-12 From a book I read “Proof of After Life The Conversation Continues”
Page 117
In the book of Genesis, God referred to himself as a plurality when he proclaimed, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our own image and likeness… (Genesis 1 :26) If he was only one person he would have said, “let me make man in my own image and likeness.” But he did not. He said, “Let us make man in our own image and likeness.
We who are similar to God in our composition, are also made up of three parts; body, soul and spirit. There are three yous! That is why we have heard stories of certain saints who have experienced bilocation – being in two places at one time. Namely, in recent years, Padre Pio (+1968) had this gift.
Look at it this way. When you get into a car and drive down a highway, your body is physically in the automobile and it’s operating the car skillfully – that is one part of you, your body at work. However, did you ever notice that while you are driving you can simultaneously speak with a passenger or take a phone can, safely we hope? That is your spirit at work, talking and recalling various memories and thoughts. Now, while you are having a conversation and driving. You also have the ability to experience emotions, regrets, joys and frustrations. That is your soul at work. The body and spirit sit inside of definition (words), while the soul sits outside of definition.
After 911 I met a young Muslim girl who said the extremists are reading the Koran incorrectly. She said the verses about killing the infidel were about killing the infidel in your own heart. Etc. Now I don t know anything, and I am fearful of pronouncing without God on my side, and I am so imperfect that it is with trepidation I say, …Maybe what we have in these 3 religions are 3 aspects of approach to the Divine.
Judaism is the struggle with God
Christianity is the sacrifice of God, (our salvation)
And Islam is surrender to God, at last, in His Perfect Time.
I of course see these three all through the light of Christ.
Christianity is actually all of those things. The struggle, the sacrifice and the surrender. Christ surrendered his entire being in sacrifice for our salvation. The other thing is that Baptism is necessary for salvation as out catechism teaches. We should actually want for all to be baptized so they can be saved. It’s as if we care only about the body and not the eternal soul.
Btw, I wanted to say how your article really made me think. Your vertical post that blooms roses while diminishing them on the horizontal reminds me of the old saying, “Russia has the cross without Christ, America has Christ without the cross.”. That is rapidly changing.
But back to our dark trinity of churches for a moment. I aggree with you 100% on baptism. But again, when I look at the modern symbols of these religions, the star of Judaism calls us to the manger, the crucifix to sacrifice, and maybe at that very crossroad that you speak of, there is a baptismal bowl, shaped like a crescent moon, provided by God almighty, to Our Lady Mary Queen of Heaven and Earth, that she might take under her mantle those that live in it’s shadow.
Hi.
I found this, your blog, on Micheal’s blog, Spiritdaily.
I responded to a piece on The American Catholic blog on the 8th of February. I’m sharing this because I notice you reference [ the passion ]. The Church is going through it’s Passion.
My criticism of our Pope is backed by my daily prayers for him. I do hope for his conversion and defense of Catholic teachings instead of his opinions being front and center, imho ambiguous utterances. Confusion.
The reason I’m posting my comment from the 8th is because of your use of the Passion to signify the state our Holy Catholic Church is going through.
( Monday, February 8, AD 2021
PHILIP NACHAZEL
An apostle of Christ had an incorrect concept of who Christ is, and what His mission was about.
In some ways I see PF following that path. He too is sure in his assumptions on what the mission of Christ’s Church is and who he, Christ, is.
I’ve heard and read that the Church is in it’s Passion. It’s betrayal, not unlike the betrayal of Christ through a kiss, is evidenced in the anti-catholic expressions and acts that PF has exhibited in his pontificate.
We, the son’s and daughter’s of God, must never leave the Church abandoned. We, like John the beloved and Mary ever Virgin, must stay focused on the Divine. We must be present during the whole of the Church’s Passion and recall that the glorious resurrection will soon follow.
Let us unite at the foot of the Cross.)
After completing the daily Rosary I do add the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be for Pope Francis’ HOLY intentions. I ask that the Holy Spirit guides his actions and his utterances. Prayers to Chinese Catholics is a must. God have Mercy.
Thank you for your comment.
Thank you Cofears for your post, and sharing the revelation of so many important trinitarian manifestations. It is amazing how God is trinitarian in these modes, functions, and aspects. You touched on many of the key ones and I want to say thank you for encouraging us to deepen our contemplation of that revelation… all Glory to GOD …..WHO WAS ……WHO IS…….. AND WHO IS TO COME !
I have been thinking this very thing. When I see my friends having so much fun, but for some reason I no longer want to join in, but if I do I’ll be heading down the horizontal line of the cross and I’d prefer to stay on the narrow way. Part of me wants to say “please join me on this narrow way”, but who am I to judge.
it’s a fine line. We should want to call our loved ones to that narrow way. Example of life is usually the best way and prayer for them. It also takes discerning when to speak. If someone is not open it’s like throwing pearls at swine. But sometimes the door is open for the Holy Spirit to speak through you.
So very true and very well written.. Totally agree.. i understand and am well aware of the pain being yoked to a non believer in marriage
May God bless you.
I read recently that the Catholic Church at the Abrahamic Family House in the UAE was opened a few days ago. It reminded me of this post you wrote in February 2021. To me, the specifics cause great sadness. I read the Catholic, Jewish and Islamic sites were ‘intentionally built to the same height with the exact same dimensions; each is cube shaped with sides of equal lengths’. – is this to indicate that they are of equal truth and validity? That a choice to follow one is equal to the others? How could we as Church agree to this symbolism? What’s more, in the comments made by the bishop at the church opening he said, …”May the memory of Christ Jesus, whom we consider the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, Son of the Most High and Redeemer of the world,…” “Consider”? Not “who IS the Lamb of God..”? Are we afraid to proclaim the truth on the chance it may offend? My heart breaks. You are right – we need to pray without ceasing.
God will work all things for the good of those who love Him. The one positive I see is that the Eucharist will be (I hope) truly present. God can draw people to Himself…. the truth of the Eucharist is there…. let’s put our hope in God to work that for good. Pray without ceasing.