Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Priests, Prophets, And Kings
Through our baptism, we are priests, prophets, and kings. What does that mean? Perhaps, to those in the jungle, they interpret our priesthood, our positions as prophets, and our kingship as mere "symbols." However, our status as "priests", "prophets", and "kings" are REAL given to us by Christ. God is my Father, and my Father is truly a REAL King. Mary is my mother, and she is a Queen in Heaven. My Mother and my Father is a King and Queen in Heaven; therefore, that also makes me "royalty" for I am their daughter. I am not a symbolic daughter. I am REALLY God's daughter......a child of God and heir to my Father's Kingdom. Nothing in the Neocatechumenal Way says that God's gifts to us are mere symbols. When He said that we are the sons and daughters of God and heirs to His kingdom.....those words were not said "symbolically."
James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
Our Father is a King and our Mother is a Queen, so that certainly also makes us "kings and queens" as we are heirs to the heavenly kingdom. How much more as priests and prophets? The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that the laity are the common priesthood while those ordained are the ministering priesthood. Is the jungle saying that our priesthood is simply a symbol? Would you say that the Office of Bishop is nothing more than a symbol and NOT real? If the common priesthood is only a symbol, then it stands to "jungle" reason that the ministering priesthood (which includes the Pope and office of Bishop) is also a symbol. However, these positions are definitely REAL and no symbol at all.
According to Tim Rohr (bold is my emphasis): "By our Baptism, we are all called to be priests, prophets, and kings. However, we do not go around titling ourselves or each other as such."
Where did Tim Rohr learned that we cannot use these titles "priests, prophets, and kings" when these titles were given to us by God in the first place?
God has always shared His title with His Church to show that He is intimately one with His Church. Christ is called the "Good Shepherd." The bishops are also called "Shepherds." God is called the "Holy Father." The Pope is also called "Holy father." Christ is called the "Son of God." Christians are called "sons (and daughters) of God". Christ is called the "Rock". The Apostle Peter is named the "Rock." Christ is priest, prophet, and king. We are also priest, prophet, and king. God shared these titles with His Church to show that He is intimately one with His Church, His bride.
Then Tim Rohr goes on to say: With the advent of the Christ, there was no more need for prophets. The OT prophets were given to us by God to point to the Son. The Son is the fulfillment of all the prophecies. He is the fulness of revelation. That's why there are no prophets in the NT and that is also why any religion who claims a prophet is a different religion than ours.
While it is true that there are no more revelations, where is it taught that there are no more prophets? Tim Rohr claims that there are no prophets in the New Testament??? Then he needs to explain why Agabus was called a prophet in the New Testament. And who were these other prophets who went to Antioch according to the Acts of the Apostles? Obviously, Agabus and the other prophets who came from Jerusalem to Antioch were New Testament prophets.
Acts 11:27-28 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
St. Paul also said that some will be called "prophets" (See 1 Corinthians 12:28-29 and Ephesians 4:10-12). Furthermore, how can there be no more prophets when every Catholic was anointed a "prophet" in their baptism? Apparently, Tim Rohr does not comprehend the term "prophet" as it is understood by the Church. As prophets, we are called to teach and spread the Gospel.
However, if those in the jungle do not want to be called "priests, prophets, and kings", I have no problems with that.
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"if those in the jungle do not want to be called "priests, prophets, and kings", I have no problems with that"
ReplyDeleteWell, if the persons commenting on the blog are baptized Christians, but their comments reveal that their opinion is in error, I do have a problem. Christ shed his blood for them, he died for them, and they are going astray. My answer to this is that I pray for them and try to clarify what I see as misunderstanding, in the hope that they can realize the error of their position.
Another problem on jungle and other blogs is that not only misunderstandings and error abound but also hatred and insults. These things have to be answered with love; there's just no other way.
I thank Diana for running this blog where we can discuss these things with civility.
I really tried to tell this with love. For what other reason would we keep going and announce the kerygma if not for love? Those critics at the Jungle do not feel love. They cannot grasp beyond their limited view. When we tell them to convert, it is of true love. We want to share with them the precious thing we already have. Then why would they still mock the Way?!
