Day 1

I've attended this assembly-thing at the very first day of the year 2012. Yes, I just have the time to blog it just now. Anyway, we've been to this non-Catholic assembly, (for blogging purposes let's call this event Day 1 because I've been their on January 1). What they did was they pray through songs. After that was a dance performance of kids. After that was a talk led by one of them, he was not introduced anymore, so I think he is their so-called "pastor".

I'm doing this blog just to give my observations, points, maybe some rebuttal, and some questions.
Here it goes...

1. At the beginning of their assembly, they had this worship thing. Wherein their prayer is through the songs. Well, in the community where I belong (CFC FFL, a Catholic community), we also do worship. So I have been exposed to this, and what they did was no-shocker to me. I just get to appreciate more the praising and singing we're doing in CFC FFL.

In the community, CFC FFL, we have a worship leader, who exhorts us in the beginning of worship. He leads the people into a community, who praises God. Well, in Day 1, maybe they have a leader--the guy with the guitar--but I didn't see him acting as one. What I saw is a concert--a band. In CFC FFL, if you're part of the music ministry, you stay at the very back of the stage or at its side.

By the way, CFC FFL is not an offshoot religion from Catholicism. CFC FFL is a Catholic community in obedience to and part of the Catholic Church.

2. Their so-called pastor tackled one of Saint Peter's letters. I forgot if it's the first or the second. I think it's the first. He said that Peter could never be the foundation of the Church because it is founded on Christ. He further said that "Peter" in Greek is "Petros", meaning "Stone", therefore he could not be the "Rock".

Jesus said to [Simon] in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:17-19, NAB)

Jesus could not have talked to Peter, then to himself, then to Peter again, like: "You will be Peter." "I will be the rock." "I will give you [Peter] the keys to the kingdom."

But beyond the Greek, we must go back to Aramaic, the spoken language of Jesus. In Aramaic, rock is Kephas. And we can see it in the Pauline letters, where Peter is referred to as Kephas.
Click here, to know and understand more.

3. Also, the so-called pastor said, "There is no hope in the Pope. There is no hope in religion." I bet he wants to say this knowing that Catholics where there, definitely that is us. Well, the moment this words came out his mouth and reached my ear, I wanna shout it out in declaration: "VIVA EL PAPA!" (Actually, I was near to shouting.)

He says that there is Hope only in Jesus and not in the Pope nor Religion. Well, I do not contradict his first few words. Jesus is really our Hope, no doubt in that. But to say that there is no hope in the Pope nor religion, would also mean that there is no hope in him as pastor or whatever he is. Who gave you authority to stand there and preach anyway?

Jesus gave hope in the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church because Jesus Himself established it. The Catholic Church does not claim these--One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic--on its own, like self-labeling. But that we are, because He is. (cf. CCC 811)

And this discussion would lead us back to point #2. Click here, it's a different link.

4. And I want to remind as well that the Holy Spirit is the third persona of the Holy Trinity. God is One in three Divine Persons, all equal to one another: God the Father. God the Son. God the Holy Spirit. Therefore that the Holy Spirit is God, then the Holy Spirit is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
I forgot what the so-called pastor said that made me write that in my notes. I think he said something like that the Spirit then, is different from the Spirit now.

There are a lot of other things which I have observed and heard, which I have already forgotten. This is the problem with blogging too late.

And lastly, Dad asked, "Was that it?" I answered, "Most probably."

If this is what they are doing every Sunday--reading the Bible (a Catholic compiled book), hearing their pastor's own interpretation of it, attacking Catholics (maybe), adhering to sola scriptura leading to self-submission--I just thought, how about this:

Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me." And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "this cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you. (Luke 22:19-20, NAB) 

You can also check 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.

Well, there it is. We have to love our neighbor by telling them the Truth.
I believe in the Holy Catholic Church.
GOD LOVES US THE MOST.
AMDG