Can Someone Please Advise?

[anixx]

The thing is that God made everyone apart from each other, for communion with him and with the others. Of course the general plan of redemption, the Church as a sign of redemption has a higher authority and saying in one’s personal matter, but this does not exclude that, when he thought of you from eternity, he didn’t see your hole life unveiling in his mind, from conception to death, and into everlasting life. In God nothing can change, and this can’t either. And here free will comes in. Do we or do we not accept his grace, that most then often is given through a palpable and concrete person, situation. Catholics see the world in sacramental view. The grace of God operates through creation and created things, just like in the sacraments. The pattern for all sacraments is the Incarnation. God took on flesh, so that we may have a sort of beatific vision here on earth, in the Eucharist, when we behold God under the species of bread and wine. Therefore, God operates his plan in specifics.
Are you implying that, ie when a non-believer meets with a faithful, and that faithful is presenting the faith to this non-believer, isn’t this the will of God from all eternity!? This must have been willed from all eternity for it to happen. If it’s not in God’s mind, then it doesn’t exist, it doesn’t happen. The non-believer chooses to either accept or not accept the Faith. And here free-will comes in. It is an intricate and complicated matter, to compare the eternal will of God to the our timely free-will, just because the two are in essence different and ,yet, somehow God wills it that they meet. God bless!

 

[fred_conty]

Posted by fred conty
What you say is true, but the Holy Spirit can arrange for someone to come into our lives. Then it is up to us to decide.

Then the response:

Posted by Brendan 64
This is of course possible, but the notion that God has a ‘special person’ put aside for us to marry is something that is not in keeping with Church teaching. To me, that is a bit like saying that God arranges marriages.

What about Mary and Joseph? If God could do it for them, why not for us if we ask him. Since marriage is a sacrament, this would be a good preparation for the sacrament, to have God’s special help. He knows us better than we know ourselves. Who could possibly be a better matchmaker? It truly is amazing what is possible if we ask with our heart.

“…not in keeping with Church teaching.” This new to me. Could you explain besides this “… simply an earthly romantic notion and we are all guilty of thinking like this at times”. For marriage is more than romantic I agree with you. Because it is a holy sacrament which binds the two together in God’s love, which is compared to Christ’s love for his church, and this would be all the more reason to sollicit God’s direction.

May God bless and keep you. May God’s face shine on you. May God be kind to you and give you peace.

 

[IrishAm]

There are no coincidences for those seeking answers from God. Keep praying; keep discerning; He will lead you.

 

[Xtina334]

There are no coincidences for those seeking answers from God. Keep praying; keep discerning; He will lead you.

Thank you

 

[Brendan_64]

What about Mary and Joseph? If God could do it for them, why not for us if we ask him. Since marriage is a sacrament, this would be a good preparation for the sacrament, to have God’s special help. He knows us better than we know ourselves. Who could possibly be a better matchmaker?

Joseph and Mary were chosen because they fulfilled the prophecies for the birth of the Messiah, and it is arguable that there may have been quite a few others who would have fulfilled Joseph’s role.

God does not arrange ‘soul-mates’ destined to marry. The reality is that there are thousands of people out there that would make perfectly good spouses for us. God does not pick “the one” for us. That notion is not based in Church teaching or scripture, but has its roots in earthly romance.

God does not choose our spouses for us, we make our own choices by using the gifts that God has given us, intellect, free-will etc. We are responsible for who we marry, not God.

 

[Xtina334]

Joseph and Mary were chosen because they fulfilled the prophecies for the birth of the Messiah, and it is arguable that there may have been quite a few others who would have fulfilled Joseph’s role.

God does not arrange ‘soul-mates’ destined to marry. The reality is that there are thousands of people out there that would make perfectly good spouses for us. God does not pick “the one” for us. That notion is not based in Church teaching or scripture, but has its roots in earthly romance.

God does not choose our spouses for us, we make our own choices by using the gifts that God has given us, intellect, free-will etc. We are responsible for who we marry, not God.

Please don’t make my thread into a debate. Thanks

 

[Brendan_64]

Please don’t make my thread into a debate. Thanks

So you start a thread asking questions relating to whether or not God intervenes with regard to our potential future spouses, but you don’t want any debate about whether or not he does actually intervene? The discussion is actually relevant to your opening questions as the answers to your questions are very much underpinned by whether or not God does actually plan such things out for us.

You did actually say at the end of your initial post that you wanted to hear our thoughts on this. Well, my position is that He does not plan such things for us, but leaves it up to each of us to forge our own path through life. The concept of God as a divine ‘matchmaker’ hs no backing in either scripture of Church teaching. I would argue that such a concept runs contrary to established Church teaching. Those are my thoughts.

 

[Xtina334]

So you start a thread asking questions relating to whether or not God intervenes with regard to our potential future spouses, but you don’t want any debate about whether or not he does actually intervene? The discussion is actually relevant to your opening questions as the answers to your questions are very much underpinned by whether or not God does actually plan such things out for us.

You did actually say at the end of your initial post that you wanted to hear our thoughts on this. Well, my position is that He does not plan such things for us, but leaves it up to each of us to forge our own path through life. The concept of God as a divine ‘matchmaker’ hs no backing in either scripture of Church teaching. I would argue that such a concept runs contrary to established Church teaching. Those are my thoughts.

I understand that those are your thoughts…but a debate involves going back and forth with another person, arguing your viewpoints.

 

[Brendan_64]

I understand that those are your thoughts…but a debate involves going back and forth with another person, arguing your viewpoints.

Are you not then debating with me as we speak?

What is the problem with debate? It is through debate that we learn. We learn through having our views challenged, and this then prompts us to consider our position and refer to teaching and scripture, thus enabling us to develop a deeper knowledge in relation to the question asked. Surely that is better than just giving superficial answers?

It isn’t up to the person who starts the thread to set the ground-rules for discussion on the thread. What is discussed and how depends solely on the individual forum rules. I’m not aware that debate on the topic of a thread is not permitted on these forums

 

[Xtina334]

Are you not then debating with me as we speak?

What is the problem with debate? It is through debate that we learn. We learn through having our views challenged, and this then prompts us to consider our position and refer to teaching and scripture, thus enabling us to develop a deeper knowledge in relation to the question asked. Surely that is better than just giving superficial answers?

It isn’t up to the person who starts the thread to set the ground-rules for discussion on the thread. What is discussed and how depends solely on the individual forum rules. I’m not aware that debate on the topic of a thread is not permitted on these forums

Nothing wrong with debate, just take it somewhere else.
I already said in my first reply to you that I disagree with you. I do not wish to read your reasoning for your opposing viewpoint, that’s all. Bye