John,
Chapter 9, Verse 22
His
parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had
already agreed that if anyone acknowledged him as the Messiah, he would be
expelled from the synagogue.
Christ
had healed a man born blind to these parents on the Sabbath and in this verse
questioned about it and they were frightened
as to the outcome.
The
synagogue and the academy were the two institutions which preserved the essence
of the Judaism of the Diaspora and saved it from annihilation. As the place of
public worship, the synagogue became the pivot of each community, just as the
Sanctuary at Jerusalem had been the center for the entire people. The
synagogue, consequently, is the most important feature of the Jewish community,
which is inconceivable without it.[1]
This was
the equivalent to a social and spiritual death. To be expelled was alike to
being made a leper-being imposed in a life of living death.
It was
worse than being defriended on Facebook!
“When Jesus heard
that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son
of Man?” He answered and
said, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in
him?” Jesus said
to him, “You have seen him and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he
worshiped him. (John 9: 35-38).
Do you
belong to any human organizations that have blinded you to the truth? Are you afraid of being expelled by others if
you truly believed?
Walk into
the light of Christ and “Be not afraid”.
Feast of Saint Peter and Paul[2]
Today is the grand rejoicing in the
two Princes of the Apostles and founders of the Church in Rome.
PETER,
formerly called Simon, was a son of Jonas, of Bethsaida, in Galilee, and a
brother of Andrew, by whom he was brought to Christ, Who at once changed his
name and called him Peter. When, soon after, Jesus said to both of them on the
Sea of Tiberias, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” they both left
their nets and followed Him. From this time forward Jesus was constantly giving
him particular proofs of His love. From the ship of Peter He taught the
thronging multitude, and to him He promised that on him, as upon a rock, He
would build His Church, against which the gates of hell should not prevail. Our
Lord took Peter with Him at the raising of Jairus daughter from the dead; at
His own transfiguration on Mount Tabor; at the beginning of His passion in the
Garden of Gethsemani. To him He promised the keys of the kingdom of heaven; for
him He specially prayed that his faith might not fail; and him He commanded to
strengthen his brethren. After His resurrection He appeared particularly to
Peter, and three times commanded him to feed His flock. But Peter had, above
all the other apostles, made himself worthy of this preeminence by his living
faith, his humility, his love, and his zeal for the honor of Jesus; for he it
was who, before the other apostles, made the confession, “Thou art Christ, the
Son of the living God.” He showed his humility when, at the miraculous draught
of fishes, he said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Out of
love he desired to remain always with Christ on Mount Tabor to prevent Him from
suffering; and out of love he declared himself ready with Christ to live or die;
nay, he even declared most confidently that, though all should be scandalized
in Christ, yet he would not be. When Jesus was taken prisoner, Peter showed
himself to be most courageous by cutting off the ear of one of his Master’s
enemies, and by following Him to the house of Caiphas. Three times, indeed, did
he, as no one else did, deny his Lord out of fear; but the look of forgiving love which Jesus cast upon him
forced from him tears of the deepest contrition, and three times afterwards,
accordingly, he made that confession, “Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee.” After
he had received the Holy Ghost, full of courage, he confessed Christ crucified,
and preached Him in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Ionia, and Bithynia. At
Jerusalem he was once already condemned to death, but was set free by an angel.
In the year 54 he went to Rome, whence, after a nine years residence, he was
banished, with many other Christians. Upon returning thither again he was
confined in the Mamertine prison, and finally, on June 29, in the year A.D. 67,
under the Emperor Nero, he was crucified; his head, by his own desire, hung
downwards, because he thought himself unworthy to die like Christ.
Paul,
before his conversion called Saul, was of the tribe of Benjamin, a native of
Tarsus, in Cilicia, and a pupil of Gamaliel. Full of zeal for the law, he
bitterly opposed the Christians. As he was travelling to Damascus to persecute
them he was, on the way, converted by Christ. How indefatigably he thenceforward
worked in the vineyard of the Lord, and what dangers and persecutions he
underwent, no pen can describe. It is almost incredible with what zeal and
perseverance he preached Christ, in chains and fetters, under blows and
scourges, in hunger and thirst, and untold times at the peril of his life. And
yet he was so humble that he counted himself the least of the apostles, and
always praised God that He had thought him worthy to suffer for His name. After
he had at last fought a good fight, and finished his course having everywhere
zealously preached the Gospel, and still more zealously practiced it he
received the crown of justice (n. Tim. iv. 6). The Emperor Nero caused him to
be beheaded on the same day that Peter was crucified.
Of The Pope
What is the Pope to the Catholic? The representative of Jesus Christ, and the visible head, appointed
by Him, for the government of His Church.
Did Christ actually appoint such a supreme head? Yes, and that in the person of St. Peter. He gave him the significant
name Peter the rock, distinguished him always above the other apostles, and
laid upon him the charge to feed His lambs, that is, the faithful, and His
sheep, that is, the bishops themselves; and this power Peter uniformly
exercised.
Why did Christ appoint a visible head for the Church? Because the Church is an outward, visible society, united together
not only by inward faith in Christ, but also by outward, visible signs. Such a
visible head is as necessary for the Church as for a body, a family, a society,
a state, to prevent disunion, confusion, and the consequent destruction of the
whole; this supreme head is the center of the whole, the final judge, the
authoritative teacher.
Who is
now this supreme head? The Bishop of Rome, or the Pope. It is undeniable that Peter
occupied the bishop’s see at Rome, and that he died there. Equally indisputable
is it that the successor of St. Peter entered upon possession of his rights,
and, together with the episcopal see of Rome, inherited also the office
possessed by him. From the first centuries this has ever been acknowledged by
the faithful, who have accordingly called the Bishop of Rome Pope that is, the
father of the faithful. And how clearly does history show that Peter and his
successors are the rock upon which the Lord has immovably founded His Church!
What
storms have not broken upon the Church!
Persecutions from without and within, heresies and schisms
without number, and infidelity in its most hideous form, have raged against the
Church, and what has been the consequence?
Nations have often fallen away from the Church, single bishops have proved betrayers
of their flocks, the sees of the apostles themselves have been subject to the
vicissitudes of time. And amid all these storms Rome alone has, for over
eighteen hundred years, stood firm. She has come out of every contest victorious,
has remained the center of faith and discipline, and has preserved the unbroken
succession of bishops from Peter. Who does not see herein the assistance of Him
Who forever fulfills that promise of His, “Upon this rock I will build My
Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” The Pope is,
therefore, the visible supreme head of the Church, appointed by Christ for all
time; the invisible, all-governing head is Christ Himself.
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