A Saint giving a Bishop a finger....

Let me begin with an excuse. While Ruth and I were leading the Rotary Group

Study Exchange in India I became wishing-for-death sick. When a bit better I had a slot of time where I could have gone and met Mother Teresa.  I had the sick excuse not to do so, but in all honesty in my soul I knew what she would ask me  something like what are you sacrificing for our Lord?  I was ashamed to face that it was so little.

    All of that to pass along the following bit about Mother Teresa that I read this morning. The Pope, John Paul, had authorized land in the Vatican City for the building of a dormitory for her order which would butt up against the papal audience hall.  A small group of dignitaries had gathered for the small ceremony of blessing for this event.

  A Bishop had been invited to give this blessing and in his homily thanked the Pope several times when Sister Teresa interrupted with the words: “We must thank the Lord first”. Up to that point the Bishop had not mentioned God or Jesus Christ but had spoken only of the Pope. In the wake of Mother Teresa’s intervention the bishop looked, understandably, a bit bewildered. But he smiled and the Bishop continued with his prepared homily. At this point Mother Teresa raised her hand with her finger pointing straight up to heaven for the rest of his talk. 

Something in me responded to this living saint, giving the finger of correction to a Bishop, even if it is the index finger.    

I Loved Jesus in the Night, Teresa of Calcutta, A Secret Revealed, Paul Murray, Paraclete Press, 2008, Brewster, MA, page 102 .   

With the unthinkable being announced for a planned meeting of the Pope and Greek Patriarch in Jerusalem, it has to be more than exciting for the Christian community. The hope is that each faith leader would like to bridge the casam that exists between their respective expressions of our Christian faith.

I want to believe that this is or it will be a major cause for rejoicing. But one central point was either missed or ignored in the reporting about the present faith division that began in 1054 A.D. and continues to today. It is an issue which divided the One (catholic…meaning universal) and still divides the Christian body of faith today.

It is called the "Iconoclastic Controversy," which is about Icons, or carved (graven) images that are specifically prohibited by the Ten Commandments. The issue then facing Christian was and is, "are graven images allowed in places of worship?" Greek Orthodox and Protestant Churches do not have "graven images" per the Ten Commandments, as do Roman Catholic in their places of worship.

This central item was not mentioned in the Associated Press story. It centers in the question if whether it is Scripture or if it is Council and Pope which have final authority as to the true beliefs and doctrine of the Christian Faith. 

Election of two Popes to sainthood, and the Protestent concern

A Protestant sounding off.

Two Popes were just elevated to sainthood. One, I deeply admired, saw him in Rome, and a few souvenirs I had bought may or may not have been blessed by him as my Latin Isn't good enough to be called even rusty.

This man chose the name Pope John 23rd. Many, including myself, referred to him as "Johnnie Unites" (football player of some talent) but meaning that this Pope did a lot to bridge the gap between Christians' who come to faith from different history and belief systems.

The other Pope, if asked, I would have suggested waiting a bit longer.

But here is the real rub.

Consider with me that after the final enthronement of Jesus, with the humiliation of the cross behind Him, we hold that His Ascension leads to the consistent belief of the New Testament that Jesus ascended to make intercession for us. 

It is Christ who is at the right hand of God who indeed intercedes for us (Rom. 8:34) 

He always lives to make intercession for us (Heb 7:25) 

He appears in the presence of God on our behalf (Heb 9:24) 

In Him we have an advocate in the presence of God .(I John 2.5) 

He is the mediator who stands between man and God to bring man and God together, and He continues that mediating work in the presence of God (Heb. 8:6; 12:24; ITim 2.1,5) 

It is the Protestant position that Jesus ascended, not to end His work for us, but to continue His work for us, that in this or in any other world He may still carry on His ministry of intercession and mediation for we mortals. 

Noted, that no other one noted by council or Pope is stated in Scripture that this is done by any other way or person. Here we part with the Church of Rome. Scripture is our sure trustworthy guide!

Rev. W. Lee Truman