This week and last

Well folks we have begun to delve in to Apologetics a little more deeply. Last week we finished up our 2 weeks on Sola Scriptura, and this week we had an abbreviated class due to the fundraising breakfast (which was GREAT, by the way!). Today we did discuss "Vain Repetition" and "Crucifixes" using this outline:

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Tebow Time: Col 3:23

“Whatever you do, do from the heart, as for the Lord and not for others,”

Vain Repetition

Mt. 6:7 “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words.”

Response?

We are NOT praying like pagans, but instead like the heavenly hosts who are shown in Scripture to be constantly singing God’s praises…see Rev. 4:8

Oatis pg 87

Hahn* pg 227

Crucifixes

Why do you Catholics always have Crucifixes above the alter and everywhere else for that matter?

Response?

Symbol of the Paschal Mystery …..to share in the victory of the resurrection we must unite our suffering with that of the Lord in his passion.

Oatis pg 90

Hahn* pg. 169

*Scott Hahn’s new book: “Signs of Life 40 Catholic Customs and their Biblical Roots”

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For the non-Gators in the group, ie most of you, Tebow (Tim Tebow) is the quarterback of the currently #1 Florida Gators. He always has a Bible verse painted on the blackout below his eyes.....there for all to see on National TV! Quite a witness to the Faith!!

Here is a link (http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/oct/17/tim-tebows-religion-on-the-field/) to a short article about this remarkable young man. In addition to all of this he is really a marvelous football player and is fun to watch! So even if you are not a Florida fan you might want to have a look at him play this year, as it is his senior year at Florida.

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One final thing....in the discussion on the Crucifix this am it was pointed out that we need to be reminded of the suffering our Lord went through for our individual salvation. We are united to Christ in our suffering. It is the only way to make any sense of it really. Here is a quote from Pope Benedict to contemplate:

The ability to accept and weather suffering is a fundamental condition for succeeding as a human being. Where it is never learned, existence is doomed to failure. Being up-in-arms about everyone and everything contaminates the ground of the soul, so to speak, and turns it into barren land. The priest must learn how to cope with pain -- formerly one spoke of asceticism in this context. No one likes this word any longer; it becomes more palatable when we translate it from Greek into English -- training. Everyone knows that without training and the will-power that goes with it there is no success. Nowadays one trains for all kinds of skills with enthusiasm and persistence, and in this way record performances in many areas are possible that were once deemed inconceivable. Why does it seem so outlandish to train for real life, for the right life -- to practice the arts of self-denial, of self-control, and of freeing ourselves from our addictions? Pope Benedict XVI