25th Sunday, Which Religion is the Greatest?

 

Are all religions the same? Are all religions pathways to God? Pope Leo XIII answered these questions when he said “…. the great error of this age-that a regard for religion should be held as an indifferent matter, and that all religions are alike. This manner of reasoning is calculated to bring about the ruin of all forms of religion, and especially of the Catholic religion, which, as it is the only one that is true, cannot, without great injustice, be regarded as merely equal to other religions.” Humanum Genus #16

In the Gospel, Jesus told His apostles, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill Him, and three days after His death the Son of Man will rise.” Our Lord just told them He was going to suffer and die and now they are discussing among themselves who was the greatest. Oh my.

When Our Lord told them, He was going to suffer and die and then rise three days later, He was telling them how to be the servant of all and the last of all. By Jesus’ suffering and death and being treated as the least and by His willingness to suffer and die for all of us, He serves all. He said, “...the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matt. 20:28)

Two Christians (one Catholic and one Protestant) were discussing among themselves each saying their religion is better than the other.

There is one religion better than others. There is one religion everything God has given to mankind to be saved. And that religion is the Catholic faith.

We don’t say that so others will think we are better than them. We tell the truth, because we are servants of the truth. We want to help everyone to come to the fullness of truth revealed by God, so as to help them to obtain heaven.

The Methodist church was founded by Charles Wesley. The Lutheran church was founded by Martin Luther. The Baptist church was founded by John Smyth. But, the Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ. Jesus founded only one Church, the Catholic Church.

The Catholic faith is better than the other religions because Jesus Himself founded the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church has all 7 sacraments and the fullness of revelation (God’s truth) revealed through Jesus Christ.

All religions are not a pathway to God, because some religions do not have Jesus as the pathway to the Father and not all religions have the same beliefs about Jesus.

Buddha, Confucius, Mohammad can’t save anyone. They are not pathways to God. They didn’t die for anyone and even if they would have died for others, they still could not have saved anyone from their sins because only God can do that. Only Jesus, who is both God and man, can reconcile us to the Father.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.” (John 14:6) Jesus is the only way to the Father. Jesus is the only mediator between God and man.

St. Paul said, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1 Timothy 2:4-6)

Only Jesus, as God, could offer Himself as a ransom for all by His suffering and death on the Cross that is why He is the only mediator between God and man.

Yet, everyone who prays, offers supplications and intercessions for others mediates for others. We can ask Jesus to help others, therefore we mediate for them.

But, ours is only a human meditation. Jesus' mediation is divine and only He, as God and man, can ransom us from our sins.

There are many different Christian religions such as Lutherans, Methodists, Baptists, Episcopalians, Catholic, Christian, Congregationalists, etc…. and most believe Jesus is God and He is Savior. But, all don’t have the same beliefs.

Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses and Muslims don’t believe Jesus is God. Every religion cannot be a pathway to God if they differ on who God is and how God can save us.

How do we know Jesus is both God and man? The early Church councils such as the Council of Nicea (325 AD) and Council of Ephesus (431 AD), etc…. help us to know the truth about God.

Church councils proclaimed Jesus has two natures, human and divine. And there are three persons of the Trinity. A council proclaimed the three persons are equal and have the same substance.

God uses Church councils to help us to resolve questions about God and what God desires of us.

The very first Church council is Council of Jerusalem. (Acts 15) Early Christians wondered if they can eat meat sacrificed to idols. After all, Christians knew idols are not gods. They wondered, what harm would it cause to eat meat sacrificed to idols, if they didn’t believe in the pagan ideas? They also wondered if new Gentile (non-Jew) converts to Christianity should be obligated to be circumcised, which was a Jewish tradition. How would they resolve these issues? Church authority. The 12 apostles gathered together in Jerusalem to discuss the controversy. Once Peter stood up and spoke, all fell silent. He acted as the leader of the Apostles. It was decided Christians should not eat meat sacrificed to idols, because it would appear as though they believed in the false idols. And it was decided non-Jewish converts were not required to be circumcised.

The pagan religion which worshiped idols and Judaism, which does not accept Jesus, are not pathways to the Father, because Jesus came to save us and reconcile us to the Father by His suffering, death, resurrection and ascension into heaven. Only Jesus is the Savior. Only Jesus can reconcile us to the Father. Only Jesus is the way to the Father.

Jesus left us 7 sacraments (outward signs to bestow grace). Most Christian religions have 2 sacraments Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. But they don’t believe the same things we do about the Eucharist and about Baptism.

For example, non-Catholic religions believe the Eucharist is only a symbol. They don’t believe the Mass is a sacrifice. They don’t believe the Eucharist is the real and true flesh of Jesus.

But, Catholics believe the sacrifice of Calvary becomes present on the altar during Mass. Catholics believe the bread is totally and completely changed into the resurrected person of Jesus.

Baptists don’t believe original sin and personal sins are washed away through baptism. Lutherans and Orthodox believe in Baptism of infants, while Baptists don’t.

Lutherans believe and teach that baptism forgives the guilt of original sin, but the sinful nature that remains is real sin.

However, Catholics believe original sin, personal sin and the punishment due to sin is washed away at baptism. We believe God comes to dwell within the temple of heart, we become children of God, we enter into the very mystery of God’s divine life and we believe baptism opens the gates of heaven for us.

Most Christian religions reject Church authority. All religions can’t be the same if they don’t accept the authority of the Church.

Catholics have always accepted Church authority. Christ promised to protect the teaching of the Church: "He who hears you, hears me; he who rejects you rejects me, he who rejects me, rejects Him who sent me" (Luke 10:16) Catholics believe Church Councils and Popes have the gift of infallibility when proclaiming a specific doctrine on faith and morals binding all the faithful to believe it. Catholics believe Jesus gave us 7 sacraments (Baptism, Confession, Eucharist, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, Marriage and Priesthood).

Through sacraments Jesus bestows grace to sanctify us and help us to obtain heaven. Most every Christian religion has different teachings and morals. So all religions are not the same. All cannot be true, especially if they contradict each other.

If one religion believes abortion and euthanasia is okay and another believes these are wrong, which religion is right?

The Catholic Church, because only our Church was given authority by God for all of humanity.

We don’t follow a religion that makes us feel good, rather we take up our cross and follow Jesus.

There is a wide path and narrow path to heaven. The narrow path is full of sufferings, persecutions, pain and crosses. While the wide path is easy.

We need Jesus. It is our duty as Christians to proclaim Jesus is Savior. It is our duty to help as many as possible come to the fullness of truth found in the Catholic Church, because those who accept it, will find the easiest and most sure pathway to heaven.

We want everyone to come to know and love Him. He died for us on the Cross, that we may have life abundantly with Him in heaven.

Today, and every day, make Jesus, the Lord of your life. Give yourself to Him and allow Him to lead you. Confess your sins to our Savior, so He can save you from them.

Though you may fall on that narrow hard and arduous road, Jesus will be there to pick you up, encourage you, help you to carry your cross and give you peace. If we love our family and friends, we will help them to become Catholic, the best and greatest religion, because it is the only religion given the fullness of truth to mankind by God.

And let us pray the Holy Rosary for fallen away Catholics and non-Catholics, that Our Lady will touch their hearts and bring them to Jesus Christ, Her Son, Our Lord and Savior in the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church founded by Jesus Christ.