(GUITAR THEME MUSIC) >> I AM FATHER MITCH AND WELCOME TO SCRIPTURE AND TRADITION. A PROGRAM WHERE WE BRING YOU STUDIES OF SCRIPTURE THROUGH THE LENS OF THE APOSTOLIC TRADITION. THAT IS THE TRADITION THAT GOES BACK TO THE APOSTLES AND THROUGH THEM BACK TO OUR SAVIOR JESUS. WE OF COURSE VERY MUCH WANT YOU TO BE A PART OF THE SHOW BY ADDING YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. YOU MAY DO THAT IN A FEW WAYS. ONE IS BY PHONE HERE ON THE LIVE BROADCAST WHICH IS ON TUESDAY AT 2 PM AT EASTERN TIME. THE # IS 1 800 221 9460. IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE OF NORTH AMERICA THAT NUMBER WILL NOT WORK, SO YOU WILL CALL 1 205 271 2980. OR SEND EMAIL TO: SCRIPTUREANDTRADITION@EWTN.COM. OR USE OUR SOCIAL MEDIA LIKE FACEBOOK OR YOUTUBE. OF COURSE IF YOU'VE MISSED A PAST SHOW, YOU CAN GO TO EWTN'S YOUTUBE PAGE AND WATCH WHENEVER YOU WANT. GO TO YOUTUBE.COM/EWTN. WE'VE BEEN TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE PRINCIPLES OF DISCERNMENT AS THE PROCESS OF LEARNING TO LISTEN TO GOD. TODAY WERE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE OBJECTIVE PRINCIPLES THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT IN OUR OWN LIVES SO THAT WE HEAR AND LISTEN TO GOD. IF YOU ARE USING MY BOOK, 'HOW TO LISTEN WHEN GOD IS SPEAKING,' WE ARE ON PAGE 27. YOU MAY GET THE BOOK 'HOW TO LISTEN WHEN GOD IS SPEAKING' BY GOING TO ewtnRC.com. IT IS ITEM 1833. ALL RIGHT, SO WE TOOK A LOOK A LITTLE BIT IN THE PAST AT SOME OF THE BASIC PRINCIPLES THAT UNDERLIE OUR ABILITY TO LISTEN TO GOD. YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A GOD. AND THAT HE WANTS TO COMMUNICATE TO YOU AND THAT WHAT HE SAYS IS IMPORTANT. THAT IS KEY. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THAT YOU DID NOT EVEN START THE PROCESS. THIS IS IMPORTANT TO MENTION BECAUSE MODERN SOCIETY HAS MOVED AWAY FROM BELIEVING IN GOD. WE SEE A SHIFT TAKING PLACE WHERE MANY PEOPLE ARE PRESENTLY CHOOSING TO BECOME NONES. THEY'RE NOT ALL ATHEIST BY ANY MEANS, BUT NEITHER ARE THEY WILLING TO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO BELIEVE AND THEREFORE THEY DO NOT MAKE A COMMITMENT TO WANT TO LISTEN TO GOD. THAT IS PART OF OUR MODERN SITUATION. SOME OF THEM ARE MORE SECULAR. A NUMBER OF THEM ARE RATHER CYNICAL. THEY HAVE A CYNICAL VIEW OF LIFE AND A CYNICAL VIEW OF RELIGION, AND GIVEN SOME OF THE BAD BEHAVIOR FROM LEADERS IN OUR COUNTRY INCLUDING RELIGIOUS LEADERS THEY HAVE REASON FOR THAT CYNICISM. SO THAT IS WHY I MADE THOSE PRINCIPLES SO EXPLICIT. NOW IN THIS CHAPTER WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OBJECTIVE PRINCIPLES FOR LISTENING TO GOD AND THEN IN THE CHAPTER AFTER THIS WHICH WILL TAKE US WE WILL GET TO IT IN A FEW WEEKS, BUT IN THE NEXT CHAPTER AFTER THAT WE WILL START TAKING A LOOK AT MORE PERSONAL POSITIONS. INSTEAD OF THE OBJECTIVE IT WILL BE THE MORE SUBJECTIVE PRINCIPLES. NOW 1 OF THE SET OF PRINCIPLES IS OBJECTIVE. THESE ARE THE PRINCIPLES OF LISTENING TO GOD THAT ARE ESPECIALLY DISLIKED BY MODERN SOCIETY. WE LIVE AT A TIME, I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW THAT WE ARE DEVELOPING A SOCIETY OF RELATIVISM, WHERE I HAVE MY TRUTH AND YOU HAVE YOUR TRUTH AND WE WILL JUST GET A LONG. UNTIL WE HAVE A CONFLICT AND THEN IF YOU DARE TO DISAGREE WITH ME I WILL BEAT YOU UP UNTIL YOU DO. THAT IS WHERE OUR MODERN WORLD HAS GONE. I SAID THAT BACK ALMOST 18 YEARS AGO WHEN I 1ST STARTED TALKING ABOUT THESE THINGS. AND NOW WE SEE VERY MUCH EXACTLY, I DO NOT LIKE BEING RIGHT ON THIS, BUT I'M AFRAID THAT WHAT I SAID HAS COME TO PASS. WE NOW SEE PEOPLE SO POLARIZED BECAUSE THEY CANNOT ACCEPT THAT THERE MIGHT BE AN OBJECTIVE TRUTH UPON WHICH THEY CAN BASE ARGUMENTS AND THEN WORK OUT A SOLUTION. NO. PEOPLE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT. THEY ARE ALL SUBJECTIVE. SO THE ONLY WAY TO GET PEOPLE TO AGREE WITH ME IS TO FORCE OR SHOUT THEM DOWN OR BEAT THEM UP OR THREATEN THEM. SILENCE THEM. WE SEE A LOT OF SILENCING. THIS CANCEL CULTURE IS ALL FLOWING OUT OF RELATIVISM. BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE A BASIS FOR ARGUING WITH YOU, SO YOU JUST HAVE TO SHUT UP OR IF YOU DO NOT I WILL MAKE YOU BE QUIET. YOU WILL NOT BE HEARD. WE WILL TAKE YOU OFF OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA. YOU CANNOT EXPRESS THOSE OPINIONS ANYWHERE. "THIS HAS GOT TO COME TO A STOP UNTIL YOU AGREE WITH ME." THIS IS WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO. BECAUSE THEY CANNOT ARGUE. EITHER THEY ARE TOO DUMB TO KNOW THE ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST