Discern the Messages on Social Media.

By Theoloscience

How strong is the Word of God that is heard this Sunday in the first reading: "Thus says the Lord: Cursed is the man who trusts in man and seeks his support in the flesh, while his heart departs from the Lord!" (Jeremiah 17: 5).

Nowadays, both on radio and tv, many give their opinion as if it were the ultimate and absolute truth. Also, many seemingly positive and inspiring messages circulate through social media. However, those "beautiful" messages very often fail to mention the Source of Life, Truth and being. Those online "inspiring " messages do not mention the Christian faith nor the gifts of God such as redemption and salvation. In the end, everything remains in us, in the purely human element. Thus, God is absent, or rather He was never invited. There are even online messages attributed to Pope Francis, but in reality, they are messages that do NOT come from him. Those online "inspiring" messages very subtly turn our attention away from Jesus Christ. Furthermore, they completely ignore that human beings need and can have an intimate relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ, the sacraments and the community. So before sharing an "inspiring" message that you found online, submit that message to careful scrutiny:

1. Does the message speak of biblical passages? Does it have a Kerygmatic, Christian or catechetical content?

2. Are the teaching of the early fathers or doctors of the Church cited?

3. Does the message refer to the teachings contained in encyclicals or other Church documents?

4. Does the message reflect the universal human experience? Was it thought of and written with common sense?

Apply this or similar scrutiny to the “inspiring” messages circulating on social media. Then the decision of whether to share the message will follow.  Peace and Blessings to all.

Hay que discernir los mensajes de los medios sociales.

Por Theoloscience. 

¡Qué fuerte es la Palabra de Dios que se escucha este domingo en la primera lectura! "Así dice el Señor: ¡Maldito el hombre que confía en el hombre y busca su apoyo en la carne, mientras su corazón se aparta del Señor!" (Jeremías 17: 5).

Hoy en día, tanto en la radio como en la televisión, muchos dan su opinión como si fuera la verdad última y absoluta. Además, muchos mensajes aparentemente positivos e inspiradores circulan a través de las redes sociales. Sin embargo, esos mensajes "hermosos" a menudo no mencionan la Fuente de la Vida, la Verdad y el ser. Esos mensajes "inspiradores" no mencionan la fe cristiana ni los dones de Dios como la redención y la salvación. Al final, todo permanece en nosotros, en el elemento puramente humano. Por lo tanto, Dios está ausente, o más bien nunca fue invitado. Incluso hay mensajes en línea atribuidos al Papa Francisco, pero en realidad, son mensajes que NO provienen de él. Esos mensajes "inspiradores" en línea desvían muy sutilmente nuestra atención de Jesucristo. Además, ignoran completamente que los seres humanos necesitan y pueden tener una relación íntima con Dios a través de la fe en Jesucristo, los sacramentos y la comunidad. Entonces, antes de compartir un mensaje "inspirador" que encontraste en línea, somete ese mensaje a un escrutinio cuidadoso:

1. ¿Habla el mensaje de pasajes bíblicos? ¿Tiene un contenido kerigmático, cristiano o catequético?

2. ¿Se citan las enseñanzas de los primeros padres o doctores de la Iglesia?

3. ¿Se refiere el mensaje a las enseñanzas contenidas en las encíclicas u otros documentos de la Iglesia?

4. ¿Refleja el mensaje la experiencia humana universal? ¿Fue pensado y escrito con sentido común?

Aplica este escrutinio o otro similar a los mensajes "inspiradores" que circulan en las redes sociales. Luego seguirá la decisión de compartir o no el mensaje. Paz y bendiciones a todos.

Reflecting on Luke 18:35-43

Gospel LK 18:35-43

As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, be compassionate on me! ”The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me!” Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.” Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.” He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God.  When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.

When we travel to a new place that we had not seen before, we go sightseeing monuments, landscapes, museums, etc. Thank you, Lord, for my eyes and for the power to see. 

That which prevents us from seeing the truth is spiritual blindness! We remember what Pilate asked Jesus: "What is truth?"

What is the value of truth? What is the role that truth has in our daily lives? In politics, in the military, in commerce, in education, in social media, in religion, in medicine, in science. We like Pilate, still are asking today: "What is truth? "If one day Jesus declared: "I am the truth, the way, and the life..." How do we relate to that statement today? What did Jesus mean by that statement?

The blindness of the man sitting by the roadside, near Jericho, serves as a metaphor to reflect on other types of blindness.  The blindness many suffer today is either self-imposed or imposed by those who control knowledge and do not want the truth of things to bee seen as indeed and are. We too can shout: "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us, who are suffering from blindness."  Remember that a long time ago, Plato realized that all we see are shadows of reality.  Also, we appear to be contempt with that. It was his disciple Socrates who epitomizes the truth seekers when he declared: "I know now that I do not know."

