(GUITAR THEME MUSIC) >> Fr. Pacwa: WELCOME! I'M FATHER MITCH PACWA AND WELCOME TO 'SCRIPTURE AND TRADITION.' OF COURSE, ON THIS EASTER TUESDAY, WE WANT TO WISH YOU A VERY BLESSED EASTER SEASON. THROUGHOUT THE SEASON, PEOPLE OF THE EASTERN CHURCH GREET EACH OTHER BY SAYING, CHRIST IS RISEN! AND THE RESPONSE IS, INDEED, HE IS RISEN! SO, IN GREEK, IT'S [SPEAKS GREEK] AND AT MY PARISH WE SAID [SPEAKS GREEK] AND ALL OF THE DIFFERENT LANGUAGES OF THE EAST, THEY ADDRESSED IT, SO THIS IS A GREAT WAY FOR US TO THINK OF EASTER AND TO CELEBRATE, MAKING IT A PROCLAMATION THAT THIS IS THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS. NOW, OF COURSE, WE WANT YOU TO BE A PART OF THE SHOW. YOU CAN DO SO BY ADDING YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AND YOU CAN DO THAT DURING THE LIVE PROGRAM WHICH IS ON TUESDAY AT 2:00 PM EST. THE PHONE NUMBER THAT YOU CAN CALL, IF YOU ARE IN NORTH AMERICA IS LISTED RIGHT ON THE SCREEN. 1-800-221-9460, AND IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE NORTH AMERICA, YOU CAN CALL 205-271-2980. YOU WOULD USE COUNTRY CODE 1 FOR THAT NUMBER. AGAIN, WE WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO SEND US QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS AND ALSO, BY EMAIL. YOU CAN WRITE TO ScriptureAndTradition@ewtn.com. OR GO ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA, FACEBOOK.COM/EWTNONLINE, OR YOUTUBE.COM/EWTN. NOW, TODAY WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT CLOSER READING AND SPIRITUAL, PRAYERFUL REFLECTION ON SCRIPTURE AND OUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE WORD OF GOD. SOMETIMES IT CAN CHALLENGE US TO THE POINT OF EVEN MAKING US A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE. THERE'S SOME UN-MODERN PRINCIPLES WE HAVE TO LOOK AT, AND SOMETIMES PRINCIPLES THAT ARE CLASSICAL MODERN, THINGS LIKE SOLA SCRIPTURA, USING THE BIBLE ALONE. SO, WE'LL SEE WHAT'S GOING ON THERE. WE'RE STARTING ON PAGE 45 OF MY BOOK 'HOW TO LISTEN WHEN GOD IS SPEAKING: A GUIDE FOR MODERN DAY CATHOLICS.' YOU CAN GO TO ewtnRC.com AND LOOK FOR ITEM 1833. ALL RIGHT. I'VE BEEN PUSHING US TO ACCEPT, THAT ACCEPTING SACRED SCRIPTURE IS WORTHY OF BELIEF ON SO MANY LEVELS. THIS IS A TREMENDOUS THING. OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND OTHER ISSUES LIKE MODERN SCIENCE AND TRY TO SEE THE ANCIENT PERSPECTIVE, ACCEPT THEY ARE TALKING IN A VERY ANCIENT WAY. AND ALSO, THEY ARE TEACHING EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ATTITUDES TOWARD CREATION AND TOWARDS THE REALITY OF BEING HUMAN THAT WE VERY MUCH NEED. THIS IS NECESSARY FOR THE SPIRITUAL LIFE OF BELIEVERS, TO BE ABLE TO GROW CLOSER TO GOD. WE WANT TO HAVE A MUCH MORE DEEP AND PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE AND LOVE OF GOD. IN FACT, OUR LOVE OF GOD IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN OUR KNOWLEDGE BUT OUR KNOWLEDGE HELPS OUR LOVE, JUST LIKE IT DOES WITH ANY OTHER RELATIONSHIP. THE MORE YOU KNOW ABOUT SOMEBODY, THE MORE YOU MAKE THAT CHOICE TO LOVE THEM. AND WE WANT TO HAVE THIS CLOSE, PRAYERFUL READING OF SCRIPTURE AS A WAY TO ENTER MORE DEEPLY INTO OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST. SO, THAT'S VERY KEY. AND WE SHOULD EXPECT THAT AS WE LISTEN TO THE WORD OF GOD, SACRED SCRIPTURE, AS WE LISTEN TO IT MORE PRAYERFULLY, THAT WE SHOULD EXPECT TO HEAR GOD SPEAKING TO OUR HEARTS, THAT HE WILL ADDRESS US. BUT AGAIN, THAT ASSUMES THAT WE BELIEVE THAT THE SACRED SCRIPTURE IS THE WORD OF GOD AND NOT JUST A HUMAN WORD. AND THAT IS THE VERY BASIC, MOST BASIC ASSUMPTION OF OUR LIFE IN THE SPIRITUAL LIFE. NOW, AGAIN, WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR CERTAIN DISCOMFORT, EVERY SO OFTEN. IT'S IMPORTANT TO TAKE SCRIPTURE ON ITS OWN TERMS. I'VE BEEN SAYING THAT THROUGHOUT. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND, SACRED SCRIPTURE NEVER SAYS THAT YOU USE THE BIBLE ALONE. THAT'S NOT IN SCRIPTURE. NO PASSAGE IN THE BIBLE SAYS YOU USE THE BIBLE ALONE. AND ANYBODY THAT SAYS THAT, THEY ARE NOT BASING IT ON A SACRED SCRIPTURE BUT BASING THAT ON A LATE TRADITION OF MEN AS THE BIBLE WOULD SAY. AND SOMETHING ELSE, THERE'S NOTHING THAT SAYS YOU HAVE TO PROVE EVERYTHING FROM THE BIBLE ALONE. THAT IS AN UNBIBLICAL PRINCIPLE. AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH DOES NOT CONSIDER THAT TO BE TRUE. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN SHOW THAT THE SCRIPTURE TELLS US TO NOT USE THE BIBLE ALONE. WE USE THE BIBLE, ABSOLUTELY. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU REJECT THE BIBLE OR IGNORE IT. THAT WOULD BE A DUMB IDEA. WHAT DOES SCRIPTURE SAY ABOUT THAT? I BEGIN WITH 1 THESSALONIANS 2:13. THIS IS THE VERY FIRST BOOK OF THE NEW TESTAMENT ACTUALLY TO BE WRITTEN DOWN. THIS WAS WRITTEN IN 51 AD, AS A LETTER OF ST. PAUL TO THE THESSALONIANS. WHILE HE WAS ALREADY IN CORINTH TO THE SOUTH, HE WROTE A LETTER TO THE THESSALONIANS. AND 2:13, 1 THESSALONIANS, HE WROTE, WE ALSO CONSTANTLY GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR THIS. THAT WHEN YOU RECEIVED THE WORD OF GOD THAT YOU HEARD FROM US, YOU ACCEPTED IT NOT AS A HUMAN WORD BUT AS WHAT IT REALLY IS, GOD'S WORD, WHICH IS ALSO AT WORK IN YOU BELIEVERS. NOTICE THIS. THAT YOU HEARD THE WORD OF GOD. AND YOU ACCEPTED IT AS REALLY BEING THE WORD OF GOD. THEY DIDN'T READ IT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO NEW TESTAMENT WRITTEN DOWN. THEY HAD TO HEAR IT! AND THIS IS ST. PAUL SAYING THAT THAT WORD THAT HE SPOKE IN THE ORAL TRADITION IS THE WORD OF GOD. THAT'S ONE STARTING POINT. THEN, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS. IT'S THE SECOND BOOK OF THE NEW TESTAMENT TO BE WRITTEN DOWN. AND IN 2 THESSALONIANS 2:15, HE SAYS, SO THEN, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, STAND FIRM AND HOLD FAST TO THE TRADITIONS THAT YOU YOU WERE TAUGHT BY US, EITHER BY WORD OF MOUTH, OR BY OUR LETTER. NOW, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE SEE THAT THE WORD THAT IS USED THERE IS THE WORD 'TRADITIONS.' AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN FIND IN THE KING JAMES BIBLE. AND OF COURSE, IN RSV AND OTHERS. THAT'S BECAUSE THE WORD IN GREEK IS [SPEAKS GREEK] SO, THIS MEANS, THAT WHICH HAS BEEN HANDED ON. WHAT HE IS SAYING IS, STAND FAST, HOLD THE TRADITIONS WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT. I THINK THERE WAS ONE TRANSLATION THAT SAID, HOLD ON TO THE TEACHINGS BUT THAT'S A DIFFERENT WORD. [SPEAKS GREEK] THIS IS PARADOSIS, THE TRADITIONS. AND THESE TRADITIONS ARE CONSIDERED GOD'S REVELATION. IT'S BOTH WHAT'S WRITTEN DOWN AND WHAT IS PASSED ON BY WORD OF MOUTH. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. I REMEMBER, I THINK I HAVE MENTIONED IN SOME PAST PROGRAMS, THAT IN A DEBATE THAT I DID BACK IN 1994, IN DALLAS, MY INTERLOCUTOR ASKED ME, "WELL, WHAT'S IN THE TRADITION THAT'S ALREADY NOT IN THE BIBLE?" WHICH IS AN ADMISSION. A VERY IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE IN CATHOLICISM. NAMELY, THAT THE TRADITION, THE ORAL TRADITION OF THE APOSTLES AND THE WRITTEN TRADITION OF THE APOSTLES ARE IN CONSONANCE WITH EACH OTHER. THEY DON'T CONTRADICT EACH OTHER BUT COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER. SO, ADMITTING THAT POINT, "WHAT IS THERE IN THE TRADITION THAT WE DON'T ALREADY HAVE IN THE SCRIPTURE?" AND I LOOKED AT THE AUDIENCE AND I SAID, THE TABLE OF CONTENTS. NO BOOK OF THE BIBLE TELLS YOU WHAT BOOKS GO IN THE BIBLE. IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE ORAL TRADITION, YOU COULD NOT KNOW WHICH BOOKS GO IN THE BIBLE. AND ESPECIALLY, DURING THE FIRST CENTURIES OF PERSECUTION, THE DIFFERENT CHURCHES ONLY HAD SOME OF THE NEW TESTAMENT BOOKS. QUITE COMMONLY, THEY HAD 22 BOOKS IN THEIR NEW TESTAMENT. AND NOT ALWAYS THE SAME 22. THEY VARIED AMONG THEMSELVES. AND THEIR IDEA OF THE OLD TESTAMENT ALSO VARIED. SO THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT THING TO KEEP IN MIND. WE SEE THAT THE BIBLE THEREFORE IS VERY MUCH GIVING US THIS BASIS FOR UNDERSTANDING THE TRADITION THAT IT IS PART OF OUR THEOLOGY THAT WE VERY MUCH HAVE THIS TRADITION. AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, I