Stephen K. Ray's Blog, page 489
February 23, 2011
Mary, Ark of the New Covenant
Yesterday and today in Bombay I talked about Mary's visit to Ein Kerem where she visited her relative Elizabeth. We just visited Ein Kerem again with our group a week ago. Here we pray the 2nd Joyful Mystery of the Rosary and I explain St. Luke's incredibly insightful description of this event. Since you will miss my explanation given on location here is Israel, I will put up a short audio clip of my brief description of Mary as the Ark of the New Testament. Click on the link below.
mp3
Mary, Ark of the (New) Covenant
6:11 min
1.06Mb
Here is my article on Mary the New Ark, and here is my collection of what the early Christian taught on Mary the Ark.
Now, notice the two pictures below: Do you notice the parallels? What is similar to each picture?
First, the glory of God is revealed "above" both arks (the Gold Box and Mary).
In the first, the glory is revealed as the Shekinah Glory Cloud; in the second, the glory of God is revealed in his Son Jesus Christ, God Incarnate.
Do we worship the Ark? No, of course not! Jews didn't worship the Old Ark, nor do Catholics worship the New Ark. Jews did not worship the box and Catholics do not worship Mary. Jews worshiped what was ABOVE the box — which was the presence of God; Catholics worship what is above the Ark, that which is sitting in Mary's lap. Both Jews and Catholics venerate and appreciate the ark, but the worship is reserved for what it contains and reveals.
Polycarp does not mean "many fish"
In honor of the Feast Day of the Great Bishop and Saint Polycarp on February 23, we are doing special shows with Drew Mariani on Relevant Radio.
The name Polycarp sounds funny to our English ears, but in Greek it comes from two words "poly" meaning many or much, and "carp" meaning fruit. Obviously his Christian parents named him Polycarp along with a prayer that he would bear much fruit for the Kingdom of God — which he did.
To learn the whole story of St. Polycarp, on location, watch our new DVD "Apostolic Fathers: Handing on the Faith" along with a 28-page Study Guide.
Download a Free Copy of the
Apostolic Fathers Timeline
This amazing Timeline drives home the point of how close these men were to Jesus and the Apostles.
It demonstrates how Catholic the first Christians really were!
The Apostolic Fathers faced Emperors, heretics and lions but these heroes of the Catholic faith never lost courage. Chains, prisons and blood-soaked arenas did not stop the early Christians from witnessing for Christ and handing on the Apostolic Tradition.
Strap on your sandals and step back in time to discover the "Apostolic Fathers, Handing on the Faith"
Comprehensive 28-Page Study Guide
Behind the Scenes: The Making of
Apostolic Fathers, Handing on the Faith
Bloopers and Outtakes
Conversation with Steve Ray and Fr. Benedict Groeschel
English and Spanish subtitles
Feature running time: 90 minutes, extras 30 minutes
Learn more here; Buy it NOW here
Link to Eyewitness Account of his martyrdom. Link to Letter he wrote to Philippians. Link to letter St. Ignatius wrote to Polycarp.
Fascinating Quote from St. Irenaeus about St. Polycarp
"When I was a boy . . . I remember the events of that time more clearly than those of recent years. For what boys learn, growing with their mind, becomes joined with it; so that I am able to describe the very place in which the blessed Polycarp sat as he discoursed, and his goings out and his comings in, and the manner of his life, and his physical appearance, and his discourses to the people, and the accounts which he gave of his [interaction] with John and with the others who had seen the Lord.
And as he remembered their words, and what he heard from them concerning the Lord, and concerning his miracles and his teaching, having received them from eyewitnesses of the 'Word of life,' Polycarp related all things in harmony with the Scriptures. These things being told me by the mercy of God, I listened to them attentively, noting them down, not on paper, but in my heart. And continually, through God's grace, I recall them faithfully (Irenaeus quoted in Eusebius, History of the Church 5, 20 in NPNF 2nd, 1:238-139).
February 22, 2011
Day Five: Full Day in Bethlehem & Hebron
EVERYONE IS ENJOYING YOUR COMMENTS. I READ THEM ON THE BUS AND EVERYONE IS GRATEFUL. THE HUMOR IS MUCH APPRECIATED AS ARE YOUR PRAYERS AND COMMENTS. KEEP THEM COMING!
Perfect weather, great group, exciting and spiritual sites — and great food and dancing!
Today we spent the day in Bethlehem and a short time in Hebron where Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lived and where David was first made king.
Great day! Everyone is having a great time with deeply spiritual experiences and a lot of fun as well.
PART ONE: BETHLEHEM
PART TWO: HEBRON AND DINNER IN BETHLEHEM (COMING SOON)
Is God Like a GPS System?
There are a million reasons why God is NOT like a GPS system but I am in Australia and I made a wrong turn and my GPS started reprimanding me and saying "Recalculating!"
