7/13/2018

Q: Why is Jesus referred to as God’s Son?

Arabella Bloomer 

Toronto

   A: It would be interesting to see the results of a survey questioning all Christians to determine how many really understand Jesus through his identity as the Son of God. We all are familiar with the infancy narratives of Jesus in the Gospels, where both Mary (Jesus’ mother) and Joseph (Jesus’ foster father), are visited by an angel and are informed of Jesus’ identity as the Son of God.

   Furthermore, in St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, the Apostle to the Gentiles instructs that God the Father sent forth his Son, born of Mary, to redeem us and to make us God’s children. Jesus’ identity as God’s Son, of course, is met with mixed reaction in the Gospel passages, for people found it difficult to comprehend Jesus’ identity and so through Jesus’ mission here on earth through the healings, the teachings and the raisings of the dead, Jesus’ identity came forth. The centurion himself, as Jesus’ body hung on the cross, stated that, “truly this man was the Son of God.”

   How grateful we are for the Son of God, Jesus Christ, to come among us as both human and divine: two natures, one person, through Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection, has the Son of God redeemed the world. The very reason you and I are in communion with God is because Jesus has led us to the Father through the Holy Spirit.

Q: Why was Peter chosen out of the Twelve Apostles to be the first pope?

Karinna Caldwell 

Waterford

   A: We read in the Gospel according to Matthew (see, Matthew, Chapter 16, Verses16-19), that Peter was the very first Apostle to confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus pointed out to Peter that he came to this conclusion not through any human reasoning, but by God the Father himself.

   Jesus called Peter “rock” upon which he would build his church. In doing so, Jesus gave us the first pope, who is also called the vicar of Christ.

   We realize that there was no competition held by Jesus, similar to what we do today in our culture, in which people compete with their own talents (no Holy Land’s Got Talent was held 2,000 years ago). Jesus chose Peter as the leader of the Christian church, who is succeeded by the popes through the centuries, for the successor of Peter is Jesus Christ’s vicar here on earth.

Q: How can the sacrament of the anointing of the sick be given to the same person multiple times? 

Jessica Tysz

Steubenville

   A: This is a very good question because many of the “older kids” in the diocese may recall how the anointing of the sick was simply defined as the anointing of the dying. In fact, this gift of the Holy Spirit is so much more. Just as the sacrament is administered by a priest to a baptized person, there are many circumstances or conditions in which a person can receive the sacrament. So, we are familiar, most certainly, with one who is dying, or could be at an advanced age. Another situation could be when one is in extreme or terminal illness. Anointing could occur before one undergoes surgery. With the differing circumstances come opportunities in which one could receive the anointing of the sick more than once. 

   The very effects of this sacrament include a special grace of healing and comfort to the Christian and that healing may occur in body, mind and spirit. Through all of this within the sacrament is the forgiveness of the person’s sins. The ritual itself offers various ways in which this may occur depending on the circumstances.

   How blessed we are to have received through the church this sacrament of healing. May more people recognize the efficacious or effective nature of this gift distributed in God’s mercy.

            As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of “Humanae Vitae” (“of human life”), may we all recognize the gifts of body and soul God has given to each of us and that we may be responsible individuals with those very gifts. Blessed Paul VI (whose canonization to sainthood will occur in October), has shown us firsthand the prophetic nature by the successor of St. Peter, namely, the vicar of Christ.