Pope Francis greets the faithful at the May 8 General Audience (Credit: CNA / Stephen Driscoll)
Posted on 09/07/2013 3:49:35 PM PDT by NYer
.- In his daily homily on Saturday, Pope Francis reflected on the question of authentic Christianity and rejected the practice of focusing more on devotions than on Christ himself.
Jesus is “the center” of faith, said the Pope. “A commandment is valid if it comes from Jesus: I do this because the Lord wants me to do this. But if I am a Christian without Christ, I do this and I don’t know why I have to do it,” he said to the congregation at the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta on September 7.
Like the Pharisees, he said, there are some people who “make so many commandments the center of their religiosity.”
Others who have a false sense of religiosity “only seek devotions” or “things that are a little uncommon, a little special, that go back to private revelations,” noted Pope Francis.
“If your devotions bring you to Christ, that works. But if you remain there, something’s wrong,” he explained.
“If Jesus is not at the center, there will be many other things,” so that people become “Christians without Christ.”
Remembering that Jesus is the center of faith “regenerates us, grounds us.”
Pope Francis further explained the mark of a true “Christian with Christ.”
“The rule is simple: only that which brings you to Jesus is valid, and only that is valid that comes from Jesus. Jesus is the center, the Lord, as He Himself says.”
Christians can avoid false religiosity by adoring Jesus as “the Lord, the only Lord.”
“If you aren’t able to adore Jesus, you’re missing something,” warned Pope Francis.
The sign of a true “Christian with Christ” is one who does “that which comes from Jesus” and that which leads to Jesus.
Such adoration bears true fruit in the life of a Christian, encouraged the Pope.
He said that Jesus also gives “the grace of loving Him so much, of following Him, of going along the path that He has shown us.”
A “Christian with Christ” has the courage to proclaim Jesus as Lord.
Pope Francis exhorted Catholics not to focus on false piety, but rather evangelize and “take the Gospel!”
Amen and Amen!
I find it interesting that not one Catholic on this thread has agreed with the pope about focusing on Jesus.
Yeah, that's a big problem in the Church, people following the commandments. Too much obedience to the rules. And it's only gotten worse over the years, people doing what they're supposed to do without understanding why they're doing it.
A whole lot of good behavior is breaking out all over.
WOW! Francis has left the Catholic Church!
This must be the end times for sure.
>> “ If a conservative does not like Catholicism she worships as she chooses and minds her own business.” <<
.
Only if said ‘conservative’ is NOT a follower of Yeshua HaMashiach.
Believers must try to save catholics from the wide path they follow.
You for got “Say three Hail NWOs.”
Do you also try to save Episcoples?
But st5ill, consider this:
Christ Himself founded the Church: Matthew 16:18.
Christ Himself said people should listen to the Church.
The Church is the Bride, and Christ the Bridegroom, as we are told repeatedly in the Gospels, the Epistles, and Revelation.
So accepting a lasting rift between yourself and the Church is not something pleasing to Christ, and certainly not a way to get closer to Him. He didn't say "By all means, avoid anything that makes you uncomfortable."
He said, "Take up your Cross daily."
Most of them are just catholics in disguise.
Freep-mail me to get on or off my pro-life and Catholic List:
Please ping me to note-worthy Pro-Life or Catholic threads, or other threads of general interest.
So do you try to save them? I think you just need to check your face, because your nose is in somebody else’s business. The Protestant churches are in deep need of reform. If you are a Protestant like me, you should start there.
My nose is in the business that Yeshua commanded it to be in.
Letting people suffer in ignorance is not a part of his plan.
I misrecall, are you SDA?
Now that’s funny!
**Jesus is “the center” of faith, said the Pope.**
There-—————————will all the non-Catholics please re-read this line!
Didn’t happen at my church — the homily was on the Gospel. Where are people getting this information?
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