The Harvest of Salvation

February 21, 2016 by Eric Wojtkun in Americana, Alpharetta, Art, Catholic, Christianity, Family, Fujifiilm, Georgia, Homeschool, Instruction, Photojournalism, Religion, Roswell, Travel

Many modern Catholic theologians, and clergy, assert the world’s population has a reasonable assumption of reaching heaven. This theological viewpoint by nature runs over quite quickly into how they interact with the world through preaching, parish life and politics. Although I am just a novice in understanding grand theological ideas; the assumption cannot be true due to conflicts with sacred scripture, Church Fathers teaching, and natural law.

We are created in the image of God and built to share in knowledge and the life of God (CCC356). Our capacity to do so however depends on each of us freely choosing to offer back to God all of the creation he provided to us (CCC358). The stain of original sin on our nature makes it impossible to do be completely intimate with God without constant reliance on our Lord’s sacraments and teaching (CCC 402-406). This results in the “hard battle…” of life in the real world where one who lives in ignorance of man’s wounded nature “gives rise to serious error in the areas of education, politics, social action and morals.”(CCC407)

Our Lord also clearly repeats this theme in scripture through his parables. In the parable of the sower we find all the seed is good. The seed just lands on different ground. The seed only thrives when it can find enriching soil and few external dangers. Some ground is easily fertile, some is fertile but full of thorns, and some falls on rocky infertile soil. The end result is two thirds of the seed yields very little healthy wheat. Meanwhile the fertile soil thrives with the fewest plant failures. The moral of the story becomes the minority of people grow into wheat the Father takes into heaven.

Now the great philosopher would reply, any man can have their own faith in God which generates hope. The same person could then use their intellect, and observations of nature to do good works of charity for others. So therefore the scripture, tradition and sacraments are not required for assumption into heaven for eternal life. So therefore reasonably people can assume God has a wide entrance to everyone to obtain heaven.

The philosopher would err however in his final assessment. By relying solely on our own intellect for decisions, we in fact prevent ourself from submitting our intellect to the will of God. This fact, in and of itself, means the person living alone is not ready to become one with God. No being ready to form complete union with almighty God prevents us from obtaining the gifts of heaven. Giving back everything to God includes submitting all of our intellect to the words and commands of Jesus for introspection.

The lone person also becomes one against the fallen world, with all of its physical and spiritual dangers. With no community in which to find refuge from hostile forces, the lone person must fight alone and will be unaided by the wisdom of others on their quest for heaven. So at the end of the lone journeyman’s life, it will not be a final chance to beg for God’s mercy (which those who submitted our lives before hand may possibly receive). It would be a complete act of mercy from God to grant mercy to someone who did not submit completely to his rule, and is still defiantly saying they are their own judge on matters of faith and morals.

We have scriptural evidence for this when Jesus himself tells Saul his work of persecuting christians hurt his body, and he needed to change. Saul becomes the Apostle Paul, and every day begged for mercy he did not deserve. Paul submitted his teachings, and service to the guidance of the other apostles in Jerusalem to insure their continuity with those of the remainder of Christ’s body. Paul celebrated the eucharist with the rest of the church as daily nourishment for his journey. Paul did this because the Body of Christ on earth was the church, and its sacraments is God’s life blood poured forth to the nourishment of the individuals in that body.

If men as great as St Paul and other church fathers realized how thin the path to heaven was, then the historical and theological evidence clearly comes down against a “reasonable assumption” for each person to reach heaven. It is time to recognize how this carefree attitude hurts moral decision making in our daily lives and the governance of our church. If we recognize the real rocky path towards heaven, maybe we’ll re-acquire the missionary zeal of those first christians once again.

-ehw

We must preach with words

December 22, 2015 by Eric Wojtkun in Alpharetta, Americana, Art, Atlanta, Catholic, Christianity, Family, Fujifiilm, Georgia, Homeschool, Photography, Photojournalism, Religion, Roswell, Travel

You also are blessed because you have heard and believed. A soul that believes both conceives and brings forth the Word of God and acknowledges his works. A Commentary of Luke by St Ambrose Bishop, Divine Office 21 Dec

A common phase we hear today is the St Francis saying of "Preach the gospel at all times, if necessary use words." In our overly politically correct culture, we get bombarded with messages saying words of evangelization offend people and turn them off to the faith. So any way out of explaining or evangelizing with words, is actually welcomed by those of us who fret we may not have all the tools to evangelize properly. Giving into this fear however will not promote the gospel in anyway.