THEIR OWN POSITION AND THEY ARE TOO DUMB TO BE ABLE TO GIVE GOOD REASONS OR THEY MIGHT BE INTELLIGENT BUT THEY DO NOT CARE. THEY ARE JUST GOING TO FORCE THEIR WAY UPON YOU, UPON EVERYBODY ELSE AROUND THEM. THIS IS THE SITUATION THAT WE ARE LIVING WITH. THAT IS WHY THE MODERN WORLD DOES NOT LIKE THE CONCEPT OF THERE BEING OBJECTIVE NORMS FOR DISCERNMENT. OBJECTIVE NORMS FOR MAKING A COMMITMENT TO GOD. THAT IS AHEAD OF ALL OTHER COMMITMENTS. AND EVEN HAS TO BE AHEAD OF MY COMMITMENT TO LIFE. THAT IS WHY WE HAVE THE MARTYRS AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE HAD MORE MARTYRS IN THE LAST 100 YEARS THAN WE HAVE HAD IN THE PREVIOUS 1900 YEARS BEFORE THAT. SO UP UNTIL 1900 LESS THAN HALF OF ALL MARTYRS WERE KILLED. FROM THE YEAR 1900 UNTIL THE PRESENT IS WHEN THE MAJORITY OF CHRISTIANS HAVE BEEN MARTYRED AROUND THE WORLD. BUT WE MAKE THIS COMMITMENT TO BELIEVING IN GOD AND LOVING HIM ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE. WE MAKE A COMMITMENT TO GETTING TO HEAVEN AND AVOIDING HELL. I DO NOT EVER WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO GO TO HELL. AND 3RD, WE ALSO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO ACCEPT GOD'S REVELATION ON HIS TERMS RATHER THAN OUR OWN. THIS IS THE KEY. THAT IS WHAT WE WANT TO START DISCUSSING. ALL RIGHT, SO, 1ST PRINCIPLE THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH, DISCERNMENT OF GOD'S WILL IS A GIFT OF GOD. THAT IS KEY. WHEN WE TAKE A LOOK AT 1ST CORINTHIANS 12:8 - 9, WE SEE THAT ST. PAUL GIVES A LIST OF SOME OF THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. NOW HE HAS A NUMBER OF LISTS BUT THIS 1 INCLUDES THE GIFT THAT IS NOT MENTIONED IN THE OTHER LISTS. 1ST CORINTHIANS 12:8 IT SAYS, TO ONE IS GIVEN THROUGH THE SPIRIT THE UTTERANCE OF WISDOM AND TO ANOTHER THE UTTERANCE OF KNOWLEDGE ACCORDING TO THE SAME SPIRIT, TO ANOTHER, FAITH BY THE SAME SPIRIT, TO ANOTHER GIFTS OF HEALING BY THE ONE SPIRIT, TO ANOTHER THE WORKING OF MIRACLES, TO ANOTHER PROPHECY, TO ANOTHER THE DISCERNMENT OF SPIRITS, TO ANOTHER VARIOUS KINDS OF TONGUES AND TO ANOTHER THE INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES. RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS LIST IS THE GIFT OF DISCERNING THE SPIRIT. TO BE ABLE TO TELL WHAT IS FROM GOD AND WHAT IS NOT. OKAY? THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. NOW WE HAVE TO START OFF WITH THE BASIC PRINCIPLE. DISCERNMENT IS A GIFT FROM GOD. AND WE NEED THAT GIFT AND WE NEED TO ASK FOR THAT GIFT, BEING ABLE TO DISCERN HIS WILL. THIS GIFT FLOWS FROM THE PRESENCE OF GOD WITHIN US. ST. JOHN HAS A GREAT LINE, THAT THE ONE WHO IS WITHIN YOU IS STRONGER THAN THE ONE WHO IS IN THE WORLD. WHO IS THE ONE IN THE WORLD? SATAN. WHO IS THE ONE WITHIN YOU? GOD. BECAUSE GOD IS IN YOU ALREADY THAT IS THE 1ST STEP THAT MAKES DISCERNMENT POSSIBLE. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GIVEN TO US TO MAKE THAT DISCERNMENT POSSIBLE. HE IS INFINITE GOD. HE IS NO LESS INFINITE THAN IS GOD THE FATHER OR GOD THE SON. HE IS NOT THE ALSO RAN PERSON OF THE BLESSED TRINITY. "WELL, WE HAVE OUR ALL-STAR PERSON OF THE TRINITY, GOD THE FATHER, AND WE HAVE HIS SON JESUS, AND THE SAME NATURE AS HIS FATHER AND THEN WE HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT AS AN ALSO RAN." NO, NO. HE IS FULLY GOD. HE IS NO LESS INFINITELY GOD AND INFINITELY WISE AND INFINITELY ALL KNOWING THAN THE FATHER OR THE SON. THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND. HE IS GIVEN TO US AS THE GIFT FROM THE FATHER AND FROM THE SON; IN JOHN'S GOSPEL CHAPTER 14:26, JESUS SAID, ASK AND MY FATHER WILL GIVE YOU THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH. BUT THEN IN JOHN 15:26, JESUS ALSO SAYS, AND I ASK AND I WILL GIVE YOU THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH. SO THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES FROM THE FATHER AND THE SON. AND HE IS GIVEN TO US IN ORDER TO DRAW US TO THE SON AND THROUGH THE SON TO THE FATHER. THIS IS GOING TO BE HIS ROLE. HE IS WHAT MAKES DISCERNMENT POSSIBLE. HE IS STIRRING WITHIN US BY VIRTUE OF OUR BAPTISM AND OUR CONFIRMATION TO DISCERN WHAT IS FROM GOD AND WHAT IS NOT FROM GOD AND WHAT IS CONTRARY TO GOD. THIS IS GOING TO BE PART OF HIS ROLE IN HELPING US. NOW THE HOLY SPIRIT PRESENT WITHIN US IS NOT THE ONLY INFLUENCE ON OUR SOULS. AND THIS IS 1 OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE IN THE MODERN WORLD IS NAïVETé ABOUT THE REALITY OF EVIL SPIRITUAL BEINGS. AND OF EVIL INSIDE OF THE CULTURE. AND