Does God Harden the Human Heart?

The words of the Apostle, "So then he has mercy on whomever he chooses, and he hardens the heart of whomever he chooses" (Rom 9: 18) are highly puzzling, even scandalising, to some. In the circumstances, it is essential to know the background of this utterance of St Paul in his letter to the Romans, in order to resolve the doubt.

God chose Israel as his own people. But they rejected Jesus. Hence it was God's will that salvation should be given to the gentiles. God can, by his almighty power, bring anyone he likes to salvation and can punish anyone he wishes to punish - this is the underlying principle in St Paul's assertion in Romans (Rom 9:18), and it is in relation to this idea that his above statement should be seen.

The Background of the Old Testament

In order to proclaim God's name throughout the world and to reveal his power he raised up Pharaoh (cf Ex 9:16; Rom 9:17). All the same, Pharaoh became hard-hearted. This event in the book of Exodus is the background of Rom 9:18. We read several times in Exodus that Pharaoh became hard-hearted by refusing to grant freedom to the Israelites.

"Pharaoh's heart is hardened; he refuses to let the people go" (Ex 7:14). The same idea can be clearly seen again in Exodus 7:22; 8:15,19,32; 9:7. The truth is that by his own fault, Pharaoh hardened his heart (cf Ex 5:2). It is also true that God gave him several occasions to be converted. But Pharaoh failed to make use of those occasions and that is why God made Pharaoh's heart hard (cf Ex 4:21; 7:3; 9:12; 10:1,20,27; 11:10). Pharaoh could have cooperated with God as Cyrus the Persian king cooperated with divine inspiration and gave freedom to the Israelite nation. But he did not do so. We read in the Old Testament that God made the hearts of many other kings also hard (for example, cf Dt 2:30; Jos 11 :20). At the same time we must not forget that it is God himself who will "remove from...(our) body the heart of stone and give...(us) a heart of flesh"(Ez 36:2).

Jesus spoke in parables in order that "they may indeed look, but not perceive and may indeed listen, but not understand; so that they may not turn again and be forgiven" (Mk4:12). This is indeed a statement similar to that in Rom 9:18. Jesus is here quoting an Old Testament prophecy. "Keep listening, but do not comprehend; keep looking, but do not understand" (Is 6:9-10). Though the people listened to the parables and teachings of Jesus, they hardened their hearts because of their own stubbornness. This is the meaning of the statement in the original Greek. The parallel statement in Matthew's gospel, "This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand" (Mt 13: 13 RSV) is more explicit and clarifies the idea further.

The Thinking of the Ancients

We need to see the viewpoint of the ancients in the statement “God hardened his heart.” The ancients did not clearly distinguish between the divine power and human freedom behind any action. They did not either do any philosophical analysis of the relationship between the two. Their guiding principle was to depend on God and go forward.

"But who indeed are you, a human being, to argue with God? Will what is moulded say to the one who moulds it 'why have you made me like this?'" (Rom 9:20). Such trends of thought of St Paul are worth remembering in this context. The ancient people saw God as the final cause of all events. Man cannot of himself complete his sojourn in this world. The ancients firmly believed that God is the controlling power and Lord of all history. The truth is that even the sinful acts committed by man misusing his freedom were ascribed to God by Israel ! But we know that God does not make man commit sin. Neither does it mean that God beforehand decides and hardens man's heart. Man rejects God's love and call. God observes this and shows his displeasure towards man. In order to make this clear the Bible says "God hardened man's heart.” This does not conform to modern man's reasoning and thinking - that is all. God is also all merciful. To realise that God shows mercy to man is not difficult for us. That God who loves will also punish is a truth that stands revealed in the statement "God hardens man's heart”. Salvation and punishment go together. It is difficult at times to grasp this truth.

Man’s Freedom and Hard-heartedness

The history of man's first sin proves that though God's omnipotence is working in the universe and in individuals, man has the freedom to choose evil. Flavius Josephus, the Jewish historian, who lived in the beginning of the first century (A. D), had grasped this truth very well, It is the freedom to love God or to reject his commandments that makes man, man. A mechanical love and service of God have no validity. True holiness is to fight the battles of life, win the victory and be sanctified.

God does not make man fall into sin. The word of God testifies that there is no evil in him(cf Ps 5:4; Hab 1 :13). St James says this very explicitly: "No one, when tempted should say, ‘I am being tempted by God';  for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one" (1 :13).

All men are beggars before God. Those who prayerfully stretch out their hands before God,  the King of kings, will receive blessings and graces from him. It is no use being surprised at those who, because of their own fault fail to do so and consequently do not receive his mercy. Even today, of the people attending a convention, some achieve conversion of heart while others return with hardness of heart. At the last judgement there will be sheep and goats. In short, God’s absolute power and man's freedom are two sides of the same coin. One is at liberty to choose life or death (cf Dt 30:19).

