The nearly naked king emerging from the background has been generally considered to be the Antichrist. Herod of course was an Antichrist figure. Today's reading at Mass discusses the spirit of the antichrist from the First Letter of John.
Many today are looking to identify THE Antichrist - but as we see in the Bosch detail, and know according to Scripture - his spirit is prevalent among us - he is already in the world. Which is why we must be vigilant - being especially wary of those who attack the Church and the Magisterium.
85 "The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living teaching office of the Church alone. Its authority in this matter is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ." This means that the task of interpretation has been entrusted to the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome.
86 "Yet this Magisterium is not superior to the Word of God, but is its servant. It teaches only what has been handed on to it. At the divine command and with the help of the Holy Spirit, it listens to this devotedly, guards it with dedication and expounds it faithfully. All that it proposes for belief as being divinely revealed is drawn from this single deposit of faith."
87 Mindful of Christ's words to his apostles: "He who hears you, hears me", the faithful receive with docility the teachings and directives that their pastors give them in different forms. - CCC
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"We belong to God, and anyone who knows God listens to us,
while anyone who does not belong to God refuses to hear us.
This is how we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit." - 1 John 3
Mindful of Christ's words to his apostles: "He who hears you, hears me", the faithful receive with docility the teachings and directives that their pastors give them in different forms.
Bonus: A thought about sin. Today's reading from John also mentions:
And his commandment is this:we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,and love one another just as he commanded us.If we truly love one another, we would not cause another to sin, nor would we lead them into temptation or use them for sinful pleasure or our selfish self indulgence. Beloved, do not trust every spirit ...
And what about those who hold an office in the Magosterium and are the very dissenters and agents of the Anti-Christ in antipathy to liturgy and even perversion of doctrine, like that seen with the Synod? Kind of a contradiction of sorts eh?
ReplyDeleteWho in particular? Do you think the Pope knows?
DeleteExample: Cardinal Walter Kasper. If he does, there are no signs that he wants to restore order and discipline anyone like Kasper.
DeleteCardinal Kasper confuses me but he has no power.
DeleteI'm disturbed by some Catholics rejecting the authority of the Pope - I just read a an essay by Thomas Peters against the forthcoming anticipated encyclical on the ecology.
The teaching Magisterium is the guarantor of the Faith. It is like the sacrament of penance in a sense - the sacrament is our assurance that our sins are forgiven. Anyone can ask forgiveness of God and hope, but Catholics are assured of pardon in and through the sacrament. Just so, the Magisterium in union with the Pope is our assurance - infallible.
So far, nothing has been defined - discussions are open - but doctrine cannot change - no matter what those close to the Pope suggest.
The Pope has no authority on climate change and is only infallible on matters of faith and morals. Why is that distinction becoming so difficult to grasp these days?
DeleteI would think that issues related to climate change and the ecology would be related to faith and morals. I doubt the Holy Father will be issuing a political policy. There is great confusion in the world and especially among Christians concerning climate change and its impact upon humanity - so the Vicar of Christ certainly should respond to these concerns. I don't think it is unusual.
DeleteFair enough, but I'm not aware that it is settled fact that climate change is necessarily linked to a moral evil. That climates change and that men are responsible for it are two different questions.
DeleteAlso, the more that there are concerns on these so-called 'social issues', issues which the world and secular society consistently focuses on, the more I am skeptical the true role of the Church is being undermined by distractions - perhaps admirable ones in some light - but distractions nonetheless. That's my gut feeling anyway. There are suggestions, from literature and prophecies, that such a focus is a diabolical trap. I think we should take such concerns far more seriously.