Peter Kreeft, a philosophy Professor at Boston College, is the author of a book called '40 Reasons Why I am a Catholic.' Kreeft is a convert to the faith, who reasoned his way into the Catholic Church by chasing the truth, through intense research, and following it wherever it led him.
Kreeft's first reason, 'reason number 1', is this:
I am a Catholic because it’s true.
The Gospels, all the other books of the New Testament, the teaching that Jesus founded one Church and entrusted Peter and the Apostles - with the authority to continue His ministry, guided infallibly by the Holy Spirit...
Kreeft says these things are all true.
And he doesn't stop there. What else is true, in the teaching of the Catholic Church?
The two natures of Jesus, the Holy Trinity, Marriage as a sacrament entered into by one man and one woman, the absolute value and dignity of every person, the effectiveness of the seven sacraments as channels of God’s grace, the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist under the appearances of bread and wine; the teachings on the Angels and Archangels, on Mary’s Immaculate Conception and Assumption into heaven, on the Church’s mission to provide authoritative interpretation of the Scriptures, and on the efficacy of saints as mediators.
Why mention this today when Jesus is busy preaching, healing, and exorcizing? Jesus is preaching the Kingdom of God, Healing Simon’s mother-in-law and many others, and casting out demons - why bring up this book?
Jesus has preached the whole day and now comes to Simon’s house, and Simon's mother-in-law is ill. Jesus does not hesitate to go and stand over her, rebuke the severe fever, and heal her. Watch what she does...
She immediately gets up, and in gratitude, starts serving Jesus and the guests.
In the evening they bring all those who are ill, and Jesus lays hands on them and heals them.
In a small book, called 'God is not Nice', the author makes it clear that God is not to be trifled with. God is not your uncle who Is afraid to offend. God is more like a volcano erupting at demons, at lies, at hypocrisy and at evil. Get out of this God’s way. Jesus, is not nice to the demons, as we see in Scripture, and He rebukes them.
Jesus knows that many want a messiah who wusccbill come and lead a revolution against Rome with powerful armies of soldiers and violence and bloodshed. He is not that messiah. He is on the most consequential mission ever to save the world and to rescue souls so that they can spend eternity with God, Mary. the angels and saints. This is a mission far beyond a simple conquest of worldly armies.
Jesus is on a mission to save the world, especially through families united in Faith, Hope and Love, families reconciled with God and each other. Whenever Jesus has a spare moment, He disappears to a deserted place to pray to the Father. This is the source of His power, energy, His nourishment for the journey.
Whenever a family spends time in prayer, it too, is touching the source of power, energy, love, and food for the journey.
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