WAS JUST LOOKING -- THERE WE GO. I WAS JUST TAKING A LOOK AT SOME OF THE EARLY FATHERS OF THE CHURCH. AND YOU SEE PEOPLE LIKE SAINT CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRA, WRITING ABOUT 200 AD, HAD THE FOUR GOSPELS, 14 LETTERS OF ST. PAUL INCLUDING HEBREWS IN THAT, HE HAD ACTS, 1 PETER, 1 AND 2 JOHN. BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE 2 PETER OR THIRD JOHN. HE HAD JUDE AND REVELATIONS BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE JAMES. SO, YOU KNOW, HE HAD A DIFFERENT LIST. SAME WITH SAINT IRENEAUS. HE HAD THE FOUR GOSPELS AND 12 LETTERS OF PAUL. HE DIDN'T HAVE PHILEMON. HE HAD HEBREWS WITH A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF RESERVATION. TERTULLIAN HAD 13 EPISTLES OF PAUL, FIRST JOHN, 1 PETER, JUDE. HE DIDN'T HAVE ALL OF THE LETTERS. THEY JUST DIDN'T HAVE ALL OF THE LISTS. BUT WHEN YOU WENT TO ALL OF THE BISHOPS AND FINALLY AFTER THE PERSECUTION, THEY DID GO TO ALL OF THE BISHOPS AND THEY COULD SEE, THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE IN ALL OF THE CHURCHES. IN FACT, ALEXANDRA WAS ONE OF THE FEW CHURCHES ALONG WITH ROME TO HAVE ALL OF THE BOOKS BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF COMMUNICATION WITH THEM. BUT IT WAS HARD DURING THE PERSECUTION. BUT THE BISHOPS PASSED ON WHAT THEY HAD AND THEN, WHEN THEY COULD SHARE THAT IN SYNODS, IN THE 300'S, AFTER CONSTANTINE MADE PEACE WITH THE CHURCH, THAT WOULD BE WHAT WE HAD. SO, THIS BRINGS OUT SOMETHING ELSE, THAT WE ALSO HAVE THE CHURCH AND ITS MAGISTERIUM. THE CHURCH'S MAGISTERIUM MEANS ITS TEACHING AUTHORITY. THIS IS PRIMARILY IN THE POPE AND THE BISHOPS. SCRIPTURALLY, THE AUTHORITY OF THE MAGISTERIUM GOES BACK TO OUR LORD JESUS. THINK BACK TO JOHN 16:13, WHEN JESUS PROMISED TO SEND THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH. AND HE SAYS, WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU INTO ALL THE TRUTH FOR HE WILL NOT SPEAK ON HIS OWN BUT WILL SPEAK WHATEVER HE HEARS. AND HE WILL DECLARE TO YOU THE THINGS THAT ARE TO COME. SO, THIS IS A PROMISE HE GIVES TO THE APOSTLES AT THE LAST SUPPER AND THAT THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH WILL GUIDE THEM. THAT PASSAGE HELPS US TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF PETER IN MATTHEW 16:16 WHERE SAINT SIMON, SON OF JOHN, ANSWERED JESUS, YOU ARE THE MESSIAH, SON OF THE LIVING GOD. HE MAKES A GREAT CONFESSION OF FAITH IN WHO JESUS IS. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT OUR LORD RECOGNIZED WAS A GIFT OF THE FATHER. HE KNEW PETER WELL ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT PETER DIDN'T COME UP WITH THAT ON HIS OWN. BASED ON THAT ACT OF FAITH, HE CHANGED SIMON'S NAME TO CEPHAS. CEPHAS IS ARAMAIC. YOU SEE THAT FOR INSTANCE IN JOHN 1:42. AND IT MEANS CRAG OF ROCK. WHEN THEY TRANSLATE IT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT IN GREEK, THEY PUT CEPHAS BECAUSE GREEK DOES NOT LIKE TO END MASCULINE WORDS IN THE SOUND OF 'AH'. THEY ASSUME IT'S FEMININE. BUT IN ARAMAIC, YOU CAN END MASCULINE WORDS WITH THAT 'AH' SOUND. YOU SEE THAT IN JOHN 1:42 WHEN SIMON'S BROTHER BROUGHT HIM TO JESUS WHO LOOKED AT HIM AND SAID, YOU ARE SIMON SON OF JOHN, YOU WILL BE CALLED CEPHAS, WHICH IS TRANSLATED PETER, THIS IS KEY. IT SHOWS THAT THE NAME PETROS MEANS ROCK IN GREEK. AND IT TRANSLATES CEPHAS. WHAT DOES CEPHAS MEAN IN ARAMAIC? IT MEANS A CRAG OF ROCK. IT DOES NOT MEAN A LITTLE STONE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. SOME PEOPLE COME UP WITH THESE ARGUMENTS. BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT IT MEANS. EVEN PETROS IN GREEK, THERE ARE GREEK POEMS OUTSIDE OF THE BIBLE WHERE IT MEANS BIG ROCK AND LITTLE ROCK FOR EITHER ONE. SO, DON'T GO WITH THE IDEA THAT IT'S BIG ROCK AND LITTLE ROCK. NO. HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ARKANSAS. NOTHING. PAY ATTENTION TO THE CAPITAL. SO, NO, NO, NO. THE IMPORTANT THING IS SIMON PETER IS THE CRAG OF ROCK ON WHICH JESUS BUILDS THE CHURCH. AND THE GATES OF HELL WILL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST THE CHURCH. FURTHERMORE, PETER GETS THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM SO THAT WHAT HE LOOSES ON EARTH IS LOOSED IN HEAVEN AND WHAT HE BINDS ON EARTH IS BOUND IN HEAVEN. THIS IS HIS AUTHORITY. AND IT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT WILL BE LEADING HIM IN BINDING AND LOOSING. AND THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL MAKE HIM THE ROCK. AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT. WE'LL TAKE A BREAK AND WE'LL COME BACK AND TALK ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE REST OF THE APOSTLES. PLEASE, STAY WITH US. (GUITAR THEME MUSIC) (GUITAR THEME MUSIC) >> Fr. Pacwa: ALL RIGHT. SO, WE'RE SPEAKING ABOUT HOW OUR SAVIOR, JESUS, PROMISED THE APOSTLES THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT OF TRUTH WOULD GUIDE THEM INTO ALL TRUTH AND THAT HE SPECIFICALLY POINTED OUT PETER AS THE ROCK ON WHICH HE BUILT THE CHURCH WITH THE POWER OF THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM AND THE POWER TO BIND AND LOOSE. AND THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM MEAN, HE'S A PRIME MINISTER. IN ANCIENT ISRAEL THE KING WOULD PUT THE KEY OF THE PALACE ON THE SHOULDER OF THE PRIME MINISTER IN ORDER TO INDICATE HE NOW HAD THAT AUTHORITY, OUR LORD DOES THAT WITH PETER. THEN HE GIVES HIM THE POWER TO BIND AND LOOSE. THIS WAS A STANDARD EXPRESSION AMONG THE RABBIS WHEN THEY WOULD SEND DISCIPLES OUT TO DELIVER MESSAGES, THEY WERE GIVEN THE POWER TO BIND AND LOOSE AS THEY WENT ON THEIR JOURNEY. WELL, JESUS GIVES THAT TO PETER. BUT IT'S NOT ONLY SAINT PETER. WE SEE IN MATTHEW 18:18 THAT THE LORD ADDRESSES THE OTHER 11. HE SAYS IN MATTHEW 16, "I GIVE YOU THE POWER TO BIND AND LOOSE, I CALL YOU PETER." THAT'S YOU, SINGULAR, IN GREEK, TOO. BUT HERE, IN MATTHEW 18:18, IT SAYS, TRULY I TELL YOU, WHATEVER YOU BIND ON EARTH WILL BE BOUND IN HEAVEN, AND WHATEVER YOU LOOSE ON EARTH WILL BE LOOSED IN HEAVEN. SO, THE WORD THERE IS ... AND WHAT WE SAY IN ALABAMA, Y'ALL; WHATEVER Y'ALL BIND ON EARTH IS BOUND IN HEAVEN AND WHATEVER Y'ALL LOOSE ON EARTH IS LOOSED IN HEAVEN. HE DOESN'T CHANGE THEIR NAMES. HE DOES NOT CALL THEM CRAGS OF ROCK. HE DOES NOT PROMISE TO BUILD THE CHURCH ON THEM THE WAY HE DOES ON PETER. SO THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT KIND OF AUTHORITY. BUT WHAT WE CALL THE COLLEGE OF APOSTLES, THIS GROUP OF APOSTLES, WITH PETER, HAVE THIS AUTHORITY TO BIND AND LOOSE. THIS IS WHY WE ALSO HAVE CHURCH COUNCILS WITH THE POWER TO BIND AND LOOSE, VARIOUS INTERPRETATIONS OF SCRIPTURE UPON US. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE. HAVING THAT AUTHORITY, THAT IS IN PETER AND IN THE APOSTLES, AS THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL MAKES IT CLEAR THAT IT'S AN AUTHORITY GIVEN TO ALL OF THE APOSTLES IN UNION WITH THE SUCCESSOR OF SAINT PETER. NAMELY, THE POPE OF ROME. SO, THAT POWER TO, FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT TO LEAD THEM INTO TRUTH AND TO BIND AND TO LOOSE DIFFERENT THINGS, SUCH AS, WE CAN NOW EAT A HAM SANDWICH. THE KOSHER RULES WERE LOOSED WHEN PETER HAD A VISION ALLOWING, IN FACT, ORDERING HIM TO EAT THE UNCLEAN ANIMALS. THAT IS A LOOSING OF THE KOSHER LAWS. AND THIS IS SOMETHING KEY. TOGETHER, THE BISHOPS IN UNION WITH THE POPE HAVE THIS AUTHORITY TO BIND AND LOOSE AND LEAD THE CHURCH INTO ALL TRUTH. THIS IS CALLED THE MAGISTERIUM, THE TEACHING AUTHORITY OF THE CHURCH. SO, YOU HAVE SCRIPTURE, YOU HAVE THE APOSTOLIC TRADITION. THAT'S THE TRADITION THAT GOES BACK TO THE APOSTLES. AND WE SEE THAT IN THEIR DISCIPLES IN THE EARLY CHURCH. AND THEN, THE MAGISTERIUM, THE TEACHING AUTHORITY OF THE CHURCH. THESE THREE ELEMENTS, SACRED SCRIPTURE, SACRED TRADITION AND THE CHURCH'S MAGISTERIUM. THESE ARE LIKE THREE LEGS OF A STOOL. THIS IS WHAT HOLDS US UP. IT MAY NOT BE POPULAR WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. AND IN LIGHT OF THIS, WE CAN PROCLAIM, CATHOLICS PROCLAIM STRONGLY, 2 TIMOTHY 3:16 "ALL SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED BY GOD." WE TAKE THIS AS INSPIRED. NOTICE NOT