liza,
i am not able to conceive either. sometimes it sounds good, and other times, it’s just very hard to deal with. The bf went out to visit his kids over the weekend and the mother of his children (who likes me btw) said sure, she’d love it if i came out. i could be the nanny (of sorts) to the kids. it would be my pleasure.
now a big couple of questions that i have been wondering about:
These might seem controversial, but I mean them to be helpful, perhaps very uneducated, but helpful and hopeful. I admit I am uneducated, but there are four children at Passover and I think these childrens mindsets apply to us all at different times. One who thinks he knows all, one who is simple and understands simple things, one who is book smart, and one who asks and listens. I am trying to be the one who asks and listens.
Two very big questions (at least to me):
From what I understand, Catholicism sees the Church (THE Church—I’m still not sure what that means) as the body of Christ. Does that mean that the Bishops, Cardinals, and the Pope (and Priests and Fathers, etc.,) are all sacred parts of that body? Do the lay people become part of that body in Communion with it? (Thereby rendering themselves part of the Church and of Christ?)
OK,way back when. Before AD, when Christ was still alive. Well, first of all, were there any foretellings of the coming of Christ?
And I understand that “Messiah” also means “King”—could this be why he was killed? Because he was representing a way of looking at God (as the human “representation”—I don’t know how else to put it), he thereby threatened old Jewish traditions, and threatened Roman Rule because he might gather up the people of Israel and become the “King” and bring a “new life” to the people of the land—a way that the Romans were against.
Jews have had long lines of Kings, and when that line ended (not broken, just ended), there was chaos among the Jews and Christ promised a better life.
God understood that people—everyone, including non-believers, especially perhaps non-believers—needed to see God and by coming in human form as Christ, he brought back that Kingship, or brought the Messiah, rather? The Messiah would show himself to the world, sacrifice himself making a New Covanent with his people (thereby perhaps repeating the sacrifice of Isaac when the initial Covenant was made even before Judiasm, but as Isaac was never really killed—God cannot be killed). So, though Jesus “died for our sins,” he did not really die, but led to a period of contemplation of one’s own sins (I’m thinking Lent) before he rose from the dead (Easter) and walked among us, reminding all perhaps that God always has walked among us. Making the point that God never dies, never leaves us, is always there to take away our sins in order that we might learn the ways of God and be Godly people.
So, perhaps, Christians take this “dying” quite literally whereas Jews take it “figuratively,” and that those Jews who did not become Christians did not see the changes in the world that they thought the Messiah would bring and therefore could not take on Jesus for who he was??? Is Christ a reiteration of the peoples’ belief in God? (I know for Christians, Christ is God, so this is confusing to write)…
For me, I always believed that the Messiah would come at the end of time. There would be no Apocalypse, there would be a beautific Kingdom of Glory led by the King, the Messiah, God. Humans (or beings of God) would live lives’ without sin, and truly become Godly creatures.
Am I totally crazy? Is this anywhere close to reality or is it bunk? I feel kind of crazy saying this, but I believe the foundation of Christianity to be a reiteration of one’s belief in God that many people did not see in Judiasm at the time? The Jews would then have said something like, what are you people thinking? We do not need a representation and sacrifice to believe in God. When we sin, we are both punished here on earth and after our death. Huh?? I am soooooo confused.
Hannah is deeply confused… sigh. I hope maybe someone can straighten me out. We, my boyfriend and I, have discussed this, but we have never really understood it even near onto the same plane. I believe, as Jews do, that Jesus was a significant prophet who reminded us of God’s power, and brought people into a new, different, age. And that without him, many believers would have remained oppressed instead, they became free. So Jews remain oppressed and Christians are free because Christians believe that God/Christ walks above them, and that Catholics in particular, believe in the regular person as being part of the body of God/Christ in life.
ACK!
Isaiah
ISA 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
ISA 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
ISA 9:8 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.
ISA 9:9 And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart,
I have had a migraine all day. Although my landlord is cutting granite (LOUD) beneath my window (why he is putting granite in is beyonf my comprehension) and that contributes to the migraine, I believe it is God
making me rest. When things get too stressful, you must rest.
I am reading Isaiah and found these quotes and thought them interesting.
God’s Love to you All. It is a Happy New Year in Judiasm-land. May you all have peace and many blessings.
Hannah.
I will just have to plug along. He and I do need some affirmation of our relationship now. This weekend, he goes to be with his children. I’ll know a lot when he returns.
If this is the case your friend already knows he needs to go to confession - no need to make a big deal about it.
