I’d love to be happy in the love of God. Can’t do that while worrying about how to provide for my family since I am not allowed to keep a job per God’s will.
There is a difference between worshiping money and wondering how to survive until I die, since suicide is not permitted.
This is because we are punished temporally for Adam and Eve’s sin. Not spiritually, that price was paid by Jesus Christ.
If it is God’s will, he will provide. If not, he won’t.
I must say Bob your view of suffering is not in line with the churches teachings, or the great theoligcal teachers of the church. We know that God is Love, this we know from the teachings of Jesus Christ. If God is Love than suffering cannot come from God. Suffering doesnot come from Love, because what Father who Loves his children would cause his them to suffering, suffering can come only from hate, the devil. Now you could say God doesnot stop suffering so that is the same as creating it, this too is wrong because suffering comes from the Free-Will given to man. As we must have Free-Will to Love, so must we have Free-Will to Hate, ours to choose.
Then why are we not in the Garden of Eden? Adam and Eve did the crime, let them do the time. Not us.
I don’t hate God. I think it is grossly unjust to punish us (temporally) for the sins of Adam and Eve. Jesus Christ took care of the spiritual punishment for sin but also did not do anything to take care of the temporal punishment for sin. His totally awesome sacrifice didn’t take us out of this valley of tears.
However, I suspect that you, like me, are a sinner. Even if you would have done OK with one rule, it’s too late for both you and me. We contribute our part to keeping this world from getting back to the Garden of Eden.
Jesus did not take us out of this valley of tears, because we are still attached to sin, still sinners. That is a more delicate spiritual surgery, requiring our cooperation. I may not be punished (much) for the sins of Adam and Eve–but I do have to help weed out the sins closer to my own time, especially my own. One of the truths of our faith is that sin always affects the sinner more than any other person–and so the burden of sin is greater for the sinner than for others.
It is too late because we are held responsible (temporally) for Adam and Eve’s sin.
Correct. The wound of concupiscence is not healed. For some reason, Christ chooses not to heal that wound.
Without strength given to aid our cooperation, failure is guaranteed.
Patience is a virtue, much like a spiritual muscle. Muscles, even physical muscles, require effort and work to develop definition, strength, and endurance. One can’t think themselves or pray themselves into being able to run a marathon: One has to train physically to do that.
Remember when Christ was teaching on the mount and gave the Sermon on the Mount? One of the things He said was, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God.” Poor in spirit doesn’t mean someone who lives in poverty and running around in rags. It means humility. Whether rich or poor, the poor in spirit give the credit to God. They realize that without God, they can do only evil–rich or poor. Jesus said that “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the gates of Heaven.” He was not iin anyway condemning the rich. What He was saying that due to having mamy possessions, the rich tend to are more apt to worship their money and possessions rather than God. King (St.) Louis of France was a very wealthy and powerful man. Yet, he became a great saint because, despite his wealth and power, he loved God more. (You’ll have to look up his history somewhere to get the exact details.) And, likewise, poor people who are jealous, envious, malcontented, or hateful are no more pleasing in the eyes of God than the rich with the same attitude.Yes I agree. But I feel that God especially doesn’t like wealth and wealthy people. Especially, as if he were picking on this specific group of people (alongside adulterers). Can a rich man, (or at least a man living comfortably) also live a holy life?? For me I believe it is completely possible because with more resources (money) they could use that to help people and further the glory of God on Earth. However, it seems that Catholic teaching always makes wealthy people feel guilty, even if they worked hard for the money. So much for being industrious. For instance, if poverty could be avoided, why not??? Why do some people choose voluntarily poor when the could easily forego that option? If you have the chance to work hard and make money, you should! (Though money is not the ends but only a means)
And how does poverty exactly bring one closer to God? What would be the difference between a poor person and someone living comfortably?
Does one HAVE to be poor to get closer to God? Why can’t we just forge a relationship with him regardless of our economic background? Why is there pro-bias for poor people and not rich people / people with money but rather a condemnation? It seems that poor people have an edge over the rich folk.
but wait a second… I thought God was all-embracing?
If we worked HARD for our money, what is wrong with enjoying it?
I used the example of how God provides patience as an example of how God provides.
Except an immediate trip to heaven.
It’s never too late.
Yes, that is the first step. However, although God does take a person up on such a submission, usually we are not as submissive as we hope to be. It may take several times of handing over ourselves. It may take becoming aware of sins and attachments and desires before we can surrender them. As they say about being overweight, that you did not gain the extra 50 or whatever pounds overnight, and they will not vanish overnight, so too your habits and character: they did not form overnight, and usually take some time to change.
No, we’re not.