OF EVIL INSIDE MYSELF. WE HAVE A LOT OF NAïVETé ABOUT THE ROLE OF EVIL COMING TO US, AND THE CHURCH RECOGNIZES BASED ON SCRIPTURE THAT THERE ARE 3 NEGATIVE INFLUENCES ON US. THE 1ST OF THOSE IS THE DEVIL. OKAY. HE VERY MUCH WANTS TO SHAPE US. THE 2ND IS THE WORLD. THE WORLD ALSO WANTS TO SHAPE US AND THEN OURSELVES. THESE 3 ALL WANT TO SHAPE US. THIS IS 1 OF THE ROLES OF DISCERNMENT. IT IS TO LEARN TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT COMES FROM THE DEVIL, WHAT COMES FROM OUR WORLD AND WHAT COMES FROM OUR EGO OR OURSELVES AND THEN FINALLY MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT COMES FROM GOD. I LIKE TO USE THIS EXAMPLE FROM GROWING UP. MY PARENTS COULD NOT STAND SACCHARINE OR MARGARINE. SACCHARINE WAS AN EARLY SUGAR SUBSTITUTE. I THINK IT HAS GOT SOME PROBLEMS THAT IT MIGHT BE A CARCINOGENIC OR SOMETHING BUT I REMEMBER, THEY WERE SAYING IT WAS NO CALORIES AND IT TASTED LIKE SUGAR. NO IT DOES NOT TASTE LIKE SUGAR! I DO NOT DRINK SODA POP. I THINK I'VE HAD ONE SODA POP OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS OR SO. I JUST NOT DRINK THAT STUFF, BUT THE WORST IS THE DIET. I CANNOT STAND TO DRINK THE DIET DRINKS. BECAUSE I AM SO UNACCUSTOMED TO DRINKING THAT STUFF, I HAVEN'T DEADENED MY TASTE BUDS YET. SO I CANNOT STAND THE TASTE. THE SAME WITH MARGARINE. I WOULD RATHER; I WILL EAT A DRY PIECE OF BREAD BEFORE I WILL USE MARGARINE. IT JUST DOES NOT TASTE LIKE BUTTER. SO IF I DO NOT HAVE BUTTER AND I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO EAT IT ANYWAY THEN I JUST DON'T. I SKIP IT. BUT I WOULD RATHER SKIP REAL BUTTER THAN EAT FAKE MARGARINE. IT JUST DOES NOT TASTE RIGHT. EVEN IN THE OLD DAYS WHEN THEY USED PUT A PACKET OF YELLOW BUTTERY COLORING; THAT IS WHAT THEY USED TO DO IN THE OLD DAYS; THEY PUT A YELLOW LITTLE PACKET YOU COULD ADD IF YOU WANTED. MOM NEVER ADDED THAT IN OUR HOUSE. BECAUSE SHE SAID, I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY PUT IN THIS MARGARINE, YET ALONE THIS BUTTER. SO WE DID NOT EAT THAT STUFF. AGAIN WE DID WITHOUT RATHER THAN EAT IT. THAT IS NOT A BAD WAY TO UNDERSTAND SOME OF WHAT WE ARE DOING IN THE SPIRITUAL LIFE. DISCERNMENT IS COMING TO HAVE ENOUGH OF THE SENSITIVITY TO THE REALITY OF GOD SO THAT WHEN SOMETHING IS A SUBSTITUTE FOR GOD, SORT OF THE DIVINE SACCHARINE OR DIVINE MARGARINE, THE PSEUDO GOD, YOU SAY I DO NOT WANT THAT. I DO NOT WANT THAT IN MY LIFE. IT TASTED NASTY. THAT IS GOING TO BE PART OF OUR DISCERNMENT PROCESS. SO THIS MEANS THAT THE MORE WE ARE TOUCHED BY GOD'S GOODNESS THE EASIER IT IS FOR US TO DISCERN WHAT IS GOOD FOR US AND WHAT IS NOT AND THAT IT WILL BE HELPFUL TO KNOW WHO GOD IS AND TO EXPERIENCE HIM IN OUR LIVES SO THAT WE CAN DETECT THE FAKE FROM THE REAL. AND WE HAVE TO HAVE GOD IN OUR LIVES. WE NEED TO SPEND TIME WITH HIM SO THAT HE CAN BE THE COUNTERWEIGHT AGAINST SATAN, THE ROLE OF OUR WORLD; TALK ABOUT SACCHARINE SUBSTITUTES. THAT IS NASTY. THE WORLD WILL TRY TO INFLUENCE US AND OUR OWN SELF; OURSELVES, WE TALK ABOUT 1 OF THE VICES AS BEING SELF CENTERED AND SELFISH. THAT IS WHERE THIS COMES FROM. WE WANT TO MAKE IT ALL ABOUT OURSELVES. WE WANT TO KNOW HOW DEADLY THESE THINGS ARE. THAT IS WHY WE HAVE TO START OFF OUR PROCESS OF DISCERNING BY ASSUMING THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS PRESENT IN OUR LIVES. WE DEPEND ON HIS PRESENCE. THAT IS THE STARTING POINT. FROM KNOWING THE GOODNESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, DWELLING WITHIN OUR HEARTS, WE CAN BEGIN TO TELL THE FAKE, THE NASTY TASTING, THE DESTRUCTIVE AND DEADLY SACCHARINE EXPERIENCES FROM THE DEVIL, THE WORLD AND FROM OURSELVES. WE WILL CONTINUE ON WITH THIS, SO PLEASE STAY WITH US. (GUITAR THEME MUSIC) (GUITAR THEME MUSIC) >> ALL RIGHT, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE OBJECTIVE PRINCIPLES FOR DISCERNMENT OF GOD'S WILL. TO UNDERSTAND THIS WE HAVE TO EXAMINE OURSELVES. AS SOCRATES SAID MANY CENTURIES AGO EVEN BEFORE CHRIST THAT THE UNEXAMINED LIFE IS NOT WORTH LIVING. IF A PAGAN PHILOSOPHER CAN COME UP WITH THAT WE CHRISTIANS SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO IT, ESPECIALLY IN THIS TIME OF LENT IT IS A GOOD TIME FOR US TO EXAMINE OUR LIVES. WHAT ARE OUR MOST BASIC VALUES? WHAT IS IT WE CONSIDER THE MOST IMPORTANT? IF WE DO NOT KNOW THAT WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DISCERN THE WILL OF GOD. THE 1ST AND MOST IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE FOR BEING ABLE TO DISCERN THE WILL OF GOD FROM OTHER INFLUENCES IS THAT I MUST DECIDE THAT I