Why Did Jesus Often Seem Abrupt With Mary?

Posted on by charliej373

Behold Your Son

By Charlie Johnston

Just about two months ago a reader from New Jersey named Jerry posed an excellent question to me. Read it yourself:

“I am struggling with an issue that has bothered me for a long time. I can’t seem to get an answer from clergy that I know. Here goes: Why does Jesus in scripture seem disrespectable to his Mother? As a boy disappearing and when found in the Temple He does not even apologize. At the Marriage feast at Cana, He acts like Mary is bothering Him about the wine situation. In, at least one other point, He is told that his Mother and brothers are waiting to see Him and He kind of blows it off! Also, I can’t seem to find any instances of Jesus expressing His love for his Mother. Sorry to bother you with this but I really need a satisfactory answer to this.”

Back when I was teaching RCIA, I had several tricks I used to encourage people to ask honest questions, to explore what really troubled their hearts. If you can’t get to the heart of such things, you can’t really dispel the fears and doubts that sometime plague us all. Unfortunately, people often self-censor in religious groups for fear of causing offense. Others pretend that things are not as they plainly seem to be in order to seem pious. I covered this phenomenon in my meditation on the Book of Job. Job’s friends were conventionally and aggressively pious, but their position required that they pretend to believe nonsensical things – and God later told them that, “You have not spoken rightly of me as has my servant, Job.” The best doctor in the world cannot effectively provide aid if the patient hides his wound. So it is with the wounds of our heart and faith.

I loved the sincere candor of this question – and it is something I have pondered, myself. I am certainly not the final word on this, so I only offer you the thoughts I have formed over the years.

When the adult Jesus speaks to His Mother, He begins by calling her, “Woman.” It is jarring to modern sensibilities and seems to lack much in the way of affection.

I started to read the Bible for myself by the time I was in second grade (I took to reading like a duck takes to water – and was tested to be at a high school level of comprehension in that same grade.) When I was a little kid, the Father was consoling to me, but the Biblical Jesus kind of scared me. Forget what people say: the Jesus of the Bible frequently went on hard, condemnatory fusillades. Pit of vipers…generation of vipers…you hypocrites…let the dead bury the dead (to a grieving adult child)…you must hate your parents. Jesus was a hard Man, in many ways. To make the Jesus of the Bible into the vague, gauzy hippie of pop culture is to be utterly ignorant of the Bible, itself.

There were a lot of hard things that the adults around me just did not speak of at all – probably precisely because they were hard. Jesus said, at different times, that we must love our enemies AND that we must hate our parents, spouse, siblings and children. How did that make any sense to those who actually read the text? So, would it be better for our families to make themselves our enemies so we could then love them? Tough stuff for a little kid. As I got a little older I started to learn more about things like rhetorical hyperbole. I also figured out that, in archaic usage, hate did not mean the malicious enmity it signifies in modern language. It could be as harmless as to prefer the company of one person over another. Thus, if an official had two counselors and regularly preferred the counsel of one over the other, he could be said to hate the counsel of the second best. I understood, but it was still unsettling.

I also noticed that Jesus was always gentle with the broken, the hopeless and the candid, even if they were broken by their own propensity to sin. He reserved His vituperation for the self-righteous and the aggressively hypocritical who sought to dominate and degrade those around them. Over time, this came to console me a lot. Jesus was a hard Man AND a gentle Man – hard on pretentious triumphalism and the protector of those who struggled. It is strange to me that many people who think themselves the most pious of all adopt the very behaviors that Jesus most adamantly condemned. Frankly, it often makes me wonder how many people have read the Bible in any detail at all.

Of course, almost everyone knows that, in the ancient world, women were usually treated as second-class citizens, sometimes as little more than servants. But the Jews were the most respectful of women, in general, even elevating some to Judges and warriors. I read some ancient literature and found the title, “Woman,” was usually used in a respectful way in formal situations. But I also found a few occasions where it was used peremptorily – usually to older servants. Whether respectful or not, it is certainly jarring to my ears – and is certainly not a term of intimacy or endearment. It was a formal mode of address. I took a different tack and looked at the behavior of Jesus following such encounters – and that painted a very different picture than the formal words.

Before continuing, I must tell you I have NEVER subscribed to the notion that the great saints were suddenly told all that God intended for them and then just serenely followed the schematic. I think that to be an absurdly childish notion, contrary to the way we know God acts through the Bible. Revelation does not pop up fully formed like some divine jack-in-the-box. It is always a process, one which unfolds over time and requires us to keep focused on what God intends as we stumble forward. Divine revelation is a mix of metaphorical and literal material – and sometimes the literal seems metaphorical and the metaphorical, literal. The closest any of the Major Prophets of the Old Testament got to seeing and reporting with clarity was Isaiah. Even so, it was not until hundreds of years later that it became obvious how clearly he had seen.

