Our Faith and Our Beliefs Have Never Changed, Has Yours?

Matthew 5:17-19

Jesus said to his disciples: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.

Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.

Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.

But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven."

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Have you ever heard a person say "That was the old church, we don't do that anymore."

or

"I belong to the modern Church, the post Vatican 2 church, It is now much more open, more loving, and allows for much more individualism."

WHAT!!!!!!

The church has never changed what she believes in. Rather, it continues to understand the revelation at deeper and deeper levels, but has never changed the basics of the faith, the core of our beliefs, our understanding of God's Law.

Jesus didn't come to change anything, he came to fulfill the law, to fulfill what the prophets had declared.

Jesus even stated that not until heaven and earth passes away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law.

How many people have chosen to convince themselves that what was once considered a norm for "Catholic Life" is now not required? In fact, how many have tried to convince others to rationalise their behaviors in a similar fashion?

Do they realise, that by their actions, "they will be called the "least" in the kingdom of heaven?

Here is an example: Eating meat on Fridays, all Fridays.

How many catholics think that the guideline for abstaining from Meat on Fridays was dropped after Vatican 2 and don't give eating meat on Fridays through out the year a second thought?

Most Catholics think that Vatican II did away with the requirement of not eating meat on any Friday of the year. Most think it is now just Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent that we cannot eat meat.

This is what the new Code of Canon Law brought out in 1983 says about the matter:

Canon 1251: Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

Canon Law still requires that Catholics not eat meat on Fridays!

Of course, most Episcopal Conferences have determined that, instead of abstaining from meat, Catholics may perform an act of penance of their choosing.

But, do they ever remember to abstain from a particular food or do some other penance on Fridays? And, at any rate, the main rule is still to abstain from meat on Fridays, the performance of another penance instead is an optional alternative.

It's very interesting to note that the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (the United States' Episcopal Conference) is currently debating whether to rescind the determination and require all Catholics to abstain from meat on all Fridays of the year.

The Bishops are considering that a return to meatless Fridays for all Catholics would be of benefit because:

It is an expression of one's Catholicity; and
In reparation for the grave sin of abortion.

Lets ask ourselves: Are we a person who looks for loopholes to justify what we really want to do (Our own agenda), or do we as a disciple of Christ, a disciple of our Church, A disciple of the Apostles, humbly accept all the teachings and guidelines, and sincerely try each day to be obedient