Everytime I think about being just a Christian, I get a good feeling inside and am just happy. But, since I was born and raised Catholic, my mind always gears toward that path but then I’m not happy when I think about the Catholic Church. Why is that? Any thoughts?
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Why does it seem so easy to be a Christian but such a hard task to even pursue being Catholic? Shouldn’t the two be hand in hand for me, especially since I was born and raised Catholic?
Jesus said that we should take up our crosses and follow Him. Who ever said that taking up our crosses would be easy? Not I. Especially not the Catholic Church.
Nothing in life is easy. So if you think that being “just” a Christian would be a lot easier then you are misinformed. Being a Christian is being like Christ. And Christ said to pick up our crosses and follow Him. That is not easy to do.
BUT if you want to make that easier for yourself then the Catholic Church is where you should stay. WHY? Because we have Jesus Christ right here substantially present in the Holy Eucharist. Jesus will help us become like Him. Nothing or no one else can do that for us except JESUS Christ Himself. Jesus said to ABIDE in Him and He will ABIDE in us. How can we do that? By receiving Jesus in Holy Communion. What could be better than that?
Jesus Christ built this Church on Peter the Rock just for
YOU.
I think some people think that the Catholic Church has too many rules. But they are not the “people’s” rules, they are God’s rules. We are to obey God’s Commandments if we want LIFE. And the only way to do that is to ABIDE in Jesus Christ. HOW can we abide in Him? By eating His Flesh & drinking His Blood!
52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How
can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
53 So Jesus said to them, “
Truly, truly, I say to
you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man
and drink his blood, you have no life in you;
54
he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has
eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
55
For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is
drink indeed.
56
He who eats my flesh and drinks my
blood abides in me, and I in him.
57
As the living Father sent me, and I live because
of the Father, so he who eats me will live because
of me.
58
This is the bread which came down from heaven,
not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats
this bread will live for ever.”
John 6:52-58
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1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
2 Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes
away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes,
that it may bear more fruit.
3 You are already made clean by the word which I have
spoken to you.
4
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear
fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you,
unless you abide in me.
5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides
in me,and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for
apart
from me you can do nothing.
6
If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a
branch and withers; and the branches are gathered,
thrown into the fire and burned.
7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask
whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.
8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit,
and so prove to be my disciples.
9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you;
abide in my love.
10
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in
my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and abide in his love.
11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be
in you, and that your joy may be full.
John 15:1-11