The Stallion's mood was raw as it some had attempted to " capture " him. The silent words of His Master came to him " Some will try to shame you to their shame - some will try to tame you to their bewilderment - others yet will try to tether you but they only have the strength of silken threads. "

Remember my child in your trust for Me you are truly free. Run to the desert oasis now and refresh yourself.

-- Jean Bouchard (jeanb@cwk.imag.net), May 31, 2002

Answers

Jean,

That was great, so deep and so inspirational! I love it!

I needed to hear these words today: "Run to the desert oasis now and refresh yourself."

Thanks MaryLu

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), May 31, 2002.

The silent words of His Master--?

Jean, with all due respect; what words? What Master?

Speak honestly or don't speak at all. Do us a favor and be modest. Do not try to speak for the ''Master''.

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), June 01, 2002.

Some have the awareness of a Loving God. Others only that of angry God. Fred and Eugene - my sincere hope is you have joy in your faith for the path of religion you follow is harsh and dry.

-- Jean Bouchard (jeanb@cwk.imag.net), June 01, 2002.

Jean writes:

"Fred and Eugene - my sincere hope is you have joy in your faith for the path of religion you follow is harsh and dry."

Jean, you're so judgmental! I'll bet you would have told Jesus Christ he was "harsh and dry" if you met Him. You still can't come to terms with the fact that Jesus "will separate [people] one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats." (Matthew 25:32).

It's ironic that you call others "harsh" when you are a man who supports vigilantes who crucify a priest for embezzlement. Sounds like you subscribe to a pretty heartless religious view. It's amazing that you wouldn't reject such a sadistic attitude.

I hope that one day you get a clue of Jesus' compassion for sinners and abandon your sadistic sense of "justice."

Enjoy,

Mateo

-- (MattElFeo@netscape.net), June 01, 2002.

I hate to burst anyone's bubble who has this view of Jesus, but he was very 'radical' in his views and that is why he was not accepted by all. A priest confirmed that for me the other day.

I often wonder if Jesus would be accepted or rejected if He came here today...then, again, who knows? He may be walking among us and we don't 'see' him because our 'image' of Him may not be what what we think it is at all.

Would we accept Him or crucify Him all ove again. MaryLu

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), June 01, 2002.

MaryLu,

Your post and its questions are worth their own thread. The question of recognizing Jesus is a tough one to honestly answer--Jesus Himself anticipates that believers will struggle to recognize Him. But, it's an important question that we should always ponder on our spiritual journey.

In Christ,

Mateo

-- (MattElFeo@netscape.net), June 01, 2002.

italics off

-- (a@a.a), June 01, 2002.

Jean Bouchard--

If you think:

''Some have the awareness of a Loving God. Others only that of angry God.'' And you know somebody here who isn't aware of God's infinite love (for sinners, like MYSELF!) would you identify them? I see Jesus Christ as the loving, SACRED HEART--

Not kneeling at the feet of a whore-- as you thought was ''compassionate''. I see Jesus as forgiving those who had hung Him up on the CROSS-- Pardoning them and pouring out His blood for them.

I haven't ever told you anything ANYTHING, Jean-- about the ''angry God'' who offends your sensitivity, your worldly instincts. All I've ever warned you of, was interpreting His words to mean NOTHING. You've made it clear here that God places NO responsibility on Christians. That's your opinion, and you have a right to it.

But, I have warned you NOT to preach it here as if it were the gospel. As if you knew better than the Church, and better than the Pope, and better than the Holy Apostles. Just say, for instance: ''I FEEL --this is the truth.'' Don't ask others to abandon their faith and listen to you! We all love our God, Who has blessed us and forgiven us our sins. You seem to think He never had to forgive anything, because ''SIN'' is an invention of the Popes and bishops and nuns. If God forgives us for the sake of Jesus His Son; why should we rebel against that Church which Jesus founded, Jean? That CHURCH is an expression of God's LOVE. NOT anger!

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), June 01, 2002.

Eugene - your likened to a roaring lion - try to hear the bleatting of the sheep. As Shakespeare said " The lady doth protest too much. "

-- Jean Bouchard (jeanb@cwk.imag.net), June 01, 2002.

Jean

It amazes me that you like to use Shakespeare to express your views instead of Christ. Shakespeare was a playwrite and otheer things to others including being suspect of rewriting parts of the bible for King James. But was he really a saint too? I really have my doubts when it comes to Catholism.

So, What is it that yoou can accept his words and yet refuse Christ's own or his Apostles? It would be nice if you could stay on the same path as we are and forget your NEW AGE stuffing.

-- Fred Bishop (FCB@heartland.com), June 01, 2002.

You'll see Jean fall back on some weak irony or another, when he has been refuted and has no answer.

