Our works or status apart from Christ don't give us extra rights, usually.

[jasontn]

Being in sports, war can become a type of idolatry. Especially body building. In other words, people are trying to “work” thier way to salvation. It doesn’t matter what tough things you have done; you can’t earn what your searching for. Wether youv’e been in the Marine Corps or served a life sentence in the state pen.

Of course other forms of idotary would be “work at home” or “real estate” riches, for women it might be “beauty” or something.

So sometimes it’s cool to talk about our past achievements; but we can’t boast like these things make us superior to others.

But if we can accomplish things thru Christ then we have the right attitude. But the problem with a lot of people is they think thier past achievement demands special rights.

For example, the Bible doesn’t say people who die fighting for America will go to heaven, and it doesn’t say people who die for Russia will go either. But many veterans think they have earned “everything” and it might give them unhealthy pride.

For example, they may be bitter about war and then some preacher tells them thier going to hell. They sure can’t handle that message. Especially, because it came at the wrong time. Or what if they just got finished fighting “Guadalcanal” and then some preacher says “your going to hell”? h

In addtion, being a citizen of a certain nation doesn’t make you special. Try telling that to some South Koreans. Being black can’t be an excuse at the last judgement.

 

[Bob_Crowley]

Being in sports, war can become a type of idolatry. Especially body building. In other words, people are trying to “work” thier way to salvation. It doesn’t matter what tough things you have done; you can’t earn what your searching for. Wether youv’e been in the Marine Corps or served a life sentence in the state pen.

Of course other forms of idotary would be “work at home” or “real estate” riches, for women it might be “beauty” or something.

So sometimes it’s cool to talk about our past achievements; but we can’t boast like these things make us superior to others.

But if we can accomplish things thru Christ then we have the right attitude. But the problem with a lot of people is they think thier past achievement demands special rights.

For example, the Bible doesn’t say people who die fighting for America will go to heaven, and it doesn’t say people who die for Russia will go either. But many veterans think they have earned “everything” and it might give them unhealthy pride.

For example, they may be bitter about war and then some preacher tells them thier going to hell. They sure can’t handle that message. Especially, because it came at the wrong time. Or what if they just got finished fighting “Guadalcanal” and then some preacher says “your going to hell”? h

In addtion, being a citizen of a certain nation doesn’t make you special. Try telling that to some South Koreans. Being black can’t be an excuse at the last judgement.

I’ve got good reason to believe my own father is in hell, even though he fought for his country in the Second World War, in what was a pivotal battle in Australian war lore, Milne Bay.

Hitler spent four years in the trenches of World War I, so he didn’t lack courage, and he served his country. Stalin was prepared to risk his life for his cause, as were Pol Pot, Mao Tse-tung, and so on. If Bin Laden is still alive, then ditto. And I don’t think too many of them got or will get to heaven. Saddam Hussein was a mongrel, but he wasn’t a coward. In fact most tyrants demonstrate a fair amount of courage. Few of them are cowards, regardless of what we might want to believe.

But if a preacher said to a veteran who’s just been in a battle like that of Guadalcanal, or Pork Chop Hill, that he’s “going to hell”, then that preacher is just plain stupid. There’s a time and place for everything, and that’s not one of them.

On the other hand, Christ made no outright condemnation of the military whatsoever, other than to say that he who lives by the sword will die by the sword. And I don’t really think that he was criticising the military, but was more of a warning to the Zealots, or even violent criminals. In fact he commended one centurion as having outstanding faith.

John the Baptist’s advice to the soldiery was almost comic. “Be content with your pay, and don’t shake anybody down.” He didn’t condemn them either.

Paul used military terminology in his epistles to demonstrate discipleship.

Basically the command is to “forget self”, including boasting about past achievements, of whatever sort, military, sporting, career, academic. We should in fact be seeking the good of others, rather than ourselves.

With time as a disciple of Christ, that should become a habit, although its easier said than done.

 

[Monte_RCMS]

There are some other words from Jesus directly and indirectly that are in the New Testament:

The situation of the Centurion’s servant who was ill. The Centurion asked Jesus to heal his servant, but NOT to come to the house because he did not want Jesus and His mission to be undermined by being seen as a house guest with a Roman Centurion. Jesus said in amazement that He had not seen such strong faith in all of Israel.

Not only that, but the Centurion’s very words have been incorporated into the required text of our Mass. “Lord, I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof; but, just say the words and my servant “my soul”] will be healed”. [Keep in mind that the translation has gotten mangled over the past few years and now we merely say, “Lord, I am not not worthy to receive you, but say the word and I shall be healed.” It loses some of the dramatic scriptural impact with the new translation. I will see if I can find the actual Scriptural reference. (Matt 8:8 and following)

http://bible.cc/matthew/8-8.htm
When Jesus was crucified, at the end, instead of breaking His legs, a Centurion stabbed Jesus in the heart and we see the artistic representation of the fluid pouring out. Tradition tells us that the Centurion is known to us as St. Longinius.
There is only one thing that determines whether we make it to heaven or not. One thing. Jesus is THE Judge and He decides who He wants for company over eternity. So, keep God’s Commandments, receive the Sacraments (especially Confession), Keep the commandments of the Church, and … be nice to His Mother!!! Say the Rosary.

None of that will absolutely, positively guarantee you a place in Heaven. But it “might” get you a place in God’s “finishing school” in Purgatory, which is fine because if you make it to Purgatory, then when you graduate, you get to Heaven. You just need to get the rough edges polished.

If you hold God, and God’s Law and His Commandments and His Church in contempt, then, it may be difficult. You have to work at it.

Jesus is the Judge. He decides.

 

[Monte_RCMS]

I found the full text of the “incident” with the Centurion. This happens to be the NIV, but they all read about the same:

The Faith of the Centurion
8:5-13pp – Lk 7:1-10
5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.” 7 Jesus said to him, “I will go and heal him.” 8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that very hour.

So whether you are a soldier or not, you need to go to Jesus and ask Him directly for help.

Ask Jesus to make you the way HE wants you to be.

Sometimes, though, we do fall down on the job. We fail. At those times, it helps to have friends who will ask Jesus for us. The way that Monica prayed and prayed and prayed for her dissolute son, Augustine. He did convert owning to a sudden flash of inspiration and their saints days are celebrated next to one another: St. Monica on August 27th and St. Augustine on August 28. [It may vary from year to year.] But consider St. Monica as a role model.

It also helps to have Mary, the Mother of God, pray for us. She definitely does intercede for us. Consider the Marriage Feast at Cana, which is so famous. We celebrate that in our Rosary. Mary ORDERED God to take action. Can you imagine!!! In fact, Mary refused to even talk to Jesus; she almost humiliated Him by telling the waiters to do what Jesus said! He was very exasperated, but in total humility to His Mother, He did what was asked of Him.

The best Catholic calendar I have ever seen is published by Eternal Life. It has more saints’ days than I have ever seen. www.lifeeternal.com Go through it and find a few saints of interest and look them up. Pray and ask them to intercede for you.

We need all the help we can get.