Christian and Catholic Beliefs - Idolatry, Mother Mary, and more about Jesus

[sub-labels: Christian and Catholic Faith, Jesus as God, Mother Mary, other gods]

I was treated to two relatively new "ideas" about the Christian and Catholic faith within the past 48 hours.

Last Friday, I listened to a speaker who gave a talk about the heart of a servant. He said there is this saying that what is in your heart reflects on what is in your mouth. And, that God looks at what is in the heart. He then casually mentioned about other Christian groups who question the Catholic practice of praying in front of statues and so on. But the thing is, he said, that we know that when we (Catholics) are praying in front of that statue of Jesus on the cross, and so on, God knows from our hearts that we're not committing idolatry, that we're not praying to that statue, and that we really are praying directly to Jesus and to God. My reaction: my thoughts exactly - almost! I didn't really get equipped with the right words if ever a non-Catholic Christian friend asked me about my Catholic faith of praying in front of a statue and similar things. Now I do.

Some might then say, there's no need then for these statues and images and the like. I don't have the perfect answer for that, but to me, I'd say, what's wrong with that? To me, if you personally do not prefer praying in front of an image or a statue or the like, then don't. But to give up on your Catholic faith altogether? Of course every former Catholic must have had many reasons why he or she has changed religions or religious practices. Refer to my lessons learned later in this post. For now, a good question to ask (particularly for those considering to do the same), "Is there something I do not yet know about the Catholic faith and other religious beliefs, and is that why it feels wrong to practice Catholicism?"

Some groups also condemn the Catholic practice of "praying to" Mother Mary. But to me, we actually don't pray to Mary. Instead, we ask for her help, we ask her to pray for us. It is like asking an elder Christian brother or sister to also pray for my concerns - what is wrong with that? A prayer of two is worth much more than a prayer of one. But then again, most of my Christian brothers and sisters aren't Mothers of God. So when we ask Mother Mary to help us in our prayers, the treatment is a little bit more special. She bore Jesus Christ for 9 months anyway, and took care of him in his youth, and so on and so forth.

Some groups would say that praying directly to God the Father is enough, and that there is no need to ask for Mother Mary's help. The thing is, saying the Our Father is enough, as Jesus said. But again, the more we pray, the stronger are our prayers. Likewise, the more of us pray together, and if Mother Mary as well as all other angels and saints are also praying for us, our prayers become stronger than strong.

Is there something wrong when we recite the Hail Mary? When we say the Hail Mary, we are simply echoing what is already written of her in the Gospels. I believe, speaking words from the Gospels is even something to be desired.

Of course, there are many Catholics who are not as learned as some of us who have gone to Catholic schools for 10 or more years, or who have joined Catholic renewal communities, and so on. And attending Catholic schools or renewal committies (or even joining a seminary, towards priesthood) doesn't necessarily make the best Catholic scholar. But if they have unacceptable practices (like they are actually praying to something else, and not anymore to God), then we're on the same boat. Those are also unacceptable practices in the Catholic tradition.

Today's Gospel presents that moment when Jesus was "taken up to heaven." (See Luke 24:46-53.) This moment, called the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven, is one of the basic beliefs in the Christian and Catholic faith.

The missalette publication, Sambuhay (Filipino for "Life as One"), today first talked about this "assault" on Christian Faith in general, in the form of "recent discovery" that "Jesus" was buried in the same tomb as his father "Joseph" and mother "Mary," and with his wife "Mary Magdalene" and their son "Judah." This then basically contested key elements of Christian faith: Jesus' resurrection and ascension, Jesus not being married nor becoming a father, and the assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary to heaven. Essentially, this was also indirectly attacking Jesus' divinity.

This "recent discovery" was featured as a documentary film in one popular cable TV channel, creating the impression that it was true and valid. Unfortunately again, most reputable historians and Christian or Biblical scholars alike have invalidated the study. But no one has made a documentary film about that.

Lessons learned?

First, let us study our own faith first. When we're down, when we're least prepared, and particularly when we're least prepared to answer questions about our own faith, that's when people from other religious practices swoop in and promise to take us to more abundant lands, and indeed they take us to these places, they show us how to be happy, and they tell us, "Look, you're happy because of God, you're happy even without practicing your Catholic beliefs." And yes, that might be true at that time. And that might be the reason why we join these other groups. I guess it's a leap of faith, but I don't see it as a leap for the better. Maybe there's nothing wrong, but it is not necessarily the more correct path.

Second, let us be responsible. Responsibility involves learning first - the first lesson learned I've mentioned above. But this also applies to when we are the ones in the position of educating others. This applies particularly when we are in the media, when we are public servants, when we are leaders, when we are parents, and so on. Sambuhay emphasized on the responsibility of the mass media to educate. It was them who made and featured the above-mentioned documentary film. But showing only a one-sided film is not responsibility. When we are parents, the way we act and speak makes a huge impact on our children. And so on.

A corollary of these lessons learned is what the priest at the mass I attended today said in his homily: when we know our faith, and when we have accepted responsibility, the next step is really to educate - or really, to evangelize. Bringing a fellow human being closer to God is a great act.

For many of us, there are more to learn. So let us learn. For what we know and what we will intentionally or unintentionally impart on others, let us be responsible.