DICTATED. THE BIBLE DOESN'T SAY GOD DICTATED THE SCRIPTURES. HE INSPIRED THEM AND HE USED THE BIBLICAL AUTHORS - THAT'S WHY YOU CAN SEE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU LEARN TO READ GREEK AND HEBREW, YOU CAN SEE THE STYLISTIC DIFFERENCES. HOSEA WRITES WITH A NORTHERN DIALECT AND ISAIAH WRITES WITH A SOUTHERN DIALECT AS DOES MICAH AND OTHER PROPHETS. JEREMIAH'S FROM THE BORDER, SO HE HAS A MIXTURE OF SOUTHERN AND NORTHERN DIALECT. WE SEE THAT NOT QUITE SO WELL EDUCATED GREEK OF ST MARK, BUT THEN HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED GREEK OF ST. LUKE, THE DOCTOR. AND THE HOLY SPIRIT USED THEIR GIFTS. I USED THIS IMAGE LAST WEEK. IT'S LIKE DIFFERENT KINDS OF CAMERAS. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE PHOTOGRAPHER, HE TAKES THE SNAPSHOT. BUT SOME CAMERAS HAVE DIFFERENT ABILITIES AND GET DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND DIFFERENT LEVELS OF DEFINITION AND SUCH, DIFFERENT KINDS OF LENSES. BUT IT'S THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO IS THE PRIMARY AUTHOR INSPIRING THEM. THEN WE SEE BESIDE EVERY WORD OF SACRED SCRIPTURE, THE SACRED TRADITION IS TO BE LISTENED TO FROM 2 THESSALONIANS 2:15. HOLD FAST TO THE TRADITIONS THAT YOU WERE TAUGHT BY US EITHER BY WORD OF MOUTH OR BY LETTER. THIS IS KEY. THEN, WE HAVE THE CHURCH AS THE MAGISTERIUM AND ITS TEACHING AUTHORITY TO BIND AND LOOSE. THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE 1 TIMOTHY 3:15 WHICH SAYS, THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD, THE PILLAR AND BULWARK OF THE TRUTH. THESE ASPECTS OF THE SACRED SCRIPTURE, INSPIRED BY GOD, THE SACRED TRADITION FROM THE APOSTOLIC TIMES INSPIRED BY GOD AND THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD, THE PILLAR AND BULWARK OF THE TRUTH ACTING AS THE MAGISTERIUM, THE TEACHING AUTHORITY. THESE ARE WHAT WE HAVE TO BELIEVE RATHER THAN ALL KINDS OF FOLKS THAT SAY, NO, NO, NO. I HAVE MY INTERPRETATION AND I'M GOING TO DO WHAT I WANT. I'M GOING TO READ IT THE WAY I WANT. NO. NO, NO, NO. WE ENTER INTO THIS WORLD AND WE LEARN FROM IT. SO, LET ME SUMMARIZE THIS. WE'RE AT THE END OF THE CHAPTER AND LET ME GIVE YOU A SUMMARY OF THE THREE BASIC OBJECTIVE PRINCIPLES FOR LEARNING HOW TO LISTEN TO GOD SPEAKING IN HIS OR HER LIFE. OKAY? THE MOST BASIC PRINCIPLES THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT. FIRST OF ALL, OUR COMMITMENT TO GOD NEEDS TO BE AHEAD OF ALL OTHER COMMITMENTS. THAT IS NUMBER ONE. WE ARE COMMITTED TO GOD AHEAD OF EVERYTHING ELSE. AHEAD OF NATIONAL, POLITICAL PARTY, ECONOMIC, OR EVEN FAMILY, EVEN SELF. THIS IS WHAT CHRIST CALLS US TO DO. THAT IS NECESSARY TO BE ABLE TO LISTEN TO GOD. SECONDLY, SECOND OBJECTIVE PRINCIPLE. WE MUST COMMIT OURSELVES TO GETTING TO HEAVEN AND AVOIDING HELL. THIS DEMANDS THAT WE LISTEN TO GOD CORRECTLY. BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GET TO HEAVEN IF YOU BELIEVE THAT MURDERING PEOPLE IS ACCEPTABLE. IF YOU BELIEVE KILLING INNOCENT CHILDREN IN THEIR MOTHER'S WOMBS IS OKAY, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWER TO GOD FOR THAT KILLING AND THAT ALLIANCE WITH DEATH. IF YOU BELIEVE THAT KILLING THE ELDERLY IS OKAY, THEN YOU ARE MAKING AN ALLIANCE WITH DEATH AND THAT'S WRONG. SO, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO LISTEN TO GOD IF YOU ARE NOT COMMITTED TO GETTING TO HEAVEN OR DOING EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE TO TO GET TO HEAVEN AND AVOID HELL. THIRDLY, THE THIRD PRINCIPLE OF OBJECTIVE TRUTH. WE MUST BE COMMITTED AND WILLING TO ACCEPT GOD'S REVELATION ON HIS TERMS RATHER THAN OUR OWN. THIS IS THE BASIC BACKGROUND. AND WHAT WE DO NEXT WEEK, WE'RE GOING TO START THE NEXT CHAPTER OF THIS BOOK, CHAPTER 3. IN THAT CHAPTER, WE'RE GOING TO START TO GO THROUGH SUBJECTIVE ELEMENTS. WHAT IS IT THAT I DO SUBJECTIVELY TO LISTEN TO GOD? SO, WE HAVE THE OBJECTIVE PRINCIPLES AND WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE SUBJECTIVE PRINCIPLES. THAT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING. AND HOPEFULLY, YOU ARE GOING TO STAY WITH US