Thus, I am not of any school that believes Mary knew exactly what was to happen from the start. She had to struggle each step of the way, as well. Since she was focused on God (full of grace, you might say), she pondered each event in her heart.

When told by the angel, Gabriel, that she was to be the Mother of the Messiah, I do NOT think she understood that to mean she would be Mother of the Second Person of the Trinity; God, Himself. The Jews all expected the Messiah to be a great temporal leader at that time, thus, I suspect Mary initially thought her son would be the great King and leader foretold. The events of the Nativity and the Presentation certainly suggested that God was doing something new here, much bigger than anyone anticipated, and that the reality would confound Jewish expectations in many ways – and Mary contemplated this in her heart. And so, revelation started unfolding for her at a much deeper level.

After the Temple, Jesus’ response to His parents’ fears does seem insensitive. He only says, “How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49) I think this is a pivotal moment in the ongoing unfolding of revelation to Mary. Jesus knew and understood His Mother’s personality. Here He boldly claims divine filiation to God, Himself. What He was doing was revealing a critical piece of information about who He is for His Mother’s contemplation. This coming of the Messiah was not going to be what anybody then in Israel expected. The tender affection in which He held both Mary and Joseph is revealed in the action that immediately follows: “…he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.” (Luke 2:51)

Note that it does not say Jesus pretended obedience to them, but that He WAS obedient to them. God was obedient to man for a time. I often cite this bit of the Gospel to illustrate that, in Christianity, obedience is not a matter of the lesser submitting to the greater, but rather a means of channeling grace in a divinely-appointed order of things. In this case, the primacy of the family in human affairs is confirmed. Even more, Jesus is giving to His Mother illumination of a reality that is hidden from all Israel – and all the world – at that time. To me, it is the first great sign of how deeply He reveres and trusts His Mother.

Moving to the marriage feast at Cana (John 2:1-12), Jesus’ response to Mary’s observation that the hosts had run out of wine initially seems so brusquely formal that it could be seen as a rebuke. Yet Mary’s reaction – and what Jesus did then starkly reveal the nature of their relationship. Mary completely ignores any implied rebuke in her Son’s retort, but immediately tells the servants to “do whatever he tells you.” And then Jesus confects the wine. Have you ever really pondered this deeply? To put it in modern terms, after Jesus gives a sharp answer, Mary says the equivalent of “Yeah, yeah, yeah, kid” then turns to the task at hand with complete confidence He will do as she asked. I always thought of it as a great paradox – that when Jesus said His hour had not yet come and His Mother said, get to it, His hour had come, indeed. She adored her Son, but fully lived her maternal duty, as well.

I asked Nicholas Healy, the founding president of Ave Maria University and now working to firmly establish Newman College in Ireland, for his take as I prepared this piece. He offered an intriguing take on Cana that has enriched my thoughts on it. He said, “At Cana, what seems to be a rebuke could well be the message: ‘Mother, if you want me to perform a miracle it will start the clock running on my mission.’ Mary’s direct instructions to the servants “Do whatever He tells you” AND the immediate miraculous instructions given by Jesus shows Mary’s willingness to start the clock and Jesus’ acceptance of the consequence for her sake.”

It feels to me that Jesus trusted Mary as a real collaborator in His mission – and His affection is evidenced by His obedience and responsiveness to her by His actions.

Probably the most abrupt of all is the story told in Matthew 12:46-50. This is the passage where Jesus is told that His Mother and brethren were outside asking to speak to Him. And Jesus replied that His Mother and His brethren were whoever did His will – and did not go out to His family.

If Mary knew everything whole and entire from the start, this passage is incomprehensible to me. If, on the other hand, the intent of the revelation was unfolding for her, it completely makes sense. She was Jesus’ Mother. He had become the center of a great deal of controversy, with many people, including some in high authority, attacking Him with great vitriol. What Mother is not shaken by such things? Everyone who has ever been in a dangerous profession, such as policeman or soldier – or even in the heart of frequent controversy is familiar with this. The Mom is concerned that people are being mean to her child – or that her little guy is in danger. The son, focused on his mission and duty, loves his Mother, but cannot be distracted from that duty because of it. Jesus, in this passage, does not narrow His concept of family, but expands it while staying focused on His duty.

An event that my correspondent didn’t mention, but has been critical for me, is the passage from John 19:26-27. It is here that the Lord entrusts His disciple, John, to Mary’s care and the care of Mary to the disciple, John. This is universally considered among theologians to be Jesus entrusting the entire Church to His Mother.