DeleteWe have this great mandate from Jesus to go and announce the Good News of salvation to everyone. We came to the Way following our catechists who instructed us by the teaching of Kiko of the kerygma of love. He implanted in us the seed of growth. Then, after a period of gestation here we are! When we listen to Kiko this makes us feel like in the bosom of Abraham. It is a wonderful allegory of heaven in the Bible attained by poor Lazarus. He suffered in life but his soul was elevated to the bosom of father Abraham after he died. How joyful it is! Do you want this to happen to you as well?
It is of love that we tell them to remember Lazarus and come to the Way. What is heaven for you? Is this not that you are trying to attain? Now, you see it is nothing else, but love. The same love you find on the bosom of Abraham. The same kerygma that is freely shared with you in the Way if you just walk with us. It is not the point if Kiko is a prophet or not. The point is that he is the founder and initiator of the Way that leads many to salvation which is the bosom of Abraham.
I know most of them Jungle people cannot grasp allegory. Well, they still should be able to grasp love. God counts us as one of His own, even though we have no circumcision. This is how we differ from the Lord Jesus who was circumcised. God has no duty to love us, because we are not His chosen one. But God has infinite love, so He sent Jesus out of His infinite love for us to lead us to the path of His chosen people, so that we do not feel abandoned. We are incorporated among them only because of Jesus. He is the only reason of God's mercy for us, because otherwise we cannot be chosen. This is the meaning of Jesus being the only Way.
Kiko knows that the Way is a path leading us to God's chosen ones. We share this good news out of love. One of the greatest song ever written is Shema Israel, a beautiful tune composed by Kiko. It is an obstinate reminder that we all belong to the same God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Have you ever heard it? Don't you believe me? Well, if you don't think so, it's fine. Then you don't belong. But we are here to give you a chance to realize what you are missing. After 2000 years everyone deserves a chance to hear us and hear Kiko, even in Dededo and Yona. This is something they keep missing at the Jungle. One way or the other, everyone needs to be given a chance!
One day you all will feel blessed that you were a contemporary of Kiko. Because he is going to grow with our faith every day. He knows that there are no chances in vain. Nothing is happening by mere chance. Everything that happens is by the finger of God. Open up the Bible anywhere and Kiko will give you a full catechism on that page! No kidding. Because he knows it all and it is not coming up by chance, anyway. Even a rolling dice is steered by God through His Spirit. This is the meaning of the Holy Spirit. So why do you keep denying the love from yourself? Why don't you open up to the Lord? Why don't you come to the bosom of Abraham to feel Gods infinite mercy and love?
"When we tell them to convert, it is of true love."
DeleteConvert to what???
Dear Anonymous at 5:30 am,
DeleteIn the language of the Catholic Church, it means to change your heart so you become more Christ-like rather than your old self. To convert to a new creation.
Diana, look at what Rohr wrote about the ministerial priesthood:
ReplyDeleteTimNovember 12, 2014 at 5:58 PM
There are two Kiko precepts on display here: 1) the Jewification of Christianity, 2) the obfuscation between the ministerial priesthood and the common priesthood or the "priesthood of all believers." These things are purposely confused because 1) Kiko must get rid of the Sacrifice of Christ and replace it with Jesus as a murdered scapegoat, and 2) he rejects the ministerial priesthood and believes in a return the idea of early church presbyters. Both of these things come together in his rejection of the Mass as Sacrifice, since a Priest is "one who offers sacrifice". There are so many heresies like this in the history of the church this would be another yawn except for the fact that we have a bishop who is subjecting this diocese to it.
AnonymousNovember 12, 2014 at 7:12 PM
Kiko rejects the ministerial priesthood? So why set up a seminary all over the world?
TimNovember 12, 2014 at 7:18 PM
Because he needs the legitimacy if the church for now and because vocations are the currency of clerical careerists. Like all parasites he knows how and where to suck on the host.
This is exactly what I am talking about! The heretics are not us, but those who speak about the "Jewification of Christianity". What does it mean? It means nothing. There is no such thing as "Jewification".
