“we have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine...

We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high-priest for ever (Hebrews 6:19-20)

Apologetics by: Deacon Mark Matthias "No follower of mine wanders in the dark; he shall have the light of life" (John 8:12 )

3 (apologetics) Merriam Webster dictionary: 1.systematic argumentative discourse in defense (as of a doctrine) 2.a branch of theology devoted to the defense of the divine origin and authority of Christianity What are Apologetics?

4 Why do you worship Mary? Why do you have a Pope? Why do you have Priests? Why do you confess to a Priest? Why do you keep Jesus on the cross? Do you really believe youre eating the Body and Blood of Jesus? Questions Catholics get asked:

5 We venerate and honor Mary as our blessed Mother, but we worship and adore God alone! While dying on the cross, Jesus said to John, behold your mother woman, behold your son (John 19:25:27) The 4 th Commandment says: Honor your father and your mother In the Old Testament, the Queen Mother has authority to help the King run his kingdom. (1 Kings 2:19-20) Why do you worship Mary? Is she a goddess to you?

6 Bathsheba went to King Solomon, to speak to him on behalf of Adonijah. And the king rose to meet her, and bowed down to her; then he sat on his throne, and had a seat brought for the king's mother; and she sat on his right. Then she said, "I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me." And the king said to her, "Make your request, my mother; for I will not refuse you 1 Kings 2:19-20

7 The Wedding Feast at Cana When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine. Jesus said to her, Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come. His mother said to the servers, Do whatever he tells you The Gospel recorded by John 2:3-5

8 Pope comes from the Latin word papa which means daddy or father. In early Christianity, all Bishops were called, papa. In the 11 th century, the term papa was reserved solely for whoever was named Bishop of Rome which today is Pope Francis (the Holy Father). The Pope is the successor of St. Peter who was chosen by Jesus to be first Pope to lead his Church: Why do you have a Pope?

9 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven... Matthew 16:18-19

10 Jesus quotes the prophet Isaiah who speaks of Eliakim being appointed by God to be a steward over the Kingdom of David. (Isaiah 22:20-23) In that day I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. And I will fasten him like a peg in a sure place, and he will become a throne of honor to his father's house. And they will hang on him the whole weight of his father's house (Isaiah 22:20-23) The keys of the kingdom

11 YES! In St. Pauls letter to the Ephesians he says: and he has put all things under his feet [Jesus] and has made him the head over all things for the church (Ephesians 1:22) The Catechism of the Catholic Church says: The Church is this Body of which Christ is the head: she lives from him, in him, and for him; he lives with her and in her. (CCC 807) Jesus is, was, and always will be the head of his Church! That is why the Church is HOLY even when its leaders and followers are not! Isnt Jesus the head of the Church?"

12 First priest mentioned in the Bible is Melchizedek who worshipped God with Abraham: And Melchizedek king of Salem (Jerusalem) brought out bread and wine; he was a priest of God Most High. (Genesis 14:18) In the Book of Exodus, God commanded Moses brother Aaron and his sons to be Priests. (Exodus 28:1-5) Later, God commanded the Sons of Levi and their descendents to be Priests. (Exodus 32:22-35) Why do we have Priests?

13 Later, God commanded the Sons of Levi and their descendents to be Priests. (Exodus 32:22-35) Priest performed sacrifices for the people, taught the people, prayed for the people and interceded to God for the people, same as our Priest do today. Priests wore brightly colored vestments so people knew they were trained to lead in worship, just as a Judge wears a robe to show they are trained to lead a courtroom. Why do we have Priests?

14 Exodus 28:1-5 "Then bring near to you Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the people of Israel, to serve me as priests And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty These are the garments which they shall make: a breast-piece, an ephod, a robe, a coat of checker work, a turban, and a girdle They shall receive gold, blue and purple and scarlet, and fine twined linen...

15 Ancient Jewish Priest Todays Priest

16 In the OT, the Book of Numbers says God gave the priesthood as a "gift" to the people: And you [Aaron and Levi] and your sons shall attend to your priesthood for all that concerns the altar and that is within the veil [Temple] I give your priesthood as a gift.... (Numbers 18:7) The Twelve Apostles were the first Priest ordained by Jesus, the eternal High-Priest, to assist Jesus in his ministry by doing all things in memory of him. ( Hebrews 4:14-15; Luke 22:19) Why do we have Priests?