When I was a catechumen, I was not convinced of the perpetual virginity of Mary. Oh, I accepted it, for I had come to believe what the Church teaches definitively. But I was not persuaded by the logic. I knew that, in archaic usage, cousins were routinely called brothers and sisters. But it seemed so frequently stated that James was the brother of the Lord that I did not see any compelling reason that this was not literally true. And then I saw this passage with fresh eyes. Ancient Israel was an honor culture. If the oldest son died, the care of a widowed Mother passed, as a matter of sacred duty, to the second oldest son. To even suggest otherwise was an unforgiveable insult and, even, sacrilege. With the exception of those things connected to His mission, where He challenged many Jewish practices and attitudes of His time, Jesus was a faithfully observant Jew on all other things. If James had been a literal brother, to entrust Mary to John would not have happened in that culture. This was important to me because it was my last tickle of doubt – and was swept away.

I agree with my New Jersey correspondent. The recorded conversations between Jesus and Mary are jarring and seem to show little affection. But their actions towards each other in these same passages reveal a very deep and tender intimacy – and the trust between them.

I don’t know whether this will resolve the concerns for anyone but me, but it is what I honestly think. I’d love to hear your observations, too.

*********

Just getting back from my trip in late November and going into a very busy Advent season, I did not get my Christmas cards out. That does not mean I have forgotten them. Rather, my friends will be getting Christmas cards in Ordinary Time. I have resolved to get them done before Lent. Ah well, next year in Jeru

392 thoughts on “Why Did Jesus Often Seem Abrupt With Mary?”

  1. In my fb memory today: good reminder…lol

    Too often people are looking for the flaw in others. When that is your perspective, you will always find it. We all have feet of clay. Heaven knows, the Pharisees and Sanhedrin found many apparent flaws even in Our Lord, Himself. But when you are looking for the flaw, whose eyes are you looking through? The satan is sometimes called the great accuser of mankind – for he is always looking for flaws to point out to God. God is always looking for the strand of fidelity, of charity, of compassion in even the most flawed, that he may weave whatever frail strands are there into a lifeline that will call flawed men back to the fullness of faith. Do not fail to defend against depredations, but see your fellows through the healing eyes of God rather than the bitter, wounding eyes of the satan. – Charlie Johnston

    Liked by 9 people

  2. Your insights on those instances in Jesus and Mary’s life really are helpful and make so much sense to me . Thank you Charlie

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Re: the Finding in the Temple

    I came across a plausible explanation for how on earth Joseph and Mary could have lost Jesus for 3 days. It’s as follows:

    Was Jesus Bar Mitzvahed as a 12 year old boy? Some believe the Bar and Bat Mitzvah is only 400 years old. Others believe that it reflects rituals that existed at the time of Jesus. What is the significance of the Bar Mitzvah?

    ” “After three days they found Him [Yeshua] in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.” (Luke 2:46)

    The Bar/Bat Mitzvah is a milestone in Jewish life. It not only tells the world that the child has reached adulthood and is taking greater responsibility for his or her actions, it strengthens his or her identity as a Jew.

    In Jewish law, Jewish girls (at age 12) and boys (at age 13) become responsible for observing Jewish ritual law, traditions, and ethics. The rite of passage associated with this observance is the Bar Mitzvah for boys and Bat Mitzvah for girls.

    Bar Mitzvah literally means son of commandment and Bat Mitzvah means daughter of commandment. However, the term in rabbinical usage has come to mean one who is subject to the law.

    Once they are subject to the law, boys and girls are free to participate in all areas of Jewish community life, as we’ll read about further on in this feature article.

    Although the ceremony today differs from its ancient past and only became a unanimously accepted Jewish custom some 400 years ago, in the Gospels we read that Yeshua (Jesus) was examined by the Temple priests and teachers at the age of 12. (Luke 2:41–52)

    The Brit Chadashah (New Testament) tells us that His knowledge was extraordinary and that “all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.” (Luke 2:47)

    This may indicate that even the Messiah was Bar Mitzvahed, passing through the rites of His day. As one of few events recorded about His early life, Scripture certainly highlights this event as important.

    It is, perhaps, the oldest record of a Bar Mitzvah.”

    Bar Mitzvah or some other event drew Jesus with Mary and Joseph to the Temple in Jerusalem when He was about 12 years old. Interestingly, this is the last time we hear about Joseph in the New Testament.

    How did Jesus get lost? Here is the plausible theory:

    The rituals in the Temple were the Bar Mitzvah of the day and the time when a child became a man for all practical purposes. A kind of coming out party. A celebration and a point of pride for any 12 or 13 year old boy and his family.