For those who don't know, GPS stands for Global Positioning System. It is a nifty little device that links up with positional satellites above the earth. The satellites pinpoint exactly where you are and the micro computer inside the GPS calculates the shortest or fastest route to get to your destination.
The GPS sits on the dashboard of your car and verbally and visually directs you to your location. Mine is a Garmin and it covers the whole of the USA, Canada and Mexico. I will soon be buying one that covers the Middle East and Europe.
I thought of three ways, at least, that the GPS is like God–relatively and figuratively speaking. First, it knows everything: every address, street, city and business in the USA. It knows every gas station, hotel, church, post office, restaurant, airport, school, grocery store, intersection, hospital, freeway, etc. God knows everything.
Second, you can turn it on or shut it off. Now of course you can't shut God off, but you can practically say NO to him and shut him out of your life. If I shut off my GPS I am the loser since it knows "everything" and knows exactly where I am at any time and how to get to where I want to go. God knows exactly where I am eternally and how to get me to my location. I can turn him on if I want to get his advice and enjoy his knowledge.
Third, every time I screw up he can get me back on track. For example, the other day I made a wrong turn and the GPS politely said, "Recalculating! Make a u-turn." After I failed to make a u-turn, making a left turn instead, the GPS said, "Recalculating, turn right at Main Street."
In other words, even though I ignore or disobey the GPS it does not condemn me. It just says, "OK, I had this planned the very best way for you get to your final destination, but you didn't listen, so I will start over. From where you are now I can STILL get you there — but I have to recalculate first."
God does the same. He forgives. We screw up and go on the wrong path (sin, disobedience, pride, etc.) and once we repent and confess our sins and decide to listen to God again, he starts over in our life and says "Recalculating! Now that you've made a wrong turn and are willing to correct it — don't worry, I can still get you to heaven from here." And then he gives us the new directions from our wrong location.
Oh, one other thing, the GPS is ready for me to listen any time day or night. It can get me places in daylight or in pitch darkness, when I know where I'm going and when I don't — and can't God do all of that too?
February 21, 2011
Death of Converted Abortionist
The death of Dr. Bernard Nathanson today affords us an opportunity to recall the tremendous effect of Baptism. Like, our not needing to pray for any mercy to be shown to Nathanson for his 75,000 abortions.
Read why here: here
In the Light of the Law: a canon lawyer's blog: http://canonlawblog.blogspot.com/
Jerusalem Over a Hundred Years Ago
Below: original pictures; Above: my notations
The Old city sure has changed in since these photos were taken. Does anybody know what the date these were taken?
Since we arrived in Jerusalem today with 83 excited pilgrims, I thought you would all enjoy this old aerial photo with my notations.
Day 4: Boat Ride, Capernaum … to Jerusalem!
Off to a good start!
February 20, 2011
Day 3: Beatitudes, Caesarea Philippi, Golan Heights & a Fine Dinner
Today we have two videos: ONE VIDEO of our day visiting holy, biblical and historical sites, and the SECOND VIDEO of our marvelous dinner at Aberge Shulamit in Rosh Pina.
We had Mass at the Mount of Beatitudes. Fr. Tom gave a wonderful homily (again) and it was a delight hearing the proclamation of the Gospel from the top of the Mount of Beatitudes overlooking the Sea of Galilee where Jesus taught the Sermon on the Mount.
It began to rain but we worked around it. We drove to Caesarea Philippi (named Banias today). This is where Jesus renamed Peter "Rock", giving him a new dignity and designation and establishing an office. I gave my talk on the buses "Peter: the Rock, the Keys & the Chair."
We then scrambled up the rock and took a lot of pictures and answered a lot of questions. Then to lunch at the Druze Restaurant (see the video). We then drove through the Golan Heights and returned to the hotel — due to the rain — and Fr. Shane gave his daily "Reflections on the Sites Visited." People had time for a nap, a walk, or just to sit by the Sea of Galilee and read the Gospels.
Then we went to an elegant dinner which you will see below in the second video. I tried to make sure that all the pilgrims made it into this video for family and friends back home. The restaurant is Aberge Shulamit in Rosh Pina Israel north of the Sea of Galilee. A great time was had by all and a good Comedy Club on the bus on the return trip!
Goofey Homily on Multiplication of Loaves?
UPDATE: Based on the comments below and the on my Facebook account (facebook.com/JerusalemJones) a lot of people heard this goofey homily — are are doing something about it!.
If you heard a goofy homily this weekend about the multiplication of loaves and fish — a trendy priest or deacon saying it was no miracle, Jesus just taught selfish people to share the food they had with them — click here.
Check out Jimmy Akin's brilliant new blog on this.
My book Crossing the Tiber deals with this and the Eucharist in detail. Click here.
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