FOR THAT. NOW, UNTIL THEN, WE HAVE A CALLER ON THE LINE. EILEEN, WHERE ARE YOU CALLING FROM? >> I'M CALLING FROM WISCONSIN. >> WONDERFUL, THANK YOU. WHAT IS YOUR QUESTION? >> THE QUESTION IS, YOU ALWAYS HEAR THAT GOD IS SO MERCIFUL AND WE HAVE MERCIFUL SUNDAY COMING UP. WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS HOW GOD COULD BE SO CRUEL TO HIS SON JESUS BY MAKING HIM SUFFER SO MUCH - I KNOW IT'S FOR US. BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW HE CAN MAKE HIS SON SUFFER SO MUCH. IT'S CONFUSING TO ME. >> EILEEN, TAKE A LOOK. WAS GOD THE FATHER INFLICTING THOSE TORMENTS UPON JESUS? >> YES. >> HE WAS? >> NO, IT WAS JUST THAT QUICKLY. >> OKAY, YEAH. DID GOD THE FATHER INFLICT THOSE TORTURES ON JESUS? >> NO, HE JUST ALLOWED IT TO HAPPEN. >> AHA. AND THERE ARE LOTS OF TIMES. DO YOU HAVE ANY CHILDREN? >> YES, I HAVE 1 SON. >> AND DID YOU EVER MAKE YOUR SON GO TO THE DENTIST? >> OH, SURE, YEAH. >> AND DID THE DENTIST EVER HURT YOUR SON? >> I SUPPOSE SO ACTUALLY. BUT THAT'S PROBABLY NOT A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR MY SON. HE HAS VERY, VERY GOOD TEETH. >> WELL, OKAY. >> BUT YOU GET THE IDEA, IF YOU SEND SOMEBODY TO THE DENTIST AND THEY HAVE A CAVITY, YOU SEND THEM TO GO GET HURT BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THEIR TEETH. OR YOU SEND THEM TO A DOCTOR. I'M SURE YOU HAD YOUR SON GO TO A DOCTOR AND GET VARIOUS SHOTS AT DIFFERENT TIMES. AS I RECALL, I USED TO HATE, AND JUST DREAD GOING TO THE DOCTOR TO GET SHOTS. BUT YOU KNOW, MY MOTHER PUT UP WITH MY WHINING, SCREAMING, AND CRYING TO GET THE VACCINES AND I KEPT WONDERING WHY IS THERE NOT JUST ONE? BUT THERE WERE THREE IN THOSE DAYS. AND SHE KEPT SENDING ME BACK TO GET ALL THREE SHOTS. I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT. BUT THAT'S WHAT PREVENTED ME FROM PERHAPS GETTING POLIO AS WELL AS MY SIBLINGS. SOMETIMES A PARENT WILL ALLOW A CHILD TO GO THROUGH SUFFERING. IT'S NOT THAT THE PARENT LIKES TO INFLICT PAIN BUT PARENTS KNOW THAT THERE ARE TIMES THE ONLY WAY TO AVOID GRAVE DANGER IS BY THE INFLICTION OF PAIN. GOD THE FATHER, HIS SON HAD A FREE WILL, HE HAD A FREE DIVINE WILL AND A FREE HUMAN WILL. BUT THE SON ALSO CHOSE, NOT MY WILL, BUT THY WILL BE DONE. SO, WITH THAT FREEDOM, HE ALSO LOVED THE WORLD. AND THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT THING BUT THIS IS WHAT HE ALLOWED WHILE IT WAS PEOPLE MAKING SINFUL CHOICES. THE DIFFERENT FALSE WITNESSES WHO LIED ABOUT JESUS, WHO MISQUOTED JESUS. JUDAS WHO WAS STEALING AND THEN SEEKING MONEY AND BETRAYING JESUS. THE SOLDIERS WHO WERE MOCKING JESUS, TOTAL LACK OF ANY SYMPATHY. THE CROWDS WHO WERE MOCKING HIM. AND ALL OF THESE FOLKS MADE THE SINFUL CHOICES. THE COWARDICE OF PONTIUS PILATE WAS A SINFUL CHOICE TO DO WHAT WAS UNJUST. HE KNEW THAT IT WAS UNJUST AND HE DID IT ANYWAY. THESE ARE THE SINFUL CHOICES AND CHRIST WAS WILLING TO ABSORB THAT PAIN IN ORDER TO REDEEM US FROM OUR SINFUL CHOICES. IT'S A DIFFICULT THING. BUT PARENTS HAVE DONE JUST AS MANY DIFFICULT THINGS SENDING SONS USUALLY -- DAUGHTERS NOWADAYS -- OFF TO WAR. THIS IS TOUGH. IT TEARS A PARENT UP. AND FILLS THEM WITH CONSTANT FEAR. OR SENDING OFF CHILDREN, SONS AND DAUGHTERS, TO WORK WITH THE POLICE TO PROTECT OUR SOCIETY. BUT NOW, ESPECIALLY, WE SEE HOW HIGHLY DANGEROUS IT IS. THESE ARE ALL GOOD EXAMPLES OF THAT PARENTS ALLOWING THAT TO HAPPEN FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOOD OF SOCIETY. IT'S A TOUGH CHOICE. IT REALLY IS. BUT THE FATHER DIDN'T INFLICT THE PAIN. BUT HE SET CHRIST IN THE PLACE WHERE HE WOULD EXPERIENCE THE PAIN. THE SON AND THE FATHER WERE BOTH OF ONE MIND AND ONE HEART THAT THIS WAS NECESSARY FOR US. AND THIS IS WHAT IS DONE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT QUESTION, EILEEN. VERY IMPORTANT. WE APPRECIATE YOU CALLING IN. SO, LET'S TAKE A BREAK AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH MORE OF YOUR CALLS AS WELL AS EMAILS. SO, PLEASE, STAY WITH US. (GUITAR THEME MUSIC) (GUITAR THEME MUSIC) >> Fr. Pacwa: ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE AN EMAIL