    During those days a journey to Jerusalem would entail a difficult journey through the badlands of Samaria where bushwhackers lay in wait for solitary travelers. So people didn’t travel by themselves. They traveled in armed caravans for security. The formation of the caravan was in three parts: the advance guard composed of a group of armed men; followed by the group women and children; and trailed up by a third group of armed men in rear guard.

    After the celebration concluded in Jerusalem this large group of people formed up and headed out back to Galilee. Joseph was in either the advance guard or the rear guard with the men. Mary would be in the middle group of women and children. Where was Jesus?

    They traveled the first day and camped at night. The families got back together. Joseph meets up with Mary and asks “Where is Jesus?” Mary responds “He’s not with me I thought he was with the men now that he is Bar Mitzvah and His place is with the men.” Mary and Joseph thought Jesus was with the other on that first day’s journey.

    Joseph and Mary have no choice but to retrace the day long journey back to Jerusalem the following or second day. Jesus is now missing for two days.

    On the third day they anxiously revisit the camp site of their group and begin asking questions. Eventually they move to the Temple where they find Jesus.

    Jesus, now viewing himself as a man at the age of 12, is a bit perplexed that Joseph and Mary are so worried. He is a man doing His man’s job. Teaching in the Temple.

    Joseph and Mary corral Jesus and look for the next caravan headed North. I’m guessing Jesus would be in the Advance Guard with Joseph on that trip home.

    This rationale for losing Jesus just rings true to me. Imagine the shock of Mary and Joseph at sunset on that first day’s journey back to Nazareth when the realization hits them that they have lost the Son of God.

    We don’t have to believe this happened this way of course. But you have to admit it is a plausible theory.

    Liked by 6 people

    1. How it might have looked to a Samaritan gang looking down on the caravan from Nazareth to Jerusalem passing through their territory.

      Liked by 4 people

    3. STEd, I hadn’t heard speculation about a Bar Mitzvah, but I have heard before about convoys of that day and how men and women were separated. When I pray the Rosary for that mystery, that’s the process I always find myself visualizing. It could be wrong, but it makes a lot of sense to me. Still, I admit that I can’t visualize why a Bar Mitzvah would be a decent pretext for Jesus to go off on His own without telling His parents. An interesting and worthwhile idea, though. I’ll keep it in mind. Thanks!

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Latest message from Medjugorje… a reflection on our prayer to “Our Father”.

    Latest Medjugorje Message, January 2, 2020 – Apparitions to Mirjana
    https://www.medjugorje.ws/

    “Dear children, I know that I am present in your lives and in your hearts. I feel your love, I hear your prayers and direct them to my Son. But, my children, according to motherly love, I desire to be in the lives of all of my children. I desire to gather all of my children around me, beneath my motherly mantle. This is why I am inviting you and calling you, apostles of my love, to help me.

    My children, my Son pronounced the words of the ‘Our Father’-Our Father, [you] who are everywhere and in our hearts-because He desires to teach you to pray with words and feelings. He desires for you to always be better, to live merciful love which is prayer and limitless sacrifice for others.

    My children, give to my Son love for your neighbors, give words of consolation, compassion and acts of justice to your neighbors. Everything that you give to others, apostles of my love, my Son accepts as a gift. I am also with you, because my Son desires for my love, as a ray of light, to bring your souls to life; for me to help you in the search for peace and eternal happiness. Therefore, my children, love one another, be united through my Son, be children of God who all together, with full, open and pure heart, pronounce the ‘Our Father’. And do not be afraid! Thank you. ”

    Liked by 6 people

      2. Sean Sullivan 17 I meant video of mirjana medjugorje January 2, 2020 was unsettling. She hardly smiled and seemed very upset by whatever Our Mother was telling her😣

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    2. I don’t know for sure what to think about the Medjugorje apparitions. I have been struggling as to whether I believe in them or not, and some seem pretty flaky, especially on the questionable or rather fake movements of the Virgin Mary Statue itself. I somehow stumbled onto Patrick Coffin’s video’s on Youtube and have been watching about the apparitions not being approved by the Catholic church. The video’s by Patrick Coffin brought/is bringing things into light for me. It, as I see it, is sad, because I have previously been taken in by the apparitions there. Patrick Coffin puts it all into perspective for me. I no longer desire to go there for a spiritual retreat that I had longed for. (Instead, an hour in Adoration suits me just fine.) Perhaps I am wrong, but red flags have been showing up in my mind about these Medjugorge apparitions. I, as all of you, need to discern.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Look at the fruit.  A nad tree cannot bear good fruit.  There are millions of conversions coming out of Medjugorje.  I am one of them and experienced miraculous healing.  This does not mean that folks will not capitalize on the phenomena.  People are still human.  Look past this at the visionaries over the long haul (not a particular instance), how do the messages reflect church teaching and the fruits.—- Sent from Doug’s Back Pack

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      2. It is exceedingly rare for anything to be approved by the Church while it is unfolding. The critical question during those times is whether it is condemned by the Church. Lourdes happened in 1858. It was not formally approved by the Church until 1876, 18 years later. Fatima occurred in 1917. It was not approved by the local Diocese until 1930. It was not added to the Church’s worldwide calendar until 2002.

