Because of God's love

[Object_Chosen]

The pastor at my parrish likes to tell us that “we do good things because of God’s love, not to win God’s love.” He will often add this: “God loves us all equally.”

This sits awkwardly against my understanding of Catholic teaching.

In a casual conversation, I’m not sure that this thought, expressed this way, would get my attention.

But the pastor has told me, one, that we are, in his thinkiing, saved at baptisim and that he "doesn’t care about some heaven out there, that he “wants to create heaven on earth.”

In these last thoughts, the first comments take on, for me, more significance: I begin to think that his larger message is that we can’t do anything wrong, that there is no losing God’s favor, that we, in effect, are not and cannot be sinful.

A finall thought: He is fond of offering general absolution, of diminishing the signficance of personal confession. He makes personal confession available but says that it’s for those who “feel they need more.”

Any thoughts.

Thanks.

 

[JohnJFarren]

JMJ / MMM 091107 Saturday
Hello “Chosen” – and you are Chosen … we all are –
Yes, we are all chosen by God’s Love. We receive that Love in many different ways because of our own circumstances and the effects other people make on us.

In a sense … we are all Loved by God equally. As St Thomas might say, “Yes … and no.”

As Christians we are to care BOTH about “Heaven out there” AND “Heaven here on earth.” It’s that old mistake of either/or when it should be both/and.

I don’t think he means we can’t do anything wrong. I can do something wrong any time I want. So can you.

Downplaying private confession is clearly against the teaching of the Church. This is wrong. Private confession – and not only for mortal sin – is constantly and strongly encouraged by the Church. General absolution – if it’s assumed that sins are forgiven because of it – is reserved by the Church for real emergency situations. For example > a large number of soldiers are about to be sent into danger and combat, and there isn’t time for many private confessions. The chaplain priest may give General Absolution – with the understanding by the soldiers that, in case of mortal sin, it must be confessed privately later – if they come back alive.

There is one sense in which we cannot lose God’s Love. We change. God does not change. Even our serious sins will not change God’s Love for us … but our serious sins will make it impossible for us to RECEIVE that Love.

Don’t try to argue with this man. You will lose. Pray. For priests in general … and for this priest in particular.
God pour His Love and graces upon you. John (JohnJFarren)

 

[Object_Chosen]

What is there to “lose”?

 

[geometer]

God is love. Love is the maker of everything.

You are probably having trouble, like he is, because putting limits on God doesn’t not work.

To say that God does not care in any context is completely absurd.

The scriptures say that if you know love you know God.

 

[Object_Chosen]

Thanks.