DeleteWe are following Kiko, who teaches us what is right, in the footsteps of Jesus. Kiko is a great teacher as well, he announces the kerygma of love and salvation through faith. Through the faith of Abraham, who is the Biblical embodiment of strong, mature faith! Do you have it? Because if you don't, you better pray and come to one of our catechism sessions. Our catechists were educated in the true kerygma of love. Returning to the bosom of Abraham is like returning home. It is where all faithful belong to. To get strong faith like Abraham is not some kind of "Jewification", it is returning to our root and true heritage. Are you afraid of that?
Those are the heretics who want to keep our faith apart from the Jewish people. Hey, they are God's chosen ones! Why are you running away from realizing the truth? I know by experience that those are not true Catholics who build walls between the followers of Abraham and the followers of Jesus. If you are one of those, look deep into your heart. What is there? Is this not some anti-Semite feeling that keeps you apart? Are you afraid of the Jews for some reason? Do you want to protect your values, your family, your children and whatnot from the Jews? Is really this of your motive and reason? Well, then you better convert yourself. Come and listen to our catechists who say what Kiko himself would tell you. They will tell you that your fear is outdated, misguided and leads you away from Christ!
I am not saying that Christians in WWII did not try to spare the Jews from extermination. Some tried. But with what result? Millions and millions have perished? Don't you feel guilty as a Catholic? Where was the Catholic culture when the people of God needed protection? You see, this is in the deep. When you do not acknowledge Abraham as you spiritual father, then you build a wall of separation from the people of God. Then you allow whatever happens behind the wall and you wash your hands. Is this not true? Well, it is true, very much! This is exactly what happened to the Christian culture during the Holocaust. The poor, the oppressed, the downtrodden cried out and we, Catholic believers of Europe and the wide world did not hear them, did not help them, we let them die. We, as a spiritual unity of the Christianity let this happen... Those were our elder brothers in faith for the sake of God! Can you start to grasp yet how deep this is going in your heart and soul?!
So this is why I tell you brother, there is hope! Kiko is announcing the right kerygma, the kerygma of love for the chosen. No Christian preaching is honest if it pushes the Jews back into the shadow. Our God is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we are one with them through Christ. It is the true meaning of Catholic kerygma of the Lord. Would you dare to save your soul and come to listen to a honest preacher, a valid prophet of our time?
Or are you sticking with your foolish resistance, calling the truth a "Jewification"? Are you staying with the old, outdated and sinful? Are you falling back to heresy just because of you are not strong enough to overcome your fear? Please, don't be afraid. Courage, brother, one day we'll come to your church and you'll have the chance of your life time to listen. I'll pray for all of those who keep themselves apart because of dishonest fear. Come, listen and overcome your fear through Kiko, overcome your fear through Christ!
Dear Ernie,
DeleteThe Catholic Church did help the Jewish people during World War II. The Pope hid them inside the Vatican, monastaries, and other places of refuge. The number of Jewish people helped by the Vatican ranged from 700,000 - 860,000 people.
http://www.catholic.com/documents/how-pius-xii-protected-jews
Ernie, a few of questions for you:
Delete"Hey, they are God's chosen ones"
1. For what purpose are the Jews "chosen"?
2. What does the Gospel mean in its reference to the veil of the temple being rent in two?
3. What is the difference between an "anti-Semitic" and an "anti-Judaic" position?
Thanks,
Diana, I also said that. There were attempts, no question about it. But were they successful? Only on a small scale. Millions and millions still perished. Why? This is the question about the culture of our Christian faith, our Catholic culture. How was this possible? We need to look into ourselves very seriously and honestly. With the eye of Jesus. This is one major reason Vatican II said we need radical changes between our relations to the Jews. Kiko says the same. So he proclaims the kerygma of love.
DeleteDear Anonymous, what I said is very concrete, very real. Your questions are theoretical. Why are you trying to avoid to face the reality? What is your reality...?
DeleteErnie, I'm afraid you are the one who is afraid to answer the questions. Perhaps you did not get a decent Catholic education and you do not know the answer. Too bad Ernie. How can you talk for something that you don't even understand? Now, you go to your catechists and ask their instruction... Lol!