        Do not be deceived by appeals to the gullible about something not being “approved” by the Church. Until the issue is settled, the relevant question is whether it is condemned by the Church. If it is not, you can follow it in good conscience.

        Liked by 2 people

  5. “The Name of Jesus. Oh, how great is Your Name, O Lord! It is the
    strength of my soul. When my strength fails, and darkness invades my soul, Your Name
    is the sun whose rays give light and also warmth, and under their influence the soul
    becomes more beautiful and radiant, taking its splendor from Your Name. When I hear
    the sweetest name of Jesus, my heartbeat grows stronger.” (862)
    Diary of St. Maria Faustina (1/2/1937)

    Liked by 6 people

  6. Thank you Charlie! I just 2 days ago, as I always do ,is mark on my calendar, all worthy dates! Your birthday is one on them. Not sure why I am letting you know that except for the fact, maybe, is that we are close in age. For some reason that means something to me. Anyway, okay, Trump got rid of the General. A man of deep bad things>>lack of better explanation>> was decimated…gooooooood!!! Pulling weeds outa the beans it is!! Good for Trump! Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!! I pray for souls lost but there are also souls saved from prayers! I also pray for Uncle Handsy Grabby Uncle Joey, he’s a laugh for Jesus! I think so anyway.

    Liked by 3 people

      1. Linda, if I have my records straight, Charlie’s Birthday is February 24! I record, on January 1, all noteworthy dates in pen on my calendar which hangs next to my desk.

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Merry 11th Day of Christmas 😉

    HeartLight Daily Verse- yesterday

    Titus 2:11-12
    For the grace of God our Saviour hath appeared to all men; Instructing us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly, and justly, and godly in this world,.
    Thoughts on today’s verse:
    In a world that has no absolutes, in a world in search of moral standards, salvation by the costly grace of God beckons us to change our lifestyle in response to God’s grace. Anyone who receives grace and refuses to pursue righteousness demonstrates his/her ignorance or hardness of heart. In our day, in our time, to be saved means to pursue righteousness — not so that we may earn our salvation, but so that God’s saving grace will not be fruitless in us.
    Prayer:
    Holy Father, I confess that I live in a confusing time. Satan is always distorting the distinction between right and wrong, good and evil, moral and immoral. Because you have been so gracious with me, may my life today reflect the righteousness you gave me through Jesus. “May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart, be pleasing in your sight, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Through Jesus, my atoning sacrifice I pray. Amen.
    Visit heartlight.org for more

    https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2020/01/03/More-than-200-lawmakers-urge-Supreme-Court-to-reconsider-Roe-vs-Wade/7891578037576/?sl=2

    https://cnsnews.com/blog/craig-millward/georgia-qb-jake-fromm-i-want-represent-christ-best-i-can

    https://www.christianpost.com/news/united-methodist-church-leaders-officially-propose-split-over-gay-marriage-clergy.html

    PF, as usual, is spouting Democrat Party “Talking Points”. I’d like to think that he does NOT realize that “Healthcare” & “Social Justice” are cover words for unlimited public funded Abortion and godless Socialism … however ….. ;-(
    https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2020/01/03/Pope-Francis-Lack-of-access-to-healthcare-is-social-justice-issue/1031578085212/?sl=4

    I’d rather Trump remember Abe Lincoln’s quote: …. “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.” .. But!.. Considering the people and agendas of the Democrat Party/Global Left …. I’d Bet de Farm that The Left is NOT on God’s side!
    https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-says-we-have-god-on-our-side-in-2020-election-as-soleimanis-bloody-rampage-comes-to-an-end

    https://stream.org/christianity-today-damage-christian-witness/

    GOD SAVE ALL HERE!

    Liked by 11 people

      1. Katey, I was wondering if you’re in the Portland area, would you’d be willing to trade emails offline (via tnrs email in top right contact link) . A young adult relative who I’m trying to convince to return to the sacraments, but don’t think it’d be prudent to print priests/parishes you’d recommend in this general blog comments. However, if you’d rather not, or don’t live in the Hillsboro/pdx metro that’s fine. They can pass your answer to me without divulging your email. (I live in the midwest, so unfamiliar with OR) Thank you for your consideration and time.

