By: Jub Alabastro CFD-Davao
Listening to panel discussions for years now, I noticed the same question, peculiar to a particular religious sect or group, asked to Catholics over and over again. The answers of Catholics, however, no matter how correct and systematic, are often ignored over and over again. The following are examples of questions commonly asked by Protestants: for Born-again, Baptists, Pentecostals and Evangelicals the question is, “ARE YOU SAVED?;” for Followers of Yeshua Messiah (allegedly:) “WHAT IS THE TRUE NAME OF OUR SAVIOR? IS IT JESUS OR YESHUA?;” for Iglesia Ni Cristo of Felix Manalo: “WHAT IS THE TRUE CHURCH?;” and for Seventh Day Adventists and other Sabbath Keepers: “WHAT IS THE DAY OF REST?”
While reflecting on the gospels this Holy Week, it dawned on me that some of this week’s theme provided good answers for these objections. For our Pentecostal and Evangelical friends, the reading on Holy Thursday, the institution of the Holy Eucharist, may provide some light to your inquiry.
Mat 26:26-28 DRB And whilst they were at supper, Jesus took bread and blessed and broke and gave to his disciples and said: Take ye and eat. This is my body. (27) And taking the chalice, he gave thanks and gave to them, saying: Drink ye all of this. (28) For this is my blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many unto remission of sins.
Though Christ died for all for the redemption of our sins (2Cor. 5:14-15) Christ does not force His grace, His salvation upon us. That is why verse 28 of the above passage says “for this is my blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many unto remission of sins.” We must accept His grace by faith that it may be applied to us (Eph. 2:8,) and by the same grace cooperating with our will, work out our salvation (Phil. 2:12) to preserve or recover it when lost (1Cor.9:27.)
The stories of Judas’ and St. Peter’s betrayals are two examples that though one has faith in Christ, it is not a security for eternity. That grace can be lost by our betrayal and denial of Christ through sin. We can, however, choose to repent like St. Peter and recover the grace lost, or despair like Judas and remain in the state of sin and guilt for all eternity.
Next, I offer the Good Friday Reflection to address the concerns of the Followers of Yeshua Messiah (allegedly) and the Catholic Church’s avid fan, the Iglesia Ni Cristo of Felix Manalo. For the Followers of Yeshua Messiah (allegedly) they argue that we should not use the name Jesus, or Hesus, or any other name, but Yeshua alone because that is the original name of the Messiah in Hebrew. I answer that, the mention of a name is used in connection to a PERSON, and not just a name per se. In exegesis, this is known as synecdoche, that is, a particular part is used to refer to a whole. In Acts 4:12 for example, the use of the name is to mean that Salvation comes through the Person of our Lord. It is not the name in itself that saves, but rather the PERSON referred to by that name. So whether Yeshua, Iesous, or Jesus is used, it pertains to the same PERSON, the same reality, signified by the name. In fact we read in John’s gospel
Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews. Now many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. (Joh 19:19-20 NAB-A)
The initial INRI on top of the cross in latin means Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum. The Greek equivalent of this text is Ἰησοῦς ὁ Ναζωραῖος ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων (Iesous ho Nazoraios ho Basileus ton Ioudaion), which translates to English as "Jesus the Nazarene (Galilean), King of the Jews (Judeans.)" As you can see Iesus or Iesous can be used to refer to the same PERSON, Jesus Christ. Does that mean that it was no longer Christ who was crucified just because His Hebrew name was not used? Does that mean that our salvation is void just because the label used while He was dying on the cross was not YESHUA? Definitely not! The message of His name, no matter in what language, remains the same and universal or Catholic: God is with us. God saves!
Let me tackle briefly the question of Iglesia ni Cristo of Felix Manalo. Since the true Church is the Bride of Christ (Eph. 5:25-27,) her origin and growth are symbolized by the blood and water which flowed from the open side of the crucified Jesus (John 19:34.) As Eve was formed from the sleeping Adam's side, so the Church was born from the pierced heart of Christ hanging dead on the cross. The Church is born primarily of Christ’s total self-giving for our salvation. Born out of salvation, she possesses the same grace from Christ capable of bringing others to salvation.
The Iglesia ni Cristo of Felix Manalo can’t be the true Church in the bible. Why? Because it originated not from the blood and water which flowed from Christ, but from the ink and paper of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Christ’s Church is a mystical body (Col. 1:18) formed by the power of God, while Iglesia ni Cristo of Felix Manalo is a juridical person conceived by the power of Ceasar, that is, by the Securities and Exchange Commission (See Iglesia Ni Cristo of Felix Manalo’s Articles of Incorporation.)
Let us now turn ourselves to the reflection for Holy Saturday. It is worth noting that the last Mosaic law observed by our Lord and the first one He fulfilled by His Resurrection is the Sabbath. As God rested on the Seventh day after creation, so His body rested on the sepulcher on the same day; while His soul preached to spirits in prison (1Pet. 3:19-20.)