Our early church fathers recognized all people can see natural law, and form lives which conform to it. Natural law in this case being defined as the revelation of the Eternal Law of heaven in nature. Aristotle, aka The Philosopher, remains one of the foremost pagan observers of natural law. We find Aristotle referenced constantly by St. Thomas Aquinas and other Doctors of the Church as they framed their arguments about church doctrine.

Despite the brilliance of observation by natural law observers, they often found themselves going astray because they lacked one vital element to guide their daily reasoning. While these observers could see God's eternal law peeking out in nature, they lacked the other two legs of the trinity to guide their minds to full truth. These men and women lacked the words of Christ, and the timeless inspired words of Wisdom gifted by the Holy Spirit we find in the Holy Bible.

In today's man filled world of noise, the Bible must compete for time in people's thoughts. Therefore, God really does call each each of us to advertise for him. Our actions must of course be consistent with our thoughts and words (That is another blog topic), but we need to use words to form the invitation to know this Holy Bible is worthy of spending time with it!

We do not need to be be a St. Ambrose, Augustine, Aquinas, Mother Teresa, or John Paul the Great. We just need to live our lives, and then make the invitation to come to the book when the moment strikes. When someone asks you why you were kind you can say, "Because I want to live as Christ wanted me to." When someone is in need of support, or looking for guidance on a tough moral decision you can always offer to pray with them or for them.

When we don't know the answer to anything we are asked, we have legions of saints writings and active religious to reach for. These faithful instructors to illuminate the word in different methods. This allows the word to reach, and touch the souls, of those with different backgrounds and cultural references.

Actions alone will never satisfy the soul's need for ministry. We must preach with words to bring the word of God deep into people's hearts and minds. This is where the mysteries can make a stronghold. It will let new faith stand the tests of the world like a fire against a cold night with equal parts emotion and reason.

-ehw

My Woman of Worth

July 31, 2015 by Eric Wojtkun in Americana, Atlanta, Capture One, Catholic, Christianity, Event, Family, Fujifiilm, Georgia, Homeschool, Photojournalism, Photography, Religion, Roswell, Travel

At the start of the month I began my proverbs review. One chapter at a time..and since the month has thirty-one days I get to read Chapter 31. This is a chapter I have to read aloud to her, and I must say she deserves it in spades. I cannot match the beauty and wisdom of the Bible so her are the words of Proverbs, and some photos to follow showing the riches my wife brought to our family.

Proverbs 31: 10-31

10 Who can find a woman of worth? Far beyond jewels is her value.

11 Her husband trusts her judgment; he does not lack income.

12 She brings him profit, not loss, all the days of her life.

13 She seeks out wool and flax and weaves with skillful hands.

14 Like a merchant fleet, she secures her provisions from afar.

15 She rises while it is still night, and distributes food to her household, a portion to her maidservants.

16 She picks out a field and acquires it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17 She girds herself with strength; she exerts her arms with vigor.

18 She enjoys the profit from her dealings; her lamp is never extinguished at night.

19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her fingers ply the spindle.

20 She reaches out her hands to the poor, and extends her arms to the needy.

21 She is not concerned for her household when it snows—all her charges are doubly clothed.

22 She makes her own coverlets; fine linen and purple are her clothing.

23 Her husband is prominent at the city gates as he sits with the elders of the land.

24 She makes garments and sells them, and stocks the merchants with belts.

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and laughs at the days to come.

26 She opens her mouth in wisdom; kindly instruction is on her tongue.

27 She watches over the affairs of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband, too, praises her:

29 “Many are the women of proven worth, but you have excelled them all.”

30 Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting; the woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.*

31 Acclaim her for the work of her hands, and let her deeds praise her at the city gates.

Proverbs 31: 10-31 from the USCCB in the New American Bible for Catholics

I hope you can see the love on these faces! It is real. Their work and prayers helped get us here.

-ehw