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  8. I’ve been busy so I probably missed some news, but I’ve missed Beckita. Is she ok? or am I being over sensitive? Thinking of her…

    Liked by 8 people

  10. The Mystical City of God by the venerable Mary of Ágreda details the life of Mary as made known to her through private revelation. A very worthy read.
    Another good read on the subject is Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary by Brant Pitre. Formed.org has a video series by Brant Pitre where he presents the same material.

    Liked by 2 people

  11. I don’t care what the ‘new’ Church Colander sez!! … Epiphany is SIX January!! … and decorations don’t come down till 7 Jan ….. except for my lighted Christmas Cross that stays up till Candlemas;-)
    https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2020/01/05/the-feast-of-epiphany-2/

    https://www.vofoundation.org/blog/the-quest-and-questions-of-the-magi/

    https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/jan/2/founding-fathers-never-discussed-separation-betwee/

    https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2020/01/04/DHS-sets-deadline-for-improved-security-at-places-of-worship/7711578175332/?sl=4

    https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2020/01/the_episcopal_churchs_fruits_of_heresy.html#ixzz6A9BBP0Nt

    https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2020/01/the_unacknowledged_moral_dilemma_when_evangelicals_trash_trump.html#ixzz6A9BVjs9D

    https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/terry-gilliam-interview-harvey-weinstein-victims-metoo-race-a9269136.html

    https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2020/01/04/considering-everything-watch-this-again-a-president-who-believes-in-his-message/

    https://www.breitbart.com/middle-east/2020/01/04/zumwalt-soleimanis-demise-could-end-irans-long-one-way-war-with-america/

    https://townhall.com/columnists/johndempsey/2020/01/05/the-left-will-resist-president-trump-at-all-costs-even-for-terrorists-n2558952

    https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2020/01/04/fed-we-dont-have-a-really-good-understanding-of-why-its-been-so-difficult-to-get-inflation-back-up/

    https://stream.org/impeachment-looks-ridiculous-when-we-see-where-real-corruption-is/

    GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!

    PS: On MY calendar Three Kings Day is the 12th Day of Christmas … sooo …. Merry 11th 😉

    Liked by 5 people

  13. Merry Christmas and Happy Nee Year.
    I have Protestant children who use these passages (as the have been taught) to dismiss the Church’s reverence for Mary.
    First – when reading scripture, we lack tone of voice – an important element in understanding.
    Augustine’s comment on the ‘who are my mother…’ is instructive.
    Of course Mother Mary did God’s will therefore her being a disciple was more important than actually bearing His Son.
    The latter could have even been unwilling but despite the trials and sorrows proved the beauty of her ‘Yes’ – the immaculate Heart.
    In John’s gospel he clearly recapitulates Genesis so that (Gen 2) as Adam is first, all creation presented, then Eve made (not created) from Adam. They bookend the gift of creation.
    John shows Jesus’s first sign at Mary’s behest and the last pubic act before His death the dedication of His mother – he bookends the story of salvation with the new Eve and Adam.
    BTW the Greek is literally ‘what is that between you and me, Woman?’ Our secret is at stake here. Mary relinquishes her exclusive role to us with ‘do whatever he tells you.’
    That John understood Mary’s special role better than any is in the Ark of the Covenant proclamation about the Woman of Rev 12.
    Guadalupe, in the Nican Mopohua account Mary calls herself Perfect Virgin or Ever Virgin.
    She also affirms Theotokos.
    That said, you’re right Charlie, Jesus don’t cut you no slack.

    Liked by 3 people

  14. Charlie, sometimes I think President Trump will not make full term, will be running from white house….chaos will be everywhere until our lady intercedes and crushes the head of the satan….sometimes I wonder if prophesy was just off by 4 years🤔

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Interesting read, but could we be seeing a anomaly of translation? Things get lost in translation and other unintended meanings are added through translations. Even if Jesus did act a little harsh at times, know that God tests us and rewards our loyalty,

    Liked by 1 person

    1. like with Job.

      On another note, I’ve been noticing articles of “Grand solar minimum” causing a weaker heliosphere and allowing more cosmic rays to bombard the earth. More cosmic rays means increased volcanic & seismic activity and unstable weather. Climate change alarmists still claim it’s all carbon’s fault…

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Interesting.  I would like to see an article or the science behind this and the correlation to increased volcanic activity.—- Sent from Doug’s Back Pack

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        1. Doug, I believe Martin Armstrong may have the most complete database of trends of anyone in the world. Recently, he has been warning people that the sun will significantly decrease its energy output and that volcanic and earthquake activity will also increase as part of that. He also said that weather (not climate) will become more volatile, with some areas experiencing temps much colder than average even as other areas experience much higher than average. Some scientists have also been publishing on this.