The Seventh Day Adventists might thank me for giving them a good case for Sabbath rest. “See?,” they might say, “even Jesus observed the Sabbath! By choosing to rest on the tomb on Saturday, He is telling us that the day of rest should still be Saturday rather than Sunday!” Let me cut short their celebration by saying that they forgot that Jesus was made under law (Gal.4:4) and therefore observed Jewish observances including Sabbath. St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians gives further reason Jesus was born under the law: to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption (Gal 4:5 NAB.) So Christ being born under the law, does not mean that He will leave behind those who were under it, but rather should "lead them out" of it. We should therefore no longer celebrate Sabbath according to the manner of the Old Testament Jews, but according to the will of the Lamb. As Christ freed the spirits in prison, having delivered men from the captivity of sin, and he bestowed upon them his gifts and graces. (Eph. 4:8,) so He freed us from the bonds of Mosaic Law.
Second, I want to direct my Adventist friends to their favorite passage in Hebrew chapter 4. This text, especially verses 4-5, is often used by Seventh Day Adventists and other Sabbath keepers in support of their doctrine. A closer examination however will prove the contrary.
To understand the passage, let us look at the preceding and succeeding verses of Heb. 4:4-5. In Heb. 4:3, Paul quoted David in the books Psalms: 95:11
Therefore I swore in my anger: They shall never enter my rest;
Heb 4:3 NAB For we who believed enter into (that) rest, just as he has said: As I swore in my wrath, 'They shall not enter into my rest,' and yet his works were accomplished at the foundation of the world.
Fr. Leo Haydock offers a brilliant commentary of this text:
Paul’s argument is this: David’s prophecy in Psalms was naturally referring to future event. He was not referring to that rest by which God did after creation (Gen. 2:2.) Nor could David speak of that other time of resting, which was promised and given to the Israelites, when, having conquered all their enemies, they were introduced by Josue [Joshua], into the promised land of Chanaan [Canaan]; for these two rests were passed long before his prophesy (it is futile then to predict what had already happened:) therefore
David must speak of some rest that was to come afterwards, when he said: To-day, if you shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts, &c. Therefore it must needs follow that some day of rest, some sabbatism, as he calls it, after his time, must remain for the people of God, that should not harden their hearts: and from hence he concludes that David had in view that ETERNAL REST OF HAPPINESS WHICH THE MESSIAS WAS TO OBTAIN FOR US, A REST WITHOUT END IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. ---
So the rest referred to in Hebrews chapter 4 is not the Seventh Day rest of the Old Testament, but the eternal rest in Heaven. But how did we arrive at the conclusion that the rest talked about by Saint Paul in this passage is indeed the eternal rest in heaven? Heb 4:11 sheds light to this: “Therefore, let us strive to enter into that rest, so that no one may fall after the same example of disobedience.” A similar thought is found in the gospel of St. Luke providing an eschatological meaning to this passage:
Luk 13:23-24 Someone asked him, Lord, will only a few people be saved? He answered them, (24) Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.
Granting that the text indeed talks about the eternal rest in heaven, why do you Catholics still make Sunday your day of rest? How is Sunday related to the eternal rest?
The answer is found in Rev. 14:13:
I heard a voice from heaven say, Write this: Blessed are the dead who die IN THE LORD from now on. Yes, said the Spirit, let them find rest from their labors, for their works accompany them.
Who will enter into that eternal rest? Those who die IN THE LORD, they will rest from their labors. This passage from Revelation illumines the meaning of the succeeding verse of Heb. 4 “And whoever enters into God's rest, RESTS FROM HIS OWN WORKS AS GOD DID FROM HIS. (v.10)” It reveals that those who enter God’s rest are those who are in the state of grace.
When will those who DIE IN THE LORD experience eternal rest? When they will resurrect and stand before the presence of God who will provide them all love and comfort (Rev. 7:14-17.) Through Christ, the firstborn from the dead (Col.1:18, Acts 26:23,) this resurrection, this eternal rest is made possible (John 11:25, Mat. 11:28.) If the resurrection is the rest without end, then Sunday, the Day our Lord rose from the dead (Mat 28:1,) symbolized that eternal rest. That is why Sunday is the fulfillment of keeping holy the Sabbath Day.
As we approach Easter, we Catholics reaffirm the truthfulness of our faith. The relevance of this feast to our faith is best emphasized by St. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians, “if there is no resurrection of the dead, then neither has Christ been raised. (14) And if Christ has not been raised, then empty (too) is our preaching; empty, too, your faith. (1Cor. 15:13-14)
Christ restores all things to Himself (Eph. 1:10) As the creation happened on a Sunday, the first day of the week, so is the new creation brought about by the Resurrection of Christ. The first day of creation and the last day of rest are brought together as one in this unique day by the Alpha and the Omega (Rev. 1:8, 17.) Thus, we who are born again in baptism and hope to rise again on that day, rightly renew our baptismal vow and worship Him on this very day.
On this same day (Luke 24:13,) on the road to Emmaus our Lord appeared to the two disciples revealing the two main parts of the mass: The Liturgy of the Word and The Liturgy of the Body.
Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures (Luk 24:27 NAB.)
And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, Were not our hearts burning (within us) while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us? (Luk 24:30-32 NAB)
Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. (Luk 24:35 NAB)
The Word has been exposed that it might not remain a dead theoretical note, but a lively musical play. The Lamb has been sacrificed, that we may have music and melody.
As these two liturgical hands of the Divine Conductor move together,
an everlasting worship is sung thereafter.
Providing a heavenly rock-a-bye
for all those earthly cry.
Happy Easter to All! Pro Deo Et Ecclesia CFD Davao!
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