This post got my attention recently: list your three favorite Bible verses. I tried picking three; couldn't do it.
I decided to set a lower standard for myself and pick three favorites from the Ax of the Apostles, which coincidentally are discussed in Catechism class...which makes this a catechetical post. Here they are, the Top Three Ax:
"And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they believed." (Ax 14:23)
Paul and Barnabas did not allow the new flocks to hire their own shepherds. Paul and Barnabas appointed shepherds for them (although the congregations could propose candidates). As God spoke through Jeremiah: "I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding," and "I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, says the LORD."
"For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things" (Ax 15:28)
The Apostles, Paul, Barnabas, and the elders meet in Jerusalem, and decide on their own authority that clear Scriptural instructions about the necessity of circumcision (and other observances) simply do not apply to Christians, thus rendering whole swathes of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy null and void. And to top it off, this proto-Magisterium also confidently says the Holy Spirit agrees with them! The effrontery! The authority! Take that, you newly-baptized Pharisees!
"And God did extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, and diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them." (Ax 19:11)
Can Sacraments really be more than symbols? Can they effect spiritual changes in those who receive them? How about relics? Is there any value in a saint's clothes or body parts? This post-Ascension passage suggests there is.
In conclusion, picking 3 verses only from Ax was harder than I expected.
I know that's not much of a conclusion, but school's out for the summer.
9 comments:
Okay, these are going into the file that I have named "The Case for Catholicism." And I love "Ax of the Apostles!"
Those are awesome Ax!
Interesting that Paul and Barnabas didn't allow them to choose their own shepherds!! Very telling!
And, that is a great reference for relics. Love it!
Those Ax may be relix!
You forgot to list my favorite Axe:
Axt 17:28.
Thus my url & blog title:
http://acts17verse28.blogspot.com/
In Him we live & move & have our being
"You forgot to list my favorite Axe: Ax 17:28."
Hey you should do a top 3 ax at your blog & then post here.
I started this meme and am happy to see so many people being tagged and the meme continuing. I love your "Ax" of the Apostles and your reflections on the verses.
It's interesting that we today can write to our bishops and propose a priest to be put forward by our bishop to be considered as a future bishop. I'm really glad the Church doesn't let the faithful decide on bishops. Politics is bad enough in the secular world and bad enough in the Church as it is without priests lobbying for a bishop position!
"I'm really glad the Church doesn't let the faithful decide on bishops."
God forbid; can you imagine the politicking & polarization?
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to mention that I have truly enjoyed surfing around your blog posts.I’m hoping you write once more very soon!
AX candidates
Thank you! I wound up using the catechetical content to write a book, and then was ready for a break We have moved to Ecuador since then. Once life settles down I hope to post more.
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