          You probably know the reason why the weather would be more volatile if the earth cools significantly over the next several decades, but perhaps others would like an explanation.

          Here is my simplistic explanation:

          The Earth is in some real sense a heat engine. When the temperature of the Arctic and the temperature of the tropics are fairly similar, which occurs when the Earth experiences global warming cycles, there is less of a likelihood that the Arctic air will spill southwards. This is because there is less need to move heat from the tropics to the Arctic. In general, storms decline in number and severity.

          When the Earth cools, the difference in temperature between the tropics and the Arctic gets larger as the Arctic air gets colder while tropical temps remain pretty much the same. This increases the Earth’s need to move heat from the tropics to the Arctic in order to smooth out temperatures across the globe. When a plume of heat rises from the equator toward the North Pole, the displaced air needs to be replaced by cold air falling toward the equator. The result is that you get tongues of hot air spreading northward and bringing above-average temps while getting tongues of cold air spreading southward, causing below-normal temps. So the East coast could have a tongue of hot air moving from the tropics toward the Arctic to reduce the tropic-pole temperature difference even as frigid air spreads south through the Midwest toward Texas.

          I think it is safe to say that Nature always works to reduce temperature differences. When the sun cools and the Arctic air gets a lot cooler, there is more “pressure” to move hot air northward and cold air southward so that temps even out. This is why storms like hurricanes get more frequent and more severe as the Earth cools into a solar minimum. There is more force behind the movements of air north and south

          With the effects on the volcanoes and earthquakes, obviously there is more going on than my simple explanation, but this is a helpful way to look at what will happen. Global warmists will tout how bad global warming is getting when they see a tongue of hot air causing temperature records to be broken in Boston, so you have to watch what is happening to Arctic temps compared to tropical temps and look for cold-air flows southward near the hot-air flow northward. If Texas is experiencing super-cold temps as Boston heats up, that undercuts the global warmists’ contention that the Boston heat wave means we’re all gonna die from warming.

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          1. Yes SteveBC. The jet streams are erratic, no longer maintaining a predominate west to east flow. The new normal is polar and equatorial vortexes causing wild swings in temperatures all over the earth. Greenland just set an all time low temperature of -86.6F and you don’t see that in the news. Doesn’t fit their narrative. The magnetosphere is waning and the magnetic poles are quickly moving from their age old positions.

            Martin Armstrong and many others are correct. Volcanic activity and earthquakes follow this cycle we seem to be entering. We live in interesting times for sure…

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          2. Thanks Steve. I imagine a correlation to increased volcanic activity and earth quakes is a difficult if near impossible to make.  On the surface (no pun intended), I fail to see how it could have a strong impact.  Long term trends tend to affect mostly the surface.  When going down so many feet below the surface, temperature remains very constant.  So I would not expect major expansion and contraction that would shift siesmic activity.The weather scenario makes sense between hot and cold.  I would add that there would be increased pressure pockets or pressure differentials and the turbulence between high and low pressure would increase as high pressure gets sucked into the vacuum of low pressure.—- Sent from Doug’s Back Pack

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            1. As far as I can tell, and I admit I am in early stages of watching this issue, the statistics support the hypothesis that solar minimum periods also see greater volcanic and earthquake activity. This is not a matter of changes in soil or rock temperature, but I have no solid alternate theory.

              The most interesting and outlandish theory/hypothesis is that the weaker solar flux allows a lot more cosmic rays to hit and enter the Earth. Now we think of cosmic rays as teeny bits of matter that don’t matter. However, when these extremely energetic bits of matter strike atoms inside the Earth, they interact strongly with the Earth. The theory is that this actually causes the Earth to gain weight and girth to such a degree that it expands slightly. This expansion causes cracks to grow in the Earth’s hard surface. The energy of the influx of rays also heats the Earth deep below the level at which the Sun can heat it directly, which makes existing magma hotter and more active, and that hotter magma then comes out the new cracks.

              I think it’s a weird, wonderful, and currently unsupported hypothesis, but I’ve not seen any better explanation so far. Visualize me shrugging my shoulders. 🙂

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              2. So the earth is eating to much and getting fat and will vomit through volcanos.  How’s that for an over simplified summary? 😁😁😁Well, there is often a statistical correlation, but that does not necessarily establish a real cause and effect relationship.  So it could be a coincidence.  Seems like this would take a lot of lot of lot of study.—- Sent from Doug’s Back Pack

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                1. Ha, that’s a good way to think about it, Doug! And yes, it could be coincidence. However, it appears that the coincidence goes back millennia. Even so, like you, I am suspending judgment until a lot more work is done on this and we have some evidence or actual causation. 🙂