THAT IS RELATED TO THIS SEASON OF THE RESURRECTION. THIS IS FROM MORIAH. SHE SAYS: WELL, A, THERE'S NOT MUCH SAID ABOUT THEM. BUT THIS IS NOT THEM RISING INTO THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM. THERE WAS THE EARTHLY JERUSALEM. AND THESE FOLKS APPEARED IN JERUSALEM AND OVERALL WE BELIEVE THEY MAY WELL HAVE BEEN ASSUMED INTO HEAVEN BODILY. WE BELIEVE THAT ON THE DAY OF THE RESURRECTION, CHRIST OPENED UP THE GATES OF HEAVEN. SO, WE SEE IN THE CREED THAT CHRIST DESCENDED TO THE DEAD. HELLA, OR HELL, DESCENDED INTO HELL AND ON THE THIRD DAY ROSE AGAIN. HE DESCENDED TO HELLA, WHICH IS THE PLACE OF THE SPIRITUALLY DEAD. IT'S AN OLD ENGLISH WORD, THE OLD ENGLISH EQUIVALENT OF HADES IN GREEK OR ... IN HEBREW. THAT'S WHERE HE WENT AND PREACHED. AND THEN, WHEN HE AROSE FROM THE DEAD, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT OPENS UP THE GATES OF HEAVEN. AND SINCE THESE RESURRECTED PEOPLE ARE STILL NOT AROUND, WE ASSUME THEY WERE TAKEN UP TO HEAVEN. SO, THAT'S ABOUT AS MUCH AS WE KNOW. NOW, WE HAVE A CALLER. HELLO, HELEN. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, FATHER. >> WHERE ARE YOU CALLING FROM? >> I AM CALLING FROM NORTH CAROLINA. I RETIRED IN THIS STATE AND I'M NOT FROM HERE. >> I CAN TELL. YOU DON'T HAVE MUCH OF A NORTH CAROLINA ACCENT. >> NO, SIR. I WANT TO KNOW, ON ONE OF YOUR SHOWS, YOU HAD A GUEST THAT KIND OF PROVED THAT JESUS WAS NAILED ON THE CROSS THROUGH THE WRISTS. WHY DO ALL OF THE PEOPLE AROUND THE EARTH SAY THAT RECEIVE THE STIGMATA, SEEMS TO BE IN THE HAND? >> Fr. Pacwa: I HAVE NO IDEA WHY BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE MOST OF THEM EXPERIENCE THE STIGMATA IS IN THE PALM OF THE HANDS. I BELIEVE THE SHROUD OF TURIN INDICATES THE WRISTS. SO, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS PART OF THE MYSTICAL EXPERIENCE THAT STIGMATISTS HAVE. IT'S APPARENTLY NOT NECESSARY FOR THEM TO CONFORM TO; IT WAS JUST MOST LIKELY THE WAY THAT IT WAS DONE, THROUGH THE WRIST. AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS MEANT FOR THEIR SPIRITUAL GROWTH. AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, THIS IS WHY THEY EXPERIENCED IT IN THE HAND. IT COULD ALSO BE THAT, IF THEY WERE TO HAVE EXPERIENCED IT IN THE WRIST, IT MAY HAVE BEEN TOO PAINFUL FOR THEM. I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED AT THAT. THAT WOULD BE A VERY PAINFUL THING. SO, THIS IS SIMPLY SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LEAVE MORE IN THE REALM OF THOSE PEOPLES' SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE RATHER THAN FOCUS ON HISTORICAL EXACTITUDE IN REGARD TO THE STIGMATA. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE ANOTHER CALLER. HELLO, WANDA. WANDA, ARE YOU THERE? I DON'T KNOW IF WANDA IS THERE. I'M ASSUMING WE CAN GET HER BACK. SO, LET'S TRY AN EMAIL FROM SUSIE. DEAR FATHER MITCH: NOW, IN TERMS OF THE JUDGMENT, I'LL LEAVE THAT TO GOD. I'M NOT IN CHARGE OF THAT. YOU ARE NOT IN CHARGE OF THAT. SO WE'LL LEAVE THAT TO OUR LORD. OUR TASK IS TO BE THE EVANGELIST. THAT'S WHY OUR LORD SAID NOT TO JUDGE. DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT. YOU ARE NOT THE JUDGE, HE IS. BUT WE DO WANT TO FIND WAYS TO EVANGELIZE. NOW, THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND. ONE IS, IN ADDITION TO NOT BELIEVING IN THE TRINITY, NOT BELIEVING THAT JESUS IS GOD THE SON, YOU WOULD ALSO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE HORRIBLE WAYS JEWISH PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TREATED IN HISTORY BY CHRISTIANS. OVERALL, THE POPES WERE PRETTY CAREFUL TO PROTECT JEWISH PEOPLE, PROTECTING THEM FROM PERSECUTION. BUT A LOT OF PLACES, THEY WERE TERRIBLY PERSECUTED. IT WAS REALLY TERRIBLY WRONG. AND YOU KNOW, CONVERSION CANNOT BE FORCED. BUT EUROPE WAS ONE OF THOSE TYPE OF SOCIETIES WHERE PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH MUCH DIVERSITY. SO, FIRST OF ALL, BE READY TO ADMIT THAT THERE'S NO JUSTIFICATION FOR WHAT HAD HAPPENED. YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO EXONERATE. AND SECONDLY, I FOCUS, WHEN