I received an email from a listener yesterday that asked what books he should read to learn more about the faith.  In this episode I give several recommendations.

Did Jesus claim to be God?  That is a question that we have been answering over the last couple days.  Today we look at John 5:17-18 and dig a little deeper.  Jesus claims God as his Father, and that He (Jesus) is working.  The Pharisees understand what is going on and try to stone him.

Is Jesus God?  Over the last couple days we have looked at some passages of scripture to show the divinity of Jesus.  Today is no different and we look at St. Paul's letter to Titus.  St. Paul writes about the glory of "our great God and savior Jesus Christ".

Over the last couple days I have gone over passages of scripture that point to the divinity of Christ.  Today is no exception as we look at John 10:30.  Jesus claims unity with the Father.

Mark 14:61-62

“But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

62 “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

The Jewish leaders were successful and were able to arrest Jesus.  He is asked point blank in this verse if He is the Son of God, and his answer is so much more than “yes.”  He calls himself the Son of Man which alluded to Daniel 7:13-14.  This prophecy in Daniel is about the Sovereign reign of the Son of God, and his preexistence before all time.  By stating this, Jesus is saying that he was around before the creation of the world.  Not only that but he will be the judge of it, and its redeemer!

My apologies for no show yesterday.  The internet was having some issues.  Today I discuss John 8:58 and the use of "I AM" by Jesus.  This is a claim of divinity that did not go unnoticed by the Pharisees and it should not go unnoticed from us.

Those who enter purgatory are guaranteed to go to heaven at some point. Purgatory is not a second chance at redemption, and nor is it a permanent destination. The church has always taught what the scriptures teach in Hebrews 9:27, “And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment” (NRSV). It is a place that individuals go who have died in the friendship of God, but who must be purified before they enter the presence of God. This is also echoed in Revelation 21:27 which states, “But nothing unclean will enter it” (NRSV).

In today's episode I answer this common objection from our Protestant friends.  I briefly look at the Last Supper Narratives, John 6, and 1 Corinthians to show that Jesus meant what he said and he said what he meant.

I recently received a message from a listener that asked if they really need to forgive someone who does the same harm to them over and over.  Yes, but that does not mean forgive and forget.  That is not what the Lord is telling us in Matthew 18:21-22.  Extend the same mercy that Christ has given us.  Extending mercy is good for us as well, but that does not mean that don't use reason and protect ourselves in the future.

In short, only God knows. It is his role to be the judge of all of us (I don’t want that job as it would be a hard burden to bear). In paragraph 2283 the Catechism has this to say, “We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance. The Church prays for persons who have taken their own lives”.