Concluding Thoughts

It is true that God chooses some and punishes others. It was not the elder son Esau that he chose but the younger one, Jacob. In the sight of God no one has the right to demand justice or claim salvation. St Paul says very clearly that everything is God's gift and mercy. He has the freedom to distribute his gifts to those whom he likes. Man, however, has to do the works of justice, believe in Jesus Christ, the Apostle continues to explain. St James too highlights the necessity to do works of faith.

It is a fact that even today there are numerous people who refuse to listen to the word of God, and like Pharaoh and the Israelite nation, harden their hearts. "Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion"(Heb 3: 15). Let us listen to the prophetic voice telling us to remove from our body the heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh (cf Ez 36:26). If this heart transplantation must take place in us we must have a heart on which the law is written by the Holy Spirit (cf Jer 31 :33).

Source: Questions PEOPLE Ask on the Bible by Dr. Paul Kariamadam

Faith apart from works is barren

Faith apart from works is barren


14 How does it help, my brothers, when someone who has never done a single good act claims to have faith? Will that faith bring salvation?

15 If one of the brothers or one of the sisters is in need of clothes and has not enough food to live on,

16 and one of you says to them, 'I wish you well; keep yourself warm and eat plenty,' without giving them these bare necessities of life, then what good is that?
17 In the same way faith, if good deeds do not go with it, is quite dead.
18 But someone may say: So you have faith and I have good deeds? Show me this faith of yours without deeds, then! It is by my deeds that I will show you my faith.

19 You believe in the one God -- that is creditable enough, but even the demons have the same belief, and they tremble with fear.

20 Fool! Would you not like to know that faith without deeds is useless?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by his deed, because he offered his son Isaac on the altar?

22 So you can see that his faith was working together with his deeds; his faith became perfect by what he did.

23 In this way the scripture was fulfilled: Abraham put his faith in God, and this was considered as making him upright; and he received the name 'friend of God'.

24 You see now that it is by deeds, and not only by believing, that someone is justified.

25 There is another example of the same kind: Rahab the prostitute, was she not justified by her deeds because she welcomed the messengers and showed them a different way to leave?

26 As a body without a spirit is dead, so is faith without deeds.

Cardinal Newman reiterates this point:

"On the whole, then salvation is both by faith and by works. St James says, not dead faith, and St Paul , not dead works. St James, “not by faith only, “for that would be dead faith; St. Paul, “not by works only,” for such would be dead works. Faith alone can make works living; works alone can make faith living. Take away either, and you take away both – he alone has faith has works – he alone has works who has faith."

Predestination - Homily of Fr Jessie

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A (July 24, 2011)
My brothers and sisters in Christ,
In our first reading today we heard about a man who made a good start toward the kingdom. His name was Solomon and ruled Israel after David. In a dream Solomon was offered anything he desired. He could have asked for wealth or triumph over his enemies, but he did not. He asked God for an understanding heart to judge his people and to distinguish right from wrong. It was a beautiful desire and it pleased God.

Solomon, however, was not able to carry on till the end. He got involved in lustful practices and he allowed foreign gods into Jerusalem. Solomon began a process of decline that required prophets to get them back on the right track. So, we can see in Solomon a man given the gift of wisdom, but then not carrying through to the end.

The second reading for today speaks about predestination.  Predestination is not understood as like a god who predestined Solomon to sin and eventually would perish to hell.  God could not be good and at the same time predestine some people to sin and hell. In our Catechism of the Catholic Church 1037 we read: "God predestines no one to go to hell; for this, a willful turning away from God (a mortal sin) is necessary, and persistence in it until the end.” It is truly not correct to think that we cannot choose good or evil; this has been chosen for us. Like Solomon, we cannot go around blaming the things that happen in our life to fate. Nor can we blame the devil as in “The devil made me do it".  We have to take responsibility for our own actions.  Even if something negative happens to us beyond our control, like sickness, we have the ability to use this situation to progress ourselves in virtue and glorify the Lord.  As St. Paul tells to the Romans, “We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” Though it is also true that we have the ability to allow a difficult situation to destroy us but if we choose what is true and good then we are allowing God's predestination to take its effect among us.

Predestination is God's choice to share his love with us.  St. Paul tells the Romans that we are called to share the image of God's Son.  By sharing this image we are justified from our sinfulness, raised up to the life of God, and glorified with Him.  To put all this simply: we are predestined to share God's goodness, but we have the freedom to reject this goodness. 