DeleteWe are not anti-Semites. We just don't wanna be Jews. Is is too hard to see the difference? The Jews were chosen before Jesus incarnated on Earth. This was the only reason they were chosen, because our Jesus has not come yet. Now, that Jesus came, taught us, suffered and died for us, and was resurrected and lifted up to heaven, what could be the further significance of the Jewish people? They have a history, well, they are the Old Testament history. What more could you expect? Jesus does not need any chosen ethnicity, He is universal. There is no more chosen people, only chosen Church.
Please, do not refer to Pope Francis, because even a Pope can misspeak. As long as Pope Francis' proclamations about the chosen people are not elevated to official teaching of the Catholic Church, it is just an opinion and bears no approval from the Holy Spirit.
"We are following Kiko, who teaches us what is right, in the footsteps of Jesus."
DeleteWhy do you need to follow Kiko to teach you what is right? Isn't Jesus enough?
Dear Anonymous at 3:44 pm,
DeleteWe are not Protestants. Christ sent men to guide His people. This is true in the Old Testament and New Testament. This is why Bishops follow the Pope who follows Christ.
I didn't say you were protestant, but since you mentioned it, it makes sense that you are....
Deletebeing that you are followers of Kiko, who is neither a Bishop nor a Pope.
Dear Anonymous at 8:26 pm,
DeleteMany Catholics also follow the saints.....MANY of whom are NOT Bishops or a Pope. Did you honestly think that God only calls Bishops and priests to serve Him???? God also calls the Laity to serve Him. As long as the layperson follows the Pope who is the Vicar of Christ and the Pope's representative, then he/she is Catholic. The Pope's representative on Guam is the Archbishop.
It appears Tim is becoming more and more a protestant in his views because he rejects the basic teaching of the church found in Vatican II. All of the Christian Faithful share in the priestly, prophetic and kingly role of the baptized. To refute this means to put yourself outside of the communion of the body of the church. From what Rohr is emphasizing, his 'doctrines' seem to evolving into something of a quasi or pseudo form of catholicism.
ReplyDeleteHe is, after all, calling on Mr John Toves, an avowed gay activist, to fight his battles. Maybe Rohr is trying to legitimize his apostasy from the catholic church? Maybe Rohr is evolving to become an apologist for the left? It's really a 'jungle' out there!
Anon 6:27 PM...is it part of your community to label people? So what if Mr. Toves is a gay activist? Is this any of your business? Seems to me that this is why people join the NCW...to hear other people's business.
DeleteGo confess your sin and quit judging people! Tend to your business and not what other people do or how they live their lives! Clean your house before you start cleaning other homes!
Dear Anonymous at 9:44 pm,
DeleteBeing a gay activist is not a judgment. It is who the person is. If the person is a gay activist, then that is who he is because that is what he supports. A judgment is when someone says something like "gay activists are not going to be in Heaven".......then that is a judgment. Or if someone says something like "gay activists are stupid and dumb people"......then that is a judgment. But saying that a person is a gay activist is simply telling who the person is and what he supports. So John Toves supports gays and probably even same sex marriage. If that is actually what he does, then that is not a judgment nor an opinion. It is a fact.
Diana, so what? If this is the life he chose then so be it! I have a brother who is gay and has a domestic partner. Am I to throw him out of the house? This is the what the NCW tells its members! Cut them off for they are evil and corrupt! Kick them out because they are having children out of wedlock! Don't say it is not true!
DeleteDear Anonymous at 11:29 pm,
DeleteWhere is all this coming from??? I was only explaining the difference between a FACT and a JUDGMENT.
This is where judgement comes in This is why many have left the way!
DeleteDear Anonymous at 11:55 pm,
DeleteWhile it is true that some have left the Way, it is also true that some of them have returned. It is also true that some communities are being born. In fact, a community in Merizo was recently borned.
Yes! There is a new community in Merizo. The Community is made up of both brothers from Merizo and Umatac. Mostly from Merizo though because someone likes to tell people from Umatac what he thinks of the NCW, in short, discourages them from attending. Despite this, people are still coming and listening. Beautiful!
Deletethanks be to God for the Merizo community and our prayers to those who have "left" the Way. Thanks be to God for the grace to pray to everyone who is struggling with the realities opened to their eyes. Let us please pray.
ReplyDelete