I love reading the daily meditations in the Magnificat Missal. Yesterday's was from Elisabeth Leseur who spent many painful years of bedridden suffering. Here is something she wrote to a friend experiencing a "painful crisis."
I want to assure you of my profound compassion in the painful crisis that you are going through. I understand it thoroughly. But if the waves of suffering and bitterness are violent, do not let yourself go under, especially under the influence of a physical and emotional depression that is very natural after such a shock....Having come to Jesus to share in his sacrifices and his Passion, you have experienced this and continue to go through an agony similar to the one the Savior knew in Gethsemane....It is enough t ohave received these choice graces and to know at the same time the deep call, the mysterious vocation of suffering....
A priest said about a woman who was struggling with her feelings: "There are times whenyou have to take your heart, throw it at God's feet...and step on it." How hard that is, but how mysterious! At that moment, miracles of grace take place, and one hour of such suffering is equal to a life given over simply to doing the good.
Are you on the cross today? Do you have a sick and suffering child? Have you lost a loved one or have you been diagnosed with a serious illness? Are you in the midst of a confusing and worrisome dilemma with a family member that causes you to worry and lose sleep?
Oh, if I could only, in those moments in my life, remember to take my heart, throw it at God's feet, and step on it. Help me, Lord Jesus, to give you my heart and will that you might conform them to yours. "Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto thine."
DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED TO SCRIPTURE BY STEVE FINNELL
ReplyDeleteLet us consider few teachings that are contrary to Biblical doctrines.
Man-Made Teachings about the Virgin Mary.
28. Mary has authority over angels and the blessed in heaven. As a reward for her great humility, God gave her the power and mission of assigning to saints the thrones made vacant by the apostate angels who fell away through pride.
Such is the will of almighty God who exalts the humble, that the power of heaven, earth and hell, willingly or unwillingly, must obey the commands of the humble Virgin Mary. For God has made her queen of heaven and earth, leader of his armies, keeper of his treasures, dispenser of his graces, worker of his wonders, restorer of the human race, mediatrix on behalf of men, destroyer of his enemies, and faithful associate in his great works and triumphs.[Ref. http://www.ewtn.com/library/Montfort/TRUEDEVO.HTM#Part l:Ch.1] [Or Google search-Treatise on True Devotion to Blessed Virgin-St. Louis de Mont ford]
1. 1 Peter 3:18-22 For Christ.....22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.(NKJV)
Jesus has authority over angels. The Virgin Mary has no authority.
2. 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Jesus Christ, (NKJV)
The Virgin Mary is not a mediatrix between men and God. Jesus is the one and only Mediator.
3. John 3:35 "The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hands. (NKJV)
The Father did not given things into the hands of Mary. All things are in the hands of Jesus.
4. Matthew 28:18 The Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (NKJV)
The Virgin Mary has not been given authority of any kind. Jesus is the authority.
5. Revelation 17:14 "These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful." (NKJV)
Mary is not the queen of heaven and earth. Jesus is the King of kings. There is no queen.
You can believe man-made traditions or you can believe the Holy Bible. You cannot believe both.
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You are quoting from a Bible, the King James version, which was altered by a man -- which undercuts your argument.
ReplyDeleteMartin Luther changed the bible 500 years ago saying "I will have it so." KJV was based on the Tyndale Bible which had so many errors (over 2000) that looking for them was described as "looking for water in the sea."
Martin Luther also threw out seven books of the bible and dropped passages from other books that he disagreed with. Certainly, the Holy Spirit is not at war with himself so Luther's man-imposed alterations were not from God. To sum up, the KJV came, not from Jesus, but from a man, a Catholic monk, who left the Church founded by Christ to start his own heretical sect.
And consider that there was no "bible" as we know it today in the early church, but only the Old Testament and assorted post-Resurrection writings. When were the books of the New Testament selected and approved? At the Catholic Church's Council of Carthage in 397.
What were "bible believing Christians" supposed to do before that since there was no bible?
As for Mary, what a gift she is! Jesus came into the world through this humble young maiden. Why would He not want us to imitate His humility by coming back to him through her? Not only that, his first miracle was performed at His mother's request. And in her Magnificat, Luke 1:48 she says that, "For he has looked upon his servant in her lowliness; all ages to come will call me blessed." Why? Because "God who is mighty has done great things for me, holy is his name." Mary ALWAYS leads us straight to Jesus. She is only his humble "maidservant."
Jesus certainly followed the commandments better than anyone in history. He "honored his father and mother." Mary is not a rival to Christ. She is a signpost pointing the way to Him.