I'M DEALING WITH JEWISH FOLKS, I FOCUS ON THE ELEMENTS THAT WE HOLD IN COMMON. START THERE. WE NEED TO BUILD A CONVERSATION ON WHAT WE SHARE. THERE'S SO MANY AREAS THAT WE DO SHARE. PARTLY, IT'S BUILDING UP FRIENDSHIP AND THE EASE OF SPEAKING ABOUT OUR RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE WITHOUT PUSHING THINGS RIGHT AWAY. IT'S LEARNING TO LISTEN, AND TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS IN THEIR HEARTS WITH GOD. AND RIGHT NOW, FRANKLY, A LARGE PORTION OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY DOES NOT PRACTICE JUDAISM BUT THEY WILL DEFEND IT IF YOU ATTACK IT. BUT THEY MAY NOT PRACTICE IT SO MUCH. AND THERE'S PLENTY OF CATHOLICS LIKE THAT, TOO. SO, BUILD UP A RESERVOIR OF SHARED TRUTH AND VALUES. AND THEN, SEE HOW IN THAT SPIRITUAL FRIENDSHIP AND THAT CONCERN TO BE FAITHFUL TO GOD, YOU THEN ENTER INTO DIALOGUE AND DISCUSSION. TAKE YOUR TIME WITH IT. AND BE A GOOD SPIRITUAL FRIEND BUT DON'T BE AFRAID TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES. AND YOU MAY HAVE TO STUDY A BIT OF JUDAISM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CONCERNS ARE. DEFENSIVE ARGUMENTATION DOESN'T GO VERY FAR. SO IT'S NOT A VERY GOOD IDEA. BUT RESPECTFUL CONVERSATION, UNDERSTANDING, AND THEN SHARING YOUR FAITH. THAT MAY BE HELPFUL. OKAY? ALL RIGHT. NOW WE HAVE WANDA BACK. WANDA, YOU THERE? >> YES. >> HI, WHAT CAN WE DO FOR YOU TODAY? >> FATHER, I'M FROM DETROIT. I HAVE A DAUGHTER WHO IS 39 -- WELL, 32. SHE'S QUESTIONING CATHOLICISM. BELIEVES IN GOD, SHE WENT TO EASTER SERVICES WITH ME. SHE DIDN'T WANT TO GO BUT SHE WENT ANYWAY. SHE SAID SHE DOES NOT BELIEVE IN JESUS AS BEING CAUCASIAN AS IT SAYS ON TV, AND IN THE BIBLE. I TOLD HER THERE ARE DIFFERENT NAMES OF JESUS FROM ... TO GREEK. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, IT HAS JESUS' NAME AS BEING JESUS. BUT NOT IN THE HEBREW BIBLE. I DON'T WANT HER TO LOSE TO GO TO ANOTHER DENOMINATION. >> HERE'S ONE OF THE THINGS. THE BIBLE DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT JESUS' RACE EXCEPT THAT HE IS A DESCENDANT OF DAVID. THAT HE BELONGS TO THE TRIBE OF JUDAH OF THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL. WHY DID SHE EVEN BRING UP RACE? IS SHE A POLITICIAN? WHAT IS THIS? YOU DON'T NEED, THERE'S NOTHING THERE THAT YOU WANT TO BRING UP ABOUT RACE. IT'S AN IRRELEVANT ISSUE. THE ISSUE IS THAT HE FULFILLS THE PROPHECIES MADE TO DAVID A THOUSAND YEARS BEFORE JESUS WAS BORN. AND HE FULFILLS THE OTHER PROPHECIES, TOO. HE DIED FOR OUR SINS AND ROSE FROM THE DEAD WITH LOTS OF WITNESSES. DOES SHE ACCEPT THE TESTIMONY OF THOSE WHO NOT ONLY CLAIM THAT THEY SAW JESUS BUT THEY PREFERRED TO BE EXECUTED RATHER THAN DENY THAT THEY SAW HIM RAISED FROM THE DEAD? AND THAT THIS IS FOR OUR SALVATION, AND FOR ETERNAL LIFE. THAT'S WHAT'S AT STAKE. NOT SOME RACIAL ISSUE. SO, SOUNDS TO ME AS IF MAYBE SOME OF THE THINGS SHE NEEDS TO SIFT THROUGH AND NOT SEE THIS THROUGH A POLITICIZED LENS BUT SEEING THE SCRIPTURES ON THEIR OWN TERMS. THAT'S WHY I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS. READ THE SCRIPTURE ON ITS OWN TERMS. LET'S GO OVER TO EVELYN IN FLORIDA. HELLO, EVELYN. WHAT'S UP? >> GOOD AFTERNOON, FATHER. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU ON THE MASSES THAT YOU OFFER. THIS IS A QUESTION THAT'S COMING FROM MY FRIEND ALSO. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN THE SPIRITUAL VALUE OF MASS THAT I ATTEND AND OFFER FOR MY INTENTIONS OR I PAY THE STIPEND AND OFFER THE MASS FOR ANOTHER INTENTION, OR THE SAME INTENTION? IS IT THE SAME NOW AS TO OFFER MASSES FOR A WHOLE YEAR? >> OKAY. I ONLY HAVE A COUPLE OF SECONDS. THE MASSES ARE EQUALLY OF INFINITE VALUE BECAUSE IT'S JESUS CHRIST WHO IS OFFERED. THERE IS A SPECIAL PLENARY INDULGENCE WITH THE GREGORIAN MASSES OF 30 MASSES IN A ROW EVERY DAY. AND THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE THERE. BUT I AM FLAT OUT OF TIME. SO, THE LORD BLESS YOU ALL AND KEEP YOU, IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN. GOD BLESS YOU AND BLESSED EASTER SEASON. (GUITAR THEME MUSIC)