Three aspects of God's kingdom are highlighted in today’s Gospel reading: the necessity of recognizing its ultimate value, the necessity of responding with total commitment, and the possibility of rejecting the gift of eternal life that it brings. Though we are predestined to share God’s goodness but if we fail to recognize its value and to respond with total commitment, we will soon suffer the pain of its loss.

Jesus offers us hidden treasure: his very self. We may have made a down payment on the hidden treasure, but what had happened to Solomon can possibly happen to us because unlike St. Francis or Mother Teresa, we have not yet sold all. Still, it is good to make the down payment…for if we trust in Jesus, he will help us complete the purchase. Make no mistake, the price is everything.


Puji Tuhan! Alleluia.

Matthew 5: 43 - 48. LOVE.

Matthew 5: 43 - 48. LOVE. 22 June 2011

1. The Gospel open with this verse
[43] "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'

That is something that just come naturally to us. Those that are close to us, those that are like us, they are the ones we love. But our enemies - our natural response is to hate them.

Enemy is someone Who is Not Worthy of Our Love?

By human standards, there are some people who are just not worthy of our love. They don’t deserve it, and so they don’t get. That’s the way it works.

2. But Jesus has a different approach
[44] But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

God’s standard is different from human standards. Instead of asking, “Who is not worthy of your love?” God asks, “Who do you love who’s not worthy?” An enemy does not deserve your love, but God says to love him anyway.

Just what does it mean to love your enemy? These days love often gets defined as just an emotion, a feeling. But love in the Bible goes well beyond how you feel about something. It is a decision, sometimes a decision to do something opposite to what you feel like doing.

3. I’d like you to listen to the words of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 which we often hear in the context of loving people who we want to love. Tonight, I’d like you to hear these words and think about how they apply to your enemies.

So pick one or two of your enemies: someone who’s done you wrong. Think about that person and listen to how Jesus would have you treat them.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. [5] It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
[6] Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. [7] It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. [8] Love never fails.

4. WHY?

Why should we love them? If we’re going to pursue something so contrary to our nature and our desires, we ought to have a good reason for doing so. Jesus tells us in verse 45 why we need to love our enemies:

[45] that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.

There’s only one reason to love your enemies. You should do it because it’s just what your Dad would do. That’s just the way God treats them. When we love our enemies, we demonstrate that we are God’s children. We prove our relationship with him. Jesus gives two examples.

A)He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good,

B) and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

5. God’s Love is Based on Grace
God’s love is one sided. It’s non-reciprocal. You don’t have to do anything to earn God’s love, to deserve God’s love. You just get it.

6. Man’s Love is Based on Merit
human beings love on the basis of reciprocal relationships.

Our love is given in return for something else. In other words, I’ll love you because you’ve earned my love or because you’re entitled to my love. You love me. So I’ll love you back.

7. Jesus says, anyone can do that. But you can do better.

[46] If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?

[47] And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

8. [48] Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

It sounds like Jesus is setting a standard we cannot possibly achieve. The word perfect here means complete or thorough. 4

Jesus is talking about the way we ought to love. Loving only our friends and our family is an incomplete love that any human being can do. But loving your enemy—loving those that hate you and those that hate God—that kind of love is mature. That is true love. Complete. Perfect.

Theme : SPOUSE "Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids Matthew 25:1-13"

This parable foretold the suddenness and unexpectedness of the Lord's coming. It calls for us to be prepared for that moment. There are four things we need to understand from the parable: the wedding, the bridesmaids, the bridegroom, and the warning.

I. THE WEDDING (v. 1)

In Biblical times, weddings were the big community event. They were the greatest social celebration. Everyone got involved: friends, families, and neighbors. They were a time of happiness and festivity. For the Arrangement of a Marriage - there were three elements in a Jewish marriage of that time. 1. The engagement 2. The betrothal 3. The wedding. So the Anticipation Before a Marriage is a long process and there was serious preparation.

II. THE BRIDESMAIDS (vv. 1-5)

a) The outward appearance - The Bridesmaids are the people who profess to be Christians.. They say they know Christ, and they anticipate His coming. They even say they are prepared for Him; they have on their wedding garment and have their lampstand. Their presence symbolizes their interest in Christ and their lampstand symbolizes their profession of faith in Christ. They all show outward marks of watching for the coming of the bridegroom: Christ. They are gathered as bridesmaids, waiting to be received into the glorious marriage celebration.

b) The inward reality - On the surface the ten bridesmaids are the same. Yet they are not the same. Verse 2 says "five of them were wise [Gk., phronimos, `thoughtful, sensible, prudent'], and five were foolish [Gk., moros, `moron, stupid']." It may not be clear which is which, but He who searches men's hearts knows (1 Sam. 16:7). The Lord reads our character and marks our place. The Lord knows them that are his, and them that are not his, in every assembly of worshippers"

Matthew 25:3-4 says, "They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them; but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps." The foolish had no oil, so they were not prepared for Christ's return. Their attachment to Christ was merely external. They hadn't secured the most important thing of all: the oil necessary to light the lampstand. The oil represents saving grace. In a crowd of people who outwardly appear to honor Christ will be some whose hearts are unprepared. They have not received salvation by grace.