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          4. Here is something I would like to posit.  Keeping in mind our faith and how all of creation is a reflection of God or a characteristic of God, given that there is so much sin and rebellion in the world of people towards God, I can imagine God’s creation crying out and there would be dramatic geological and weather related events.  The earth, in effect, is crying out as a reflection of God.  After Cain murdered Able,  the Lord said in Genesis 10, “what have you done?  Listen, your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground.  And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.  When you till the ground, it will no longer yield its strength.  “.  Here, the ground is personified in relationship to Able’s great sin.  It would not surprise me in the least, as part of God’s judgement, that we would see major geological and weather related events.  We are cursing the earth with all our sins.—- Sent from Doug’s Back Pack

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            2. Yes Doug. There is evidence all over the world that massive geological upheavals occur periodically. I believe we’ve entered such a period. The signs are all around us.

              Furthermore, the blood of the stricken cry out for Divine Justice. Never in the history of the world has there been a time when over a billion babies have been murdered and with that being said, if the earth reacted to just the single murder of Able, imagine what we face when God finally lifts his hand and no longer stalls his Divine Justice.

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              1. Yes.  I agree BD.  It is hard to imagine we will not have serious consequences from our actions.—- Sent from Doug’s Back Pack

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          5. Genesis Chapter 4, verse 10 by the way.  I left out the chapter number.—- Sent from Doug’s Back Pack

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  16. I‘m hitting the road tomorrow for the Great State of Montana. Dusted off the suit, ironed the shirt, polished the shoes. Tomorrow at 2:30 MST is my first interview. It’s in a town of about 500 people, 1,700 in the entire county. I was invited to dinner afterward and an overnight stay courtesy of the clinic’s CEO. Then Tuesday morning I drive 5 hours to another frontier clinic, but this one has a critical access hospital. The town, fairly close to Canada, is a booming metropolis of ~1,900 people. The interview with the medical staff (a doc and NP) is at 1:00 pm. I’ll also be staying overnight to get a feel for life there.

    My cousin Laura, a family physician in Cleveland, prepped me for the interviews — how to approach them, what to ask, etc. And her brother Mike in NH briefly prepped me for the “salary conversation” — something I’ve never experienced as I’ve only ever been an hourly employee.

    I’m so excited about this trip — barely nervous at all. BUT, I sure would love prayers from you, my friends here! May I find the place that God wants me to serve in.

    Thank you, thank you!

    Feeling the LOVE! ❤️
    God bless.

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    7. Continuing with our friends here, Patrick, to pray for you as you discern where to settle into practice because lots of times God leaves us more than one option to serve and co-create with Him.

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      1. B….Montana is absolutely beautiful! And I haven’t even seen the really gorgeous parts yet!!!

        So far I’ve got one clinic ready to negotiate a position. I’ve just now arrived in a town near Glasgow and will meet the team in a couple hours. I’ll keep you updated.

        Thank you for the prayers! ❤️

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        1. Exciting, Patrick! You are in a pretty area up there… wheat fields galore. Glasgow is seven hours from Missoula and it’s all beautiful in Big Sky Country. 😉

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    1. I hate the idea that a judgement like that is even voiced. It promotes an atmosphere of helplessness and despair. I hate the thought that God’s fullness of time is tossed out for a Texas-time-limit.

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      1. comment on Genesis 3: the evil one said “you will be like God” having power over life and death.
        the slippery slope to euthanasia continues as it did for abortion. For the record: I support Texas Right to Life, I have written my concerns to Cook Children’s, I have posted of my experiences with death and my background in the medical industry. That being said:
        https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/parents-not-bioethicists-should-decide-about-babys-life-support/
        https://www.lifenews.com/2020/01/07/doctors-are-increasingly-euthanizing-patients-to-harvest-their-organs-2/

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    1. Back home now from a major and wonderful conference so I’ll answer this question. Even in our days at TNRS, when questions have been asked about the Menses character, Charlie has responded that he’s sorry he ever mentioned this guy. So, a friendly reminder for us all is to set any curiosity concerning the Menses dude to rest.

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      2. Thanks Beckita. I know most consider my two major errant prophecies my biggest error. Truth be told, I consider ever having publicly mentioned Menses to be my biggest error – and I will not speak of him.

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Published by charliej373

Charlie Johnston is a former newspaper editor, radio talk show host and political consultant. From Feb. 11, 2011 to Aug. 21, 2012, he walked 3,200 miles across the country, sleeping in the woods, meeting people and praying as he went. He writes on cultural, global and political issues from an orthodox Catholic perspective. He emphasizes that we find God most surely through the ordinary, doing the little things we should with faith and fidelity. His constant refrain is that, to live real joy, we must acknowledge God, take the next right step, and be a sign of hope to those around us. He lives in the Archdiocese of Denver in the United States.