The blind man from Jericho wanted to see again. However, let us stop for a moment and inquire: What is it that the blind man wanted to see again? Moreover, why is he asking Jesus to give him back his ability or power to see again? First question, Internally the blind man is not blind, because he knows that Jesus can help him see again. How did he know that Jesus had the power to restore the sense of sight to men again?  

Jesus still have the power to restore in us the power to see.  When he asked the blind man: "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man of the Gospel first acknowledges that Jesus is the Lord.  He says: "Lord, let me see." If we see Jesus as the Lord, as the blind man did, we already see the truth.  This act of ours appears to be the first step to see the truth: Jesus is the Lord.  However, how someone who does not know it may come to know it?  

Imagine for a moment: What would happen if all world leaders recognize Jesus as Lord? What kind of society would result if world leaders and legislators recognize Jesus as the Lord?  

Many men and women throughout history have recognized Jesus as the Lord.  Also, many have paid with their lives — for example, the teenage José Sanchez del Rio, and many others.

There is only one Lord Jesus, but many interpretations of Jesus. 

In the Christian creed, Jesus is the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity. Unfortunately, there are false interpretations of Jesus that we have seen developed throughout history. 

 Jesus Himself said who  He is: I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. My Father and I are the same. Remain in me, because without me, you can do nothing. I am the Resurrection and the Life. You call me Lord and do that rightly. I am the Good Shepherd He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. I am the Alpha and the Omega. Come to me all blessed by my Father and inherit the kingdom prepared for you.  Etc. 

Recordando al Padre Maldonado.

Recordando al Padre Maldonado.

El Evangelio de hoy Marcos 6:53-56, me lleva a pensar en las reliquias de los santos:  En todas partes donde entraba, pueblos, ciudades y poblados, ponían a los enfermos en las plazas y le rogaban que los dejara tocar tan sólo los flecos de su manto, y los que lo tocaban quedaban curados ( Cf. Mc 6:56).


El día 11 de febreo se conmemoran dos eventos importantes en la vida del sacerdote chihuahuense Pedro de Jesús Maldonado Lucero. Fue en esa misma fecha en que celebró su
primera Misa y también cuando muere a causa de los golpes desalmados que recibió de sus agresores. Hoy en día las reliquias de San Pedro de Jesús Maldonado están a la entrada de la catedral de Chihuahua.

Breve biografía de San Pedro de Jesús Maldonado: https://bit.ly/2E65g0l

En el sitio corazones.org hay un buen artículo acerca de las reliquias. Ahi dice asi:
Las reliquias pueden ser de tres grados:
1er grado: un fragmento del cuerpo.
2do grado: un fragmento de su ropa o de algo que el santo usaba durante su vida (rosario, Biblia, cruz, etc.). También objetos asociados con el sufrimiento de un mártir.
3er grado: cualquier objeto que ha sido tocado a una reliquia de primer grado o a la tumba de un santo ( Ver  https://www.corazones.org/diccionario/reliquia.htm ).

Conclusión, también nosotros podemos tocar a Jesús sacramentado y hasta comerlo para así convertornos en “Custudias Vivientes.” Hermanos y hermanas que nunca se nos olvide que también nosotros le entregaremos la vida a Dios de quen venimos para ir a vivir con Jesús en el cielo la vida más plena que nos aguarda en el Reino de Dios. Que nunca perdamos de vista nuestra meta final. Bendiciones.

San Pedro de Jesús Maldonado… Ora por nosotros. Amén.

Remembering Father Maldonado.

The Gospel of Mark 6: 53-56, leads me to think about the relics of the saints: “Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed”(see Mark 6:56).

Every February 11^th, two important events in the life of Fr. Pedro de Jesús Maldonado Lucero are commemorated. It was on the same date that he celebrated his first Mass and also when he died because of the heartless blows he received from his aggressors. Today the relics of San Pedro de Jesus Maldonado are at the entrance of the Cathedral of Chihuahua.

Brief biography of San Pedro de Jesús Maldonado: https://bit.ly/2SOFC8o

On the site corazones.org there is a good article about the relics. Here it says:

The relics can be of three degrees:

1st grade: a fragment of the body.

2nd grade: a fragment of his clothes or something that the saint used during his life (rosary, Bible, cross, etc.). Also objects associated with the suffering of a martyr.

3rd grade: any object that has been touched to a relic of the first degree or to the tomb of a saint. (See corazones.org). Another online website that provides information of relics as they are present in the Bible is: https://www.treasuresofthechurch.com/about-relics

Conclusion, we can also touch Jesus in the Most Holy sacrament of the altar and even eat Him to become "Living Monstrance." Brothers and sisters may we never forget that we too will give our lives back to God to live with Jesus in heaven the fullness of life that awaits us in the Kingdom of God. May we never lose sight of our final goal. Blessings.

San Pedro de Jesús Maldonado ... Pray for us. Amen.