An Unpopular Message

Throughout His ministry, Christ repeatedly warned that there will be people attaching themselves to the church who are not saved. For example, He said that in His kingdom on earth would grow both wheat and tares. He warned they would look so much alike that we are not to pull out the tares lest we pull out the wheat (Matt. 13:28-29). The separation of the two will take place when the Lord returns (v. 30).

III. THE BRIDEGROOM (vv. 6-12)

A. The Arrival - This moment in the wedding is analogous to the moment of Christ's second coming.

B. The Awakening

C. The Appeal - What did the foolish one do when they realized they had no oil? Matthew 25:8 says, "The foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out."

Lesson that we can learn – Salvation is a personal responsibility

If we're called to the judgment seat of God-- whether at death or the second coming--no one can help us. All the saints in heaven and the believers on earth could weep on our behalf but that wouldn't save us. Salvation is non-transferable. As we will see in a moment, the wise bridesmaids didn't give any oil to the foolish ones. That's not because they were selfish; it's just that an unbeliever can't ask a believer for salvation. Every person is accountable to make his own life right before God.

D. The Answer

The answer from the wise bridesmaids appears in verse 9: "Not so, lest there be not enough for us and you; but go rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves." That the foolish bridesmaids are told to buy oil doesn't mean salvation can be bought. It's a free gift (Rom. 6:23). But there is a price: you have to give up your very self. No one can give you salvation. You have to go to God on your own. The foolish bridesmaids could have gotten oil, but not at midnight. They had the opportunity, but they slept it away. They weren't allowed to be a part of the wedding ceremony without a lit lampstand. They didn't have what was necessary.

D. The Abandoning

1. The reception & rejection into the kingdom

In verse 10 we read that while the foolish virgins went to get oil "the bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage; and the door was shut." There was no place for the foolish virgins to buy oil at midnight.

The door into the kingdom is open now. But someday it will be shut. Some people will be caught unprepared. They will know the same shock as those who appear before the Lord in Matthew 7:22-23: "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out demons? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess to them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

IV. THE WARNING (v. 13) -The parable concludes, "Watch, therefore; for ye know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of man cometh" (v. 13). Watch ye, therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the son of man."

Love Letter from Father in Heaven

My Child,

You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up. Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways. Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image. Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being. Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring. Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived. Jeremiah 1:4-5

 

I chose you when I planned creation. Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb. Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born. Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me. John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. 1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. 1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child and I am your Father. 1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father. Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand. James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you. Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession. Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things. Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires. Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. Psalm 34:18


As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth.Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus.John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being. Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. 1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. 1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you from my love again. Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. Luke 15:7

 

I have always been Father, and will always be Father. Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…Will you be my child? John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad

Almighty God

“Just as all men die in ADAM, so all men will be brought to life in His Son, Jesus Christ”

How can some among you say there is no resurrection of Christ? A problem that St. Paul was dealing with the people in Corith. What a horrible thought that is …. No resurrection of Christ.


When our first grandfather ADAM fall, Death dawn on all mankind. In fact, Death came through ADAM. The world was in darkness and “fallen asleep” as St Paul described in the scripture tonight.

Our Heavenly Father, in HIS work of Salvation for all mankind, sent HIS only son to redeem HIS creatures. How did Jesus redeem mankind? Through His Passion, Death and Resurrection. At the resurrection, all things were made new and there is the beginning of a new creation.

“Just as all men die in ADAM, so all men will be brought to life in His Son, Jesus Christ” This is the highlight of tonight second reading. “Just as all men die in ADAM, so all men will be brought to life in His Son, Jesus Christ”

First Adam brought death; Last Adam brought eternal life.

First Adam brought condemnation; Last Adam brought justification.

Adam disobedience and its consequences were passed on to all of us without exception. However, Christ obedience and righteousness is passed on to all who repent and believe in Him. Adam stood for many and brought death upon all; Jesus Christ stood for many and brings eternal life to all who trust in Him.

Brother & sister in Christ, Let us put our complete trust in Jesus. We all hope that one day we may experience our own Assumption.