I wasn't roaring, Jean. I was reasonable and nothing that I've ever said here in our forum departs from the teachings of the Catholic Church. Your argument isn't with the ''roaring lions/Shakespeare's ladies''-- You are confronted by Catholic faith. That's why you have no words of wisdom at all. A certain maudlin poetical lyricism-- on how others put the brakes on your free-lance doctrine. But wisdom is in the words of Jesus Christ: ''If you do not repent you will perish in your sin.''

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), June 01, 2002.

MaryLu - Were Jesus to be here at present He would gag at the state of His Church. After He giving His opinions He would be crucified again as He is every day currently by plastic Catholics.

" Many are called - but few are chosen "

-- Jean Bouchard (jeanb@cwk.imag.net), June 01, 2002.

Jean writes:

"He would be crucified again as He is every day currently by plastic Catholics."

This is an interesting statement considering that it comes from the only forum contributor who approves of the practice of crucifixion.

Mateo

-- (MattElFeo@netscape.net), June 02, 2002.

Jean thinks Jesus is dead.

''MaryLu - Were Jesus to be here at present . . . ''

Let us inform you, since you have doubts, Jean Bouchard; Jesus is most certainly here, at present. In the Holy Catholic Church, within the holy tabernacle.

You counted Him absent. He sees you and understands you, O ye of little faith. Furthermore, Jesus does not have ''opinions''.

Opinions are for those who can't truly say. The Son of God doesn't share mere opinions with me and you; He is TRUTH. You have opinions. Worthless and vain opinions. Christ gave His Holy Church the words of eternal life. We have accepted them with faith and you call them ''opinions''. Just shows how little human wisdom is worth without god.

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), June 02, 2002.

Jean

You keep forgetting daily that Jesus is always present to ALL of us 24 hours, 365 days of the year. His presence is readily felt in our prayers and in the motions of others who believe in his being-GOD. I have seen him come to life in every child, yong adult and elderly who silently approach the altar to recieve him every sunday morning. He is present at the door of every house of worship that I have been to, as I wash my soul with the baptismal water on my entrance and with me as I walk out too. The presence of the Holy Trinitarian GOD is with us and will be so forever unchanging. Blessed be GOD forever. AMEN.

-- Fred Bishop (FCB@heartland.com), June 02, 2002.

Jean

Dry and Harsh? Well I do pray daily that I am one the right track with Christ himself and I WILL not use mordern day gimmistry to satisfy my needs. Christ as he was 2,000 years ago is all that is needed for me to appreceate. His teachings are still as bright today as they were when he spoke the words then. Dry, yes for it is not contaiminated with extra gimmicks and frills. Harsh, it still has all of the truths that were spoken then.

Give it a try, you will enjoy Christ more in his "REAL" GLORY, in his original clothing, spotless without modern sparkles and spangles.

-- Fred Bishop (FCB@heartland.com), June 02, 2002.

I know that Jesus is present in the Eucharist and we have the opportunity to visit with Him every day, but there are many days where I don't take the time to sit with Him. The church is open and I just pass it by. He is dying for company, for someone to stop in just to say Hello.

But, Jesus is also present in my next door neighbor who is not feeling well, or could use a break from the 3 kids because she has no one to help her, she could use a walk, or a visit to the beauty parlor, Jesus is present in the bum who asks me for a quarter, but in my superior tone, I say to msyelf..."Why can't he just get a job. I have to work for my money..." I don't bother to look beyond his current situation. I don't know what happened in this man's life that resulted in his becoming a bum....Who knows? I should just give him the dollar without question.

Jesus is in the cranky co-worker, or the sloppy co-worker - the ones no one bothers to say hello to....a smile and an hello could make their day....but I am better than them....I smile all the time, I dress nice...why should I say hello to the likes of them?

You get the idea.....I 'must' make the effort to treat everyone the way Jesus would - everyone not just the people I like. It is so easy to treat people I like in a loving manner. The real test is to be nice to those I don't like.

MaryLu

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), June 02, 2002.

MaryLu,

Thank you for your post. It shows love of God by both direct worship of God in the Eucharist and loving God by love of neighbor. Your sentiments are a wonderful explanation of the life that Jesus asks us to live:

Matthew 22:36-40 - "'Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?' And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets."

Love your God with all your heart, love your neighbor as yourself.

We should respond to both commandments--we shouldn't feel content by merely satisfying one of the two. Regarding their relationship between love of God and love of neighbor, I remembered the following passage in the Gospel:

Luke 6:6-10 - "On another sabbath, when he entered the synagogue and taught, a man was there whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the sabbath, so that they might find an accusation against him. But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man who had the withered hand, "Come and stand here." And he rose and stood there. And Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful on the sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?" And he looked around on them all, and said to him, "Stretch out your hand." And he did so, and his hand was restored."

In Christ,

Mateo

-- (MattElFeo@netscape.net), June 02, 2002.

(prior posts deleted) Right on the money "+", once again "Joan" is anonymously taking swipes at the Lord.

Moderator

-- moderator ("Catholic_moderator@hotmail.com"), June 03, 2002.