17 Because God said so! In the Old Testament, the book of Leviticus says: When a man is guilty in any of these, he shall confess the sin he has committed, and he shall bring his guilt offering to the LORD for the sin which he has committed and the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin. (Lev 5:5-6) Jesus said to them again, Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained. (John 20:21-23) Why do you confess to a Priest?

18 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed... (James 5:16) The Priest acts in the person of Christ (in Latin, In persona Christi), standing in the place of Christ. When we confess our sins to the Priest, we are confessing them directly to Christ. We also get to HEAR Christ say through the Priest, I forgive you Why do you confess to a Priest?

19 Question: If I commit a sin against someone, why do I have to ask God to forgive me? I didnt commit the sin against God, I committed it against that person We all have a Soul that is made in the image and likeness of God. (Genesis 1:27) Because the essence of Gods life lives in all of us, when we sin against each other, or ourselves, we sin against God Why do you confess to a Priest?

20 Matthew Kelly, Catholic Apologist Matthew Kelly has dedicated his life to helping people and organizations become the-best- version-of-themselves! Born in Sydney, Australia, he began speaking and writing in his late teens. Today he is an internationally acclaimed speaker. Raised Catholic, Matthew has been saddened by the lack of engagement among Catholics and founded DynamicCatholic.com to explore what it will take to establish vibrant Catholic communities in the 21st Century

21 They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation teacher. As for you, do not be called teacher. You have but one Teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called master; you have but one Master, the Messiah... (Matthew 23:6-10) I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have many guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel (1 Cor. 4:14-15) Call no man, Father

22 The crucifix is the greatest icon of love the world has ever known because it summarizes the sacrificial love Jesus has for us, and we are to have for each other Jesus said: "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. (John 15:12-14) St. Francis said, It is in giving of ourselves that we receive. What do we receive? Gods Grace! Why do you keep Jesus on the cross? Didnt he rise from it?

23 Catholics don not pray to statues. We look at statues as we pray because the statue reminds us of the person we are asking to pray for us You pray to dead people!? To the Sadducees who did not believe in the afterlife, Jesus said, He is not God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to Him. (Luke 20:38) Btw, why do you pray to statues? Isnt that idolatry?

24 YES! Jesus wants his supernatural life to live in us so we can live FOREVER with him in his Kingdom! This is why Jesus commanded us to Feed our Soul with his holy Word, his Holy Spirit and his Holy Eucharist. I am the bread of life! (John 6:35) Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4) In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. (John 14:20) Do you really believe youre eating the Body and Blood of Jesus?

25 Faith and obedience unlocks our understanding ! John 6:22- 70

26 Transubstantiation (in Latin, transsubstantiatio) is when the bread and the wine used in the sacrament of the Eucharist become, not merely a sign or a symbol, but in reality the body and blood of Christ. The ancient Greek philosopher, Aristotle (c. 350 BC) described how the meaning (the substance) of something can change, even though the physical characteristics (the accidents or elements) do not. St. Thomas Aquinas (c. 1250 AD) applied this logic to the consecration of the bread and wine. Transubstantiation: the substance changes, not the elements

27 A diamond engagement ring looks like a band of metal with a rock on it, unless you are the one who receives that ring. To you, the ring now means love, fidelity, marriage, children, happiness, joy! The physical properties of the diamond ring still look the same, its still a metal band with a rock on it, but the substance, the meaning behind it has changed. It is now YOUR ring and takes on a new meaning that changes your interior life, which is your Soul. It is the same when Jesus, speaking through the Priest, says This is my body and This is my blood. The wafer is consecrated into the Body and Blood of Christ. Why? Because Jesus said so! The wafer still looks like a wafer, but the substance, the meaning of it has changed; it is now the supernatural life of Christ who wants to feed and nourish your supernatural lifeyour Soul! The example of a diamond engagement ring changing its substance

29 The house you live in is your home. However, if you were to sell your house and move to another, the house you left is no longer your home. The walls, the ceilings, the floor, the kitchen and bathroom still look the same in the old house, but the meaning of it has changed. It is no longer your home but just a house a building. You no longer feel the same way about your old house because it is no longer your home. The substance of it has changed even though the physical properties and characteristics of it, has not The example of a house changing its substance

31 Please visit:www.TheJesusPeace.com For more information! I am with you always, even to the end of time... (Matthew 28:20)

How to live Your Christian Faith in Todays World Coming up Next!

33 If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also (John 15:19-20) Jesus said

“we have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine...

Documents