Jesus preached mostly to Jews in His 3 years of ministry (except the encounter of the woman of Canaanite). He downplayed the Gentiles (Matthew 5:47, 6:7) and even instructed the Apostles to avoid them (Matthew 10:5). In the first few chapters of Acts, Peter also focused his ministry on Jews. But then God made a sharp turn converting Saul/Paul and sent him to Gentiles preaching the Gospel. Was the plan changed? Why?
My Catholicism training told me that we humans are prone to sin due to the scar which original sin had left us. This also proves that Holy Mary is “sinless” since she is immaculate. My two questions are 1) If this is true, then how could Adam and Eve committed the first sin given that they carry no original sin too and were full of grace. 2) If someone who has no original sin could still commit sins by free will (like Adam and Eve) then why do we say 100% Holy Mary is “sinless”?
神父您好!我請教一個問題,申命紀中對遵守天主法律者的祝福,在現在依然有效嗎?現在我們遵守天主的法律,還能夠得到天主在申命紀28章所應許的祝福嗎? 特別是這幾年我獲得很艱難,經常問別人借錢,我發現,申命紀15:6和28:12都應許,衹要謹守天主的誡命,就不需要向別人借錢,相反,還要大量施捨給別人。 我看了這兩節經文以後,反思,是不是我沒有好好遵守天主的誡命,犯罪得罪天主,才導致我需要經常問別人借錢?如果我好好悔改走天主的道路,這兩節經文的祝福是不是就會臨到我身上?
Why do we see not much description about Jesus’s mother, Mary in the Bible? It only mentions mostly Mother Mary keeps things to her heart, like the loss of Jesus in the Temple.
神父,請問具體而言試探上主的意思是什麼呢? 耶穌受試探時,魔鬼要耶穌從聖殿頂跳下去,因為天主必定保護他;耶穌說不可試探上主。這裏的意思是不可以抱著懷疑的心,要天主證明自己的能力,甚或違抗天主的計劃,對嗎? 《依撒意亞先知書》七:10-14裏,上主要阿哈次求天主一個徵兆,阿哈次拒絕並說不願意試探上主,然而其實他不願依靠上主。從這個來看,試探上主的核心是抱著懷疑的心去求天主嗎?言行是否試探上主,與那個人的信德的關係是什麼呢? 又如《瑪竇福音》十七:14-20裏,有一個人請門徒治好他的兒子,然而門徒並不能夠。耶穌回答是因為門徒缺少信德。耶穌授給門徒驅魔治病等權柄,但是門徒信德不足辦不到。然而他們沒有試探上主的心,請問這樣和試探上主類似嗎?分別是在哪裏呢? 最後,假如一個人患病苦不堪言,四處求醫不果,於是求天主治好自己,並相信天主必定能治好他,也相信並信賴天主的慈愛、憐憫,對這些並不懷疑;但是他對於自己得到治愈的信心並不足夠,那這樣會是無意中試探上主嗎?如果這人不斷祈求也沒有好轉,而仍然堅信天主的大能和慈愛,但對得到治愈的信心更小了,這樣會無意中試探了上主嗎? 望神父指教,感謝!主佑!
Are Moses, Noah, and Abraham saints? We seldom hear them name to be called as a Saint, but God spoke to these people directly back in the Old Testament.
I would like to invite my Protestant friend to explore our Catholic faith, but one of his hangups is that Catholic do not believe in Sola scriptura. Can you please explain Catholic stands on Sola scriptura? Is this explained in the Bible?
In Exodus 20:5, God says “for I the LORD your God am a jealous God”. But in 1 Corinthians 13:4, St. Paul says “love is not jealous”. If God is love, how would God a “jealous” God?
Dear Fr. Francis, How can I better understand “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ (Mt 5:37)? I’m a bit confused as Jesus had tried to conceal his ID as the Messiah & sometimes asked those who received His healing not to spread the news publicly which seems to contradict this teaching to tell the truth. How should I apply it to my daily life? Should I not take Mt 5:37 literally and need to be flexible if saying the truth might hinder God’s work in certain circumstances? Thank you.
Jesus never broke any commandments and laws in the Old Testament Books of Laws, I wonder does he obey anything in the Wisdom Books, for example, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Sirach? I also wonder how should we view the words of Wisdom Books? Are we also obliged to do as the Wisdom Books says?
Dear Fr. Francis, at the wedding in Cana when Mama Mary told Jesus that there was no more wine, did Mama Mary want Jesus to do a miracle? What was Mama Mary\’s intention at that moment? I am now studying John’s Gospel with a renowned Christian Bible study fellowship and I was told that Mama Mary, like other disciples, wanted Jesus to reveal His identity. I have never given a deep thought on that. Did it also take time for Mama Mary to grow her faith and have deeper understanding of Jesus?