WANT TO PLEASE GOD MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD. I WANT TO DO HIS WILL. IF I DO NOT WANT TO PLEASE GOD ABOVE ALL THINGS I WILL NOT CARE ABOUT HIS WILL. I WILL NOT CARE ABOUT WHAT HE WANTS. I HAVE TO 1ST OF ALL SEEK TO PLEASE HIM. THAT IS THE NUMBER 1 ISSUE. NOW THERE MAY BE TIMES WHERE EVEN THOSE WHO WANT TO PLEASE THEMSELVES OR EVEN THOSE WHO ARE TOOLS OF THE EVIL SPIRIT WILL DO GOD'S WILL. THAT CAN HAPPEN. THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED WITH JUDAS ISCARIOT. JUDAS ISCARIOT WANTED TO PLEASE HIMSELF. HE WANTED MONEY. HE HAD BEEN STEALING FROM THE COMMON FUND OF JESUS AND THE APOSTLES FOR A WHILE. AND THEN HE WANTED EVEN MORE MONEY. 30 PIECES OF SILVER. THEY WERE GIVING A FEW LITTLE COINS HERE AND THERE, A DENARIUS HERE OR A FEW PENNIES HERE BUT HE WANTED 30 PIECES OF SILVER. SO THAT IS WHAT WAS HIS PLAN. BUT EVEN WHILE HE WAS SEEKING HIS OWN SELFISH DESIRES HE ENDED UP BECOMING A MEANS FOR GOD'S WILL TO BE WORKED OUT. OKAY. AT THE SAME TIME YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER WHAT JESUS OUR LORD SAID TO HIM ABOUT THAT. YES, IT HAS TO BE THAT THE SON OF MAN WILL BE BETRAYED. BUT HE ADDS, BUT WOE TO HIM. IT WOULD BE BETTER THAT HE WERE NEVER BORN. IT IS SILLY MOVIES AND PLAYS LIKE 'JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR' THAT MADE JUDAS INTO A HERO, BUT THAT IS SUPERFICIAL THOUGHT. JESUS CHRIST GOES TO THE DEPTHS AND SAYS IT WOULD'VE BEEN BETTER IF JUDAS WAS NOT BORN INSTEAD OF DOING WHAT HE IS ABOUT TO DO. HE WAS SAYING THAT WITH JUDAS RIGHT THERE GIVING HIM A CHANCE TO TURN AWAY FROM HIS PLAN TO BETRAY JESUS. HE GAVE HIM THAT OPPORTUNITY. THAT IS WHY HE DIPPED INTO THE DISH. BUT AGAIN HE HAD ALREADY DEVELOPED A HABIT OF STEALING MONEY. THAT IS BACK IN JOHN CHAPTER 12:6. IT SAYS, HE DIDN'T SAY IT'S BECAUSE HE CARED ABOUT THE POOR BUT BECAUSE HE WAS A THIEF. HE KEPT THE COMMON PURSE, USED TO STEAL WHAT WAS PUT INTO IT. THIS IS A GREAT EVIL. FROM THAT SIN OF AVARICE, OF WANTING MORE STUFF, OF OTHER PEOPLE STUFF, HE BECAME THIS TOOL OF THE DEVIL. AND IT SAYS IN JOHN 13 THAT THE DEVIL ENTERED INTO HIM. SO HIS OWN SIN OPENED HIM UP TO THIS OTHER SIN. DID HE PLAY A ROLE? YES. HE PLAYED A ROLE. BUT I DO NOT EVER WANT TO PLAY THAT ROLE AND I HOPE NONE OF YOU WANT TO BE LIKE JUDAS. "WELL, I WAS HELPING GOD DO HIS WILL BY COMMITTING A SIN." NO, YOU WEREN'T. GOD COULD USE YOUR SIN TO ACCOMPLISH HIS WILL BUT IT IS NOT BECAUSE OF YOUR SIN. IT IS DESPITE YOUR SIN. SO THE ISSUE IS A BASIC DECISION DEMANDED BY JESUS CHRIST FOR EACH PERSON. WILL WE LOVE GOD WITH OUR WHOLE MIND, OUR WHOLE HEART AND OUR WHOLE SOUL AND OUR WHOLE STRENGTH AND WILL WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR AS OURSELVES? THOSE ARE THE 2 GREAT COMMANDMENTS. ACCORDING NOT ONLY TO JESUS CHRIST BUT THE RABBIS AS WELL. THEY TAUGHT THAT AS WELL. WE SHARE THAT WITH RABBINIC JUDAISM. AND UNTIL WE CAN SAY YES TO THIS REQUEST WE CANNOT EVEN START TO DISCERN THE WILL OF GOD. IF WE ARE SEEKING OURSELVES OR WE ARE SEEKING TO PLEASE THE WORLD, OR EVEN WORSE THE DEVIL, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DISCERN THE WILL OF GOD. WE WILL BE TOOLS PERHAPS BUT NOT DISCERNING. HOWEVER AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND, EVEN IF WE DECIDED TO SERVE GOD WITH OUR WHOLE HEART, MIND AND SOUL AND TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR AS OURSELVES, THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT ONCE WE MAKE THAT DECISION THAT EVERYTHING IS EASY. IT IS NOT. THERE ARE STILL OUR STRUGGLES THAT ARE GOING TO OCCUR. IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO OBEY GOD'S COMMANDMENTS AT TIME. IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO CHOOSE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND REJECT DOING WHAT IS WRONG. IT IS DIFFICULT EVEN WHEN WE MAKE THAT DECISION. AND THEN IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE OBEYING THE COMMANDMENTS, IT IS EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO DISCERN WHAT GOD IS ASKING OF YOU ABOVE AND BEYOND THE COMMANDMENTS. AND WHY IS THAT? WHY IS IT? WELL, WE COULD HAVE A GOOD INTENTION AND WANT TO DO GOD'S WILL BUT WE HAVE TROUBLE. ONE, WE HAVE DIFFICULTY GIVING OURSELVES COMPLETELY TO GOD. A LOT OF TIMES WE WANT TO KEEP PART OF IT FOR OURSELVES. WE WANT TO DO WHAT WE WANT FOR OUR OWN PURPOSES. "I WANT A GOOD CAREER ALSO, YOU KNOW, AND I WANT TO HAVE SOME INFLUENCE IN POLITICS, AND I WANT MY FAMILY TO LOVE ME AND I WANT MY FAMILY TO SUCCEED, AND I ALSO WANT TO HAVE SOME FUN IN THIS LIFE. I DON'T WANT TO BE BORED." THESE ARE DIFFERENT DESIRES THAT SOMETIMES GET IN OUR WAY. 1 OF THE WAYS THAT THAT HAPPENS IS THESE DIFFERENT AREAS OF LIFE GET ISOLATED FROM EACH OTHER AND FROM GOD. SOMETIMES WE ISOLATE PUSHING OUR CAREER, WE ISOLATE THAT FROM OUR FAMILY. SO THAT WE SO WORK HARD ON A GREAT CAREER THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TIME FOR THE FAMILY. "I CANNOT SPEND TIME WITH THE KIDS. LET MY SPOUSE DO THAT. I HAVE TO MAKE A GOOD CAREER HERE." OR "I DO NOT EVEN WANT KIDS, BECAUSE MY CAREER IS MY KID. THAT IS MORE IMPORTANT." THAT IS NOT UNUSUAL TODAY. THAT IS PROMOTED TODAY. "IF I'M GOING TO GET A PROMOTION I HAVE TO SPEND MORE TIME AT WORK. I CANNOT SPEND TIME WITH WIFE AND KIDS OR THE HUSBAND AND THE KIDS." WE SEPARATE OUR POLITICS FROM GOD. WE ISOLATE SO THAT WE SAY, "WELL, I LIKE THIS GOVERNMENT PROGRAM AND I DO NOT CARE IF THE POLITICIAN THAT I LIKE IS IN FAVOR OF ABORTION, KILLING THE ELDERLY, LETTING THEM DIE BECAUSE THEY COST TOO MUCH MONEY TO TAKE CARE OF. LET THEM DIE. YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GOING TO WORRY ABOUT THAT." AND A LOT OF OTHER ISSUES. MY PARTY DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT. MY PARTY DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE POOR. WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE THE ISSUE, THAT WE AS CATHOLICS ARE SUPPOSED TO KEEP A BALANCE THAT INTEGRATES THESE THINGS IN GOD, BUT SO OFTEN WE JUST SAY, "THAT IS RELIGION OVER THERE. I CANNOT LET MY RELIGION AFFECT MY POLITICS." REALLY? WELL, HOW DO YOU THINK THAT IS GOING TO AFFECT THE WAY GOD JUDGES YOUR DECISION MAKING ABOUT POLITICS? DO YOU THINK THAT GOD WILL JUST SORT OF ALSO ISOLATE YOUR POLITICAL DECISIONS AT YOUR JUDGMENT? I DO NOT THINK SO. WE HAVE TO KEEP ALL OF THESE THINGS IN BALANCE. SOMETIMES WE WANT FUN AND THE FUN COMPARTMENT ESPECIALLY IN MODERN LIFE CAN TAKE OVER. "WILL THAT PRIEST HURRY UP AND GET THE SERMON OVER? THERE'S A GAME GOING ON." 1 OF THE NICE THINGS ABOUT THE COVID SHUTDOWN IS THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN INTERFERED IN PEOPLE GOING TO SEE THE GAMES BECAUSE OF MY SERMONS. AT LEAST THEY HAVE NO EXCUSE FOR COMPLAINING ABOUT HOW LONG MY SERMONS ARE. BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALSO HAVE TO KEEP IN BALANCE. THE DANGERS TO PUT IT SEPARATELY. WE WANT A LOT OF SELF INDULGENCE TO BE PART OF OUR FUN. A LOT OF PEOPLE, COLLEGE KIDS USE A LOT OF DRINKING AND PORNOGRAPHY. A LOT OF SEX. THEY USE THAT AND THEY SAY, "WELL, THAT IS NOT REALLY SEX. IT IS JUST PORNOGRAPHY." NO. GOD CARES ABOUT THE WAY YOU LOOK AT OTHER PEOPLE. AND HOW YOU WANT TO USE THEM. WE KNOW THAT THIS IS CONTRARY TO OUR UPBRINGING. IT IS NOT ENOUGH JUST TO SAY THAT WE ARE HONEST. "WELL, YES. I AM HONEST ABOUT USING PORNOGRAPHY OR DRUGS OR DRINKING OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE." THAT IS NOT ENOUGH. YOU HAVE TO BE HONEST ABOUT IT AND THEN SEEK TO PLEASE GOD AND NOT YOURSELF OR THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU. AND BEING COMMITTED TO GOD'S WILL CALLS FOR US TO INTEGRATE ALL OF THESE ISSUES IN OUR LIVES. BRING THEM TOGETHER AND HAVE THEM CENTERED ON GOD. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING. ALL RIGHT. WE NEED TO TAKE, STOP THERE. WHAT WE WILL DO NOW IS GO TO SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS. WE'RE GOING TO START OFF WITH A CALLER. WE HAVE MARTY ON THE LINE. WHERE ARE YOU CALLING FROM? >> VIRGINIA, FATHER MITCH. I'M GLAD TO TALK TO YOU. >> THANK YOU. IT'S NICE TO TALK TO YOU. WHAT CAN WE DO FOR YOU TODAY? >> YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT 3 BAD INFLUENCES. THE DEVIL, THE WORLD AND OURSELVES. MY QUESTION IS, HOW CAN I BE A BAD INFLUENCE ON MYSELF WHEN I BELIEVE ALL MY INCORRECT THINGS THAT I DO IS BECAUSE OF THE DEVIL? NOT NECESSARILY MYSELF. >> YES. >> HOW CAN I BE A BAD INFLUENCE TO MYSELF, IS WHAT I'M ASKING. >> HERE'S 1 OF THE THINGS, MARTY. 1 OF THE REASONS WE WANT TO DO DISCERNMENT. SOME OF THE BAD THINGS I WANT TO DO MAY BE TEMPTATIONS FROM THE DEVIL. THAT MAY BE THE CASE. BUT FRANKLY MOST OF THE BAD THINGS I WANT TO DO COME FROM ME. BECAUSE I HAVE DISORDERED DESIRES. I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE AND THIS IS A SIMPLE WAY THAT APPLIES TO ALMOST EVERYBODY. I LIKE DESSERT A LOT MORE THAN I LIKE SOME OF MY VEGETABLES. AND I LIKE VEGETABLES. I LIKE THEM. SOME LESS THAN OTHERS. BUT NO MATTER HOW WONDERFUL THE VEGETABLES ARE, I PREFER DESSERT. NOW MARTY, THAT IS NOT FROM THE DEVIL. THAT IS FROM ME. I WANT THOSE SWEETS MORE THAN I WANT HEALTHY, I HOPE IT IS HEALTHY, RUTABAGA. THAT IS 1 OF THE VEGETABLES I JUST, I DO NOT KNOW ANY GOOD RECIPES FOR THAT STUFF. AND I DO NOT EVEN LIKE BRUSSELS SPROUTS ALL THAT WELL. ALTHOUGH NOWADAYS THEY BAKE THEM, SO THEY'RE NOT SO BAD. THOSE ARE BETTER NOW. THEY USUALLY PUT A LITTLE SUGAR ON THEM. BUT THAT IS FROM ME. THAT IS FROM ME THAT I LIKE ICE CREAM MORE THAN BROCCOLI. I CANNOT BLAME THE DEVIL FOR THAT. AND THERE IS A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT ARE COMING FROM MY OWN EGO. I WANT TO BE LIKED. THE DEVIL DOES NOT HAVE TO MAKE ME WANT THAT. THAT COMES FROM ME. ALL OF US MIGHT WANT TO FORGET OUR CARES AND START DRINKING. OR USING A DRUG OR SEX OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE. SOMETHING TO MAKE US FORGET SOME OF THE HARD TIMES AND JUST HAVE A FEW MOMENTS OF A CERTAIN KIND OF PLEASURE. I DO NOT NEED THE DEVIL FOR THAT. IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT ONCE I MAY HAVE TRIED SOMETHING THAT HE CANNOT CONTINUE TO USE MY WEAKNESS FOR CERTAIN THINGS, MY WEAKNESS FOR DISTRACTIONS. TO GO FOLLOW HIM. HE CAN DO THAT. BUT THE MOST PART IT COMES FROM ME. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE, MARTY? >> YES, SIR, IT DOES. THANK YOU. >> AND THEN WE CAN TELL, AND I WILL GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF A TEMPTATION I HEAR FROM THE DEVIL IN A LOT OF PEOPLE'S LIVES. THIS IS A GREAT ONE. THE TEMPTATION TO SAY THAT YOU ARE UNFORGIVABLE AND THE TEMPTATION TO ACCUSE YOURSELF OF SINS THAT CANNOT BE FORGIVEN. AND THAT IS FROM THE EVIL ONE. I GIVE YOU A REASON WHY. TAKE A LOOK AT THE BOOK OF REVELATION CHAPTER 12, I THINK ABOUT VERSE 13, WHERE IT SAYS THAT SATAN IS THE ACCUSER OF OUR BROTHERS. SATAN ACCUSES US. THAT IS HIS APPROACH, AND THEN AFTER THE EVIL SPIRIT ACCUSES US OF BEING UNWORTHY, EVIL AND BAD AND UNFORGIVABLE, THEN HE GETS US TO BLAME THE CHURCH. THE CHURCH THAT OFFERS US FORGIVENESS IN THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION AND OFFERS US FORGIVENESS FOR VENIAL SINS EVERY TIME WE GO TO MASS, THE CHURCH IS THE MEANS OF MERCY BUT THE EVIL ONE WANTS TO ACCUSE US OF BEING UNFORGIVABLE AND SAY, WELL, IT IS JUST CATHOLIC GUILT. AND JEWISH PEOPLE SAY IT'S JEWISH GUILT OR BAPTIST GUILT OR WHATEVER CHURCH IT MIGHT BE, AND YOU BLAME THE CHURCH. AND THAT DIVERSION OF THE BLAME TO THE CHURCH FOR SOMETHING THAT IS SATAN'S VERY NATURE BECAUSE THE WORD SATAN IN HEBREW MEANS ACCUSER. SO THAT WOULD BE SATANIC. BUT, AND THEN TEMPTATIONS TO BE AGAINST LIFE THAT, YES, MERCY KILLING OF THE ELDERLY. THAT IS WHAT WE NEED MORE OF. KILL THEM SO THEY DO NOT SUFFER. THAT IS NOT MERCY. THAT IS A SATANIC TRICK TO HAVE MERCY REDEFINED BY THE EVIL ONE. THAT WOULD BE. OR "I DO NOT WANT A KID TO GROW UP AND SUFFER. SO KILL THE KID IN THE WOMB." THAT IS A SATANIC TRICK THAT IS FROM THE EVIL ONE. AND WE HAVE TO REMEMBER IT. THAT DISTINCTION. BECAUSE REMEMBER, IT IS JESUS OUR LORD WHO SAYS THAT SATAN IS A LIAR, THE FATHER OF LIES AND A MURDERER FROM THE BEGINNING. THAT IS WHERE WE CAN TELL SOME OF HIS TRICKS. WE NEED TO TAKE A BREAK AND WE WILL COME BACK WITH SOME OF MORE OF YOUR QUESTIONS AND EMAILS. PLEASE STAY WITH US. (GUITAR THEME MUSIC) (GUITAR THEME MUSIC) >> ALL RIGHT. LET US TAKE AN EMAIL. THIS IS FROM RAY IN CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA. I GOT TO GO TO CANBERRA BACK IN 1994. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL CITY. NO, RAY, IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOUR FAITH IS NOT REAL. IT MEANS THAT YOU ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF LEARNING HOW TO DISCERN WHAT IS FROM GOD AND WHAT IS FROM YOU. 1 OF THE THINGS; WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING MORE ABOUT THESE KINDS OF ISSUES, BUT 1 OF THE WAYS THAT YOU CAN LEARN HOW TO DISCERN THAT IT REALLY IS GOD, IS THAT YOU WILL FIND A PEACE THAT LASTS. THIS IS KEY TO DISCERNING GOD'S WILL. HE GIVES A PEACE THAT LASTS. WE WILL TALK IN THE NEXT CHAPTER IN FACT ABOUT ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA WHO FOUND PEACE FROM THINKING ABOUT SOME WORLDLY THINGS SUCH AS BEING A GREAT KNIGHT AND A SOLDIER, AND HE LIKED THAT AND IT WAS A LOT OF FUN BUT IT WAS NOT A PEACE THAT LASTED. IT FADED. BUT WHEN HE THOUGHT ABOUT CHANGING HIS LIFE AND FOLLOWING GOD LIKE THE SAINTS DID, THEN HE HAD A PEACE AND THAT LASTED, AND THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO. BUT IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR FAITH BEING UNREAL. YOUR FAITH IS REAL. IT IS JUST NOW LEARNING REFINEMENT OF HOW TO LISTEN TO WHAT GOD IS SAYING JUST AS IN ANY RELATIONSHIP. YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE. THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART. I HAVE AN EMAIL THAT IS A LITTLE BIT OLDER BUT I WANTED TO GET TO IT BECAUSE IT IS AN ISSUE I WANT GET RID OF THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT CAN BE PROBLEMATIC AND WE NEED TO HAVE THIS CLEAR. THIS IS FROM MIKE WHO SAYS... "THIS KIND OF BAD PREACHING WOULD NEVER HAPPEN IN A CATHOLIC CHURCH." I HOPE. THAT'S MY COMMENT - I HOPE. 1ST OF ALL, I DO NOT KNOW WHY THE PREACHER WOULD EVEN BRING UP THE ISSUE OF RACE IN REGARDS TO BATHSHEBA. THERE IS NOTHING AT ALL TO INDICATE THAT SHE WAS A HITTITE OR A BLACK OR ANY; THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT HER ETHNIC BACKGROUND. THE GUY'S MAKING THAT UP. SHE COULD HAVE BEEN BLACK. SHE COULD'VE BEEN AN ETHIOPIAN. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF ETHIOPIANS LIVING IN JERUSALEM AND THEY SHOW UP. THEY ARE MENTIONED. BUT WHEN THEY ARE ETHIOPIANS THEY ARE MENTIONED. AND WHAT I SUSPECT IS THAT THE MINISTER IS CONFUSED ABOUT MOSES' WIFE WHO WAS BLACK. SHE WAS. SHE WAS FROM THE SINAI PENINSULA. AND SHE WAS BLACK AND THAT IS WHY BOTH AARON AND MIRIAM, MOSES' BROTHER AND SISTER, CRITICIZED MOSES FOR HAVING A BLACK WIFE. WHAT HAPPENS? WHAT HAPPENS? AS A RESULT MIRIAM GETS LEPROSY. THAT CRITICIZING ON THE BASIS OF RACE IS EVIL. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS JUST PURE NONSENSE. AN EVIL NONSENSE. THIS IS 1 OF THE REASONS WHY WE HAVE TO PUT TO REST ISSUES OF RACISM. HUMAN RACE IS KEY. BUT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE BRING IT IN BECAUSE OF BAD SCIENCE. REMEMBER CHARLES DARWIN WHO HAD WRITTEN IN HIS 2ND BOOK 'THE DESCENT OF MAN,' SAYING THAT THAT BLACKS FROM AFRICA ARE A SPECIES IN BETWEEN THE APE AND THE HUMAN BEING. IN OTHER WORDS THEY ARE NOT HUMAN. THAT IS DARWIN SAYING THAT. SINCE DARWIN SAID IT, IT MUST BE TRUE, RIGHT? NO, IT IS NOT TRUE. AT ALL. DARWIN WAS FULL OF MALARKEY ON THAT. SO THIS IS UTTER NONSENSE. NO MATTER WHERE THE RACISM COMES FROM WE DO NOT ACCEPT IT. WE REJECT THAT. EVERYONE IS A HUMAN BEING IN THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF GOD. JUST GOT DIFFERENT COLORS. APPARENTLY VERY USEFUL AND VERY HELPFUL AND GOD LIKES IT. ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A CALLER. JIMMY. WHERE ARE YOU CALLING FROM? >> I'M CALLING FROM MAINE, FATHER. IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO TALK TO YOU. YOU HAVE A TOUGH JOB, FATHER. I AM LISTENING TO YOU. I'VE BEEN ON HOLD A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND LISTENING. NASA SENT A ROVER UP TO MARS. WE COULD SAVE NASA A LOT OF MONEY IF THEY WANT TO FIND WHAT IS OUT THERE. JUST FALL TO YOUR KNEES. >> YEAH. >> WE'LL FIND LIFE AFTER DEATH. WE'LL FIND LIFE OUT THERE. >> WE'LL FIND LIFE AFTER DEATH. BUT I GOTTA SAY THIS, JIMMY. I KIND OF LIKE THE SPACE PROGRAM. NOT JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE CALL ME SPACEY. THAT IS ANOTHER PROBLEM. BUT I THINK IT IS GOOD FOR HUMANS TO EXPLORE AND IT HELPS US TO BE BETTER PEOPLE. BUT THAT IS ANOTHER DISCUSSION. WHAT IS YOUR QUESTION? >> FATHER, I HAVE BEEN THE MOST BLESSED HUMAN BEING ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH. GOD FOLLOWS ME WHEREVER I GO. HE HAS GOTTEN ME OUT OF SO MANY DIFFERENT PREDICAMENTS IT IS NOT EVEN FUNNY. THE FELLOW FROM AUSTRALIA WAS SAYING, AM I TALKING TO MYSELF OR GOD? BELIEVE ME, GOD IS LISTENING AND HE WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOU NEED TO KNOW. MY THING, FATHER, WAS I WENT TO CATECHISM, I WALKED WITH MY BROTHER. THE THING I REMEMBER ABOUT THE CATECHISM IS THAT WE USED TO PUT PENNIES ON THE RAILROAD AND THAT THEY WOULD FLATTEN THEM OUT AND WE'D GET THESE COPPER FLAT LITTLE COINS AND ALL I KNOW IS EVERYTHING ABOUT THE CATECHISM MY PARENTS TAUGHT ME. I HAVE 2 VERY RELIGIOUS AUNTS AND EVERYTHING THAT WE WERE TAUGHT; I DID NOT HAVE TO LEARN ANYTHING IN CATECHISM BECAUSE EVERYTHING I KNEW THEY WERE TEACHING ME WAS THE TRUTH. I KNEW IT. I KNEW IT FROM THE GET GO. SO I DO NOT REMEMBER ANYTHING ABOUT IT BUT I DO REMEMBER IT WAS THE TRUTH. I AM RAMBLING HERE BUT MY QUESTION TO YOU IS ABOUT GOOD FRIDAY. BECAUSE ON FRIDAYS WHEN I WAS A KID WE HAD TO EAT FISH. YOU KNOW YOU BEGAN THE PROGRAM TALKING ABOUT THE TRUTH. IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE 1 OF THE REASONS WHY I THINK CATHOLIC PEOPLE SORT OF WALK AWAY FROM THE CHURCH IS BECAUSE THE CHURCH ITSELF BENDS THE RULES. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LINE IN THE SAND. EITHER YOU EAT FISH ON FRIDAY OR YOU DON'T. AND I KNOW; I AM REALLY NOT A PRACTICING CATHOLIC RIGHT NOW; I MEAN I'M A PRACTICING CATHOLIC FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE - DO NOT GET ME WRONG - BUT I DON'T ABIDE BY THE RULES, WHATEVER THE RULES ARE. >> HERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND. THE WAY THAT WE HEARD THOSE CHANGES ABOUT THE FRIDAY ABSTINENCE FROM MEAT IS THAT WE HEARD THAT, WELL, YOU DO NOT HAVE DO ANYTHING ON FRIDAYS. THAT WAS NOT WHAT WAS SAID. I FAULT A LOT OF US PRIESTS AND THE BISHOPS AT THAT TIME IN PARTICULAR, ACTUALLY BEFORE I WAS A PRIEST, BUT PEOPLE INSIDE OF THE CHURCH WHO DID NOT MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE ARE OBLIGATED, WE ARE STILL OBLIGATED TO DO A FORM OF PENANCE ON FRIDAYS. EVERY FRIDAY. NOW THE CHURCH STILL IMPOSES ABSTINENCE FROM MEAT ON FRIDAYS IN LENT, AND ABSTINENCE FROM MEAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD DO EVERY FRIDAY. I STILL DO NOT EAT MEAT ON FRIDAYS. I ABSTAIN FROM IT. IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU HAVE TO EAT FISH. IT MEANS YOU DO NOT EAT MEAT. GROWING UP WE DID NOT HAVE FISH OR MEAT A LOT OF TIMES. WE HAD MASHED POTATOES AND BUTTERMILK OR BEET SOUP AND POTATO PANCAKES. A LOT OF THINGS LIKE THAT. THAT WE ATE. WE WERE FULL, BUT WE DID NOT HAVE ANY MEAT OR FISH AND SOMETIMES WE HAD FISH ONCE IN A WHILE. THIS WAS A GOOD DISCIPLINE. BUT THEY ALSO SAID IN A LOT OF PLACES ABSTAINING FROM MEAT IS NO SACRIFICE. I REMEMBER A FEW FOLKS SAYING, OH, IT IS FRIDAY IN LENT, I'M GOING TO GET SOME LOBSTER NEWBURGH. THAT IS NOT A PENANCE. AND THE IDEA IS DOING SOME FORM OF PENANCE, AND SO THAT IS 1 OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE STILL OBLIGATED TO DO. IT IS JUST THAT THEY ALLOW PEOPLE TO ADAPT WHAT IS A PENANCE TO THEM. IF YOU LIVE ON AN ISLAND IN THE PACIFIC, FISH IS A LUXURY ITEM. IF YOU DID WELL FISHING THAT DAY, EAT FISH. THAT IS A TREAT. IT IS NOT A PENANCE. IT IS A NORMAL PART OF LIFE. AND MEAT IS REALLY REALLY RARE. BUT THE OTHER FORMS OF PENANCE THAT YOU COULD DO BECAUSE WE REALIZE THAT THE CULTURES ARE SO DIVERSE. IN ENGLAND THEY STILL MAKE IT UNDER A PAIN OF MORTAL SIN THAT EVERY FRIDAY YOU MUST DO SOME FORM OF PENANCE TO REMEMBER OUR LORD'S PASSION. AS FOR YOU, TOO, TIME TO GET BACK TO PRACTICING NOT JUST SOME OF THE STUFF THAT YOU LIKE BUT PRACTICING EVERYTHING. WE HAVE TO ALL BE FAITHFUL TO THIS. SO GET BACK ON THE STICK THERE. YOU NEED TO DO THAT. REMEMBER YOUR RAISING. ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE ANOTHER EMAIL. FROM CARLA. ALL RIGHT. 1 OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT JESUS IS NOT DIVINELY HUMAN. I THINK, CARLA, YOU NEED TO DO SOME STUDY OF THE THEOLOGY OF THE TRINITY. WHAT SCRIPTURE HAS REVEALED. I RECOMMEND A BOOK I WROTE CALLED 'THE HOLY SPIRIT: A BIBLE STUDY FOR CATHOLICS.' THAT WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO START. BUT THE FATHER IS PURE SPIRIT. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS PURE SPIRIT. AND BEFORE HIS INCARNATION IN THE WOMB OF MARY, BEFORE JESUS TOOK FLESH, HE WAS THE 2ND PERSON, THE SON IS ALSO PURE SPIRIT. IT IS GOD'S NATURE TO BE PURE SPIRIT. IT IS ONLY AT THE INCARNATION THAT THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US. AND THAT THE REASON FOR THAT IS SO THAT HE COULD REDEEM THE HUMAN RACE FROM SIN BY BECOMING 1 OF US, TAKING OUR SINS UPON HIMSELF, DYING ON THE CROSS AND RISING SO THAT HE COULD ALSO GIVE US ETERNAL LIFE. AS WELL AS FORGIVENESS OF SINS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HE HAS A COMPLETE DIVINE NATURE AND A COMPLETE HUMAN NATURE. BUT HE IS NOT DIVINELY HUMAN. HE IS A HUMAN NATURE AND A DIVINE NATURE. THAT IS WHAT HE HAS THERE. OKAY. WELL, WE HAVE TO GO. NEXT WEEK WE WILL START ON PAGE 30 IN MY BOOK ON HOW TO LISTEN TO GOD, AND UNTIL THEN WE PRAY THAT THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU AND CAUSE HIS FACE TO SHINE UPON YOU. MAY THE LORD LEAD YOU AND ALL OF YOUR WAYS BY HIS PEACE. AND GIVE YOU HIS GUIDANCE THROUGH THAT PEACE. MAY ALMIGHTY GOD BLESS YOU, THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN. AGAIN, THIS SHOW AND ALL OF THE SHOWS THAT WE DO ARE BROUGHT TO YOU BY YOU. THAT IS HOW MOTHER FELT LED BY JESUS TO HAVE THIS NETWORK. SO PLEASE KEEP US IN BETWEEN YOUR UTILITY BILLS. AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO PAY OUR BILLS ALSO. THANK YOU. (